CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION UK
Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK's objective is to protect marine habitats and species. The charity (formerly known as Sea Shepherd UK) engages in campaigns, investigations and actions to uphold marine conservation laws and treaties. The charity manages marine conservation projects in the UK and abroad while also engages in educational outreach to the public via talks, presentations and events.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £51,371 for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total income of £569,432 against expenditure of £518,061. Per the trustees' report, free reserves amounted to £164,484, which is above the stated policy target of approximately £60,000. The trustees confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“Based on this assessment, the trustees have determined that a minimum reserve equivalent to approximately 3–4 months of core operating expenditure is appropriate. This equates to approximately £60,000, which is held as unrestricted funds.” — page 10
“The charity has a wholly-owned subsidiary, Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK Trading Limited. During the year, the charity received dividend income of £2,520 (2024: £22,080) from the subsidiary.” — page 26
“Captain Paul Watson Foundation UK is the sole shareholder of a charitable trading company called CPWF UK Trading Limited which is administered by its own board of unpaid Directors but since 1st January 2024 has been dormant (non-trading)” — page 9
Funders the charity credits
- I Am Guardian Foundation
- Minirig
- GoKo Travels
- Thalassophile
- Spritzy
- Susie Harding
- Seashell
- Mocean Fitness
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Trustees
- Anna Louise OLIVER
- Paul Franklin Watson
- Shawn Paul Watson
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £569k | £518k |
| 30/06/2024 | £517k | £804k |
| 30/06/2023 | £587k | £1.3m |
| 30/06/2022 | £1.6m | £840k |
| 30/06/2021 | £773k | £309k |
Common questions
Is CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION UK financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity generated a net surplus of £51,371 for the year ended 30 June 2025, with total income of £569,432 against expenditure of £518,061. Per the trustees' report, free reserves amounted to £164,484, which is above the stated policy target of approximately £60,000. The trustees confirm there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION UK?
Funders whose own accounts filings name CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION UK as a grant recipient include BRAMPTON CHARITABLE TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRAMPTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £6k | Environmental |
| BRAMPTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £5k | |
| BRAMPTON CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2024 | £0 |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| JOHN ELLERMAN FOUNDATION | 2 | £549k |
| THE CONSTANCE TRAVIS CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £340k |
| RUTH SMART FOUNDATION | 2 | £35k |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £11k |
| JOHN SWIRE 1989 CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £8k |
| Evelyn Partners Charitable Trust | 2 | £1k |
| THE REED FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| The Global Returns Project Limited | 1 | £403k |
Charities like this
- SEA WATCH FOUNDATION, THE CETACEAN MONITORING UNIT
- OCEANA UK
- MALDIVES WHALE SHARK RESEARCH PROGRAMME LIMITED
- SEA LIFE TRUST LIMITED
- BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION
- MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPTAIN PAUL WATSON FOUNDATION UK | £569k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| SEA WATCH FOUNDATION, THE CETACEAN MONITORING UNIT | £472k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| OCEANA UK | £2.7m | — | 3 | above | — | no doubt |
| MALDIVES WHALE SHARK RESEARCH PROGRAMME LIMITED | £250k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SEA LIFE TRUST LIMITED | £6.8m | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| BLUE MARINE FOUNDATION | £13.0m | £100,001 - £110,000 | — | below | — | no doubt |