Ramsar in Jersey

The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international co-operation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

As at February 2025, there are 172 contracting parties to the convention, with 2,532 wetland sites (totalling almost 258 million hectares) designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

The Ramsar Convention provides a framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources through the integrated management of land, water and living resources, in a manner that promotes the three objectives of the Convention:

  • Conservation;
  • Sustainable use; and
  • The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from each site.

Information about the Convention on Wetlands can be found at https://www.ramsar.org

The Government of Jersey (GoJ) became a Contracting Party to the Convention on Wetlands (the Ramsar Convention) in 2000, and is required to report, through DEFRA in the UK, to the international secretariat of Ramsar in Gland, Switzerland.

Subsequently Jersey has designated four areas of coastal waters and reefs as Ramsar sites, encompassing 18,756 hectares of Jersey’s marine environment (those areas below Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) out to the Island’s 12 mile territorial limits of local waters).

The South East coast or Violet Reef, stretching out around La Rocque and Seymour Tower, was designated in 2000. The offshore reefs of Les Minquiers, Les Écréhous & Les Dirouilles and Les Pierres de Lecq (commonly known as the Pater Nosters) were designated in 2005.

Oystercatcher in Alderney

Jersey Ramsar Management Authority (JRMA)

Under the Ramsar Convention a Management Authority needs to be established by each Contracting Party to implement the process. In Jersey, the Management Authority is GoJ, represented by the Minister for the Environment, who is in turn represented by the Department for the Natural Environment (DNE). DNE has established a specific group internally to act as the Jersey Ramsar Management Authority (JRMA).

GoJ has an obligation under the Convention to prepare a Management Plan for each of the Ramsar sites, with the support of stakeholders. The Management Plans primarily identify the five-year objectives for the sites and set out the management measures required.

Having worked with the Jersey Ramsar Advisory Group (JRAG) (see below) on the preparation of the Management Plans published in January 2025, the JRMA is now working to fulfil the strategic aims and management objectives of the plans. For example, JRAG and JRMA are working together to help monitor the state of Ramsar sites, combining the efforts of DNE with those of voluntary organisations focused on the marine environment.

Jersey Ramsar Advisory Group (JRAG)

The role of JRAG is to support JRMA, to hold it accountable against its obligations under the Ramsar Convention and to advise on, and make recommendations about, the Management Plans. In essence, its purpose is to act as a ‘critical friend’. JRAG liaises with GoJ through JRMA.

JRAG aims to raise awareness of Jersey’s Ramsar sites and efforts by local organisations, including GoJ, in protecting and managing human use of the Island’s Ramsar sites. JRAG also collaborates with equivalent bodies in the other Channel Islands.

JRAG in its current form evolved from a panel of stakeholders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (including the Société Jersiaise, the National Trust for Jersey, Ports of Jersey, Jersey Marine Conservation, the Minquiers and Écréhous Residents Associations and Jersey National Park) which was set up at the invitation of the Director of the Environment, on behalf of GoJ.

This panel was initially led by the Chairman of the Société Jersiaise Marine Biology section, and subsequently by representatives from Marine Resources (DNE) and the Écréhous Residents Association. Under their guidance, the panel carried out a detailed review of the existing status and legal framework of Jersey’s Ramsar sites. From this extensive work, with the support of Marine Resources and Ports of Jersey, the Management Plans were produced.

In 2025, an updated framework for JRAG was finalised, ensuring its independence from GoJ. Through a restructured membership and Executive Committee, a balanced representation of stakeholders was ensured (see the list contained in the Terms of Reference below), safeguarding a constructive approach that reflects the Ramsar objectives.

An Executive Committee, drawn from the wider JRAG membership, meets regularly to discuss policy issues and liaise with representatives of JRMA. The full JRAG membership meets twice yearly to receive updates from JRMA and other relevant bodies, discuss relevant matters and to ratify Executive Committee proposals.

The terms of reference, including a list of members, agreed between JRAG and GoJ are below:

JRAG Terms of Reference

Jersey’s Ramsar sites

Jersey has designated four Ramsar sites, for each of which an updated Management Plan was published in January 2025. The Management Plans sit underneath a Framework that presents the overall context and aims that Jersey has for its Ramsar sites.

The Jersey Ramsar Management Framework is available here.

For more information about Jersey’s Ramsar sites, please contact: