Our coastlines are some of the most beautiful in the world. To protect certain areas Jersey signed up to the Ramsar Convention in 1971. This 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. 

There are presently 1,888 wetland sites, totalling 185.3 million hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Jersey has 4 designated Ramsar Sites: 

1. South East Coast of Jersey from the east of St Helier to Gorey Pier 
2. Les Écréhous & Les Dirouilles 
3. Les Minquiers 
4. Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters) 

The coastline along here is really important because Jersey’s South East Coast Ramsar site is home to a huge diversity of marine life as well as being an overwintering ground for many migratory birds of international importance. The site includes Seagrass beds and areas of Mearl, both important nursery grounds for juvenile fish and shellfish and recognised biodiversity hot-spots in their own right.