C.O.A.S.T. 2010 Update
Sally Campbell
On Thursday 3 March at the Ormidale Pavilion, C.O.A.S.T. is holding an evening of news and discussion, open to the public. Starting at 7pm there is the AGM, which will be focused and short. The last year has been eventful, with a research student doing underwater research in the summer in the No Take Zone and around the Bay and a successful and interesting symposium, run by C.O.A.S.T. at the Arran Outdoor Centre in October. 45 people came from all around the UK, and further afield, to discuss marine community stakeholders and marine protected areas. In addition we have supported outdoor events on the island, launched a monthly newsletter (www.arrancoast.com), met with government scientists, been involved with several media events and launched a range of merchandise. The latest news is that the organisation is now registered as a Scottish Charity.
Following the AGM, Howard Wood will give an illustrated talk: A View from the Clyde: the reality of fisheries and ecosystem decline. Howard gave a similar presentation of the Coastal Futures Conference in London in January. That Conference reviewed and looked at future trends in the Marine Environment. We all know the Clyde needs help in restoring the ecosystem; that dredging for scallops and bottom trawling for Nephrops (large prawns) has done, and continues to do, untold damage to the sea bed and the creatures that live in the sand and gravels. These nursery beds are vital too for young fish. C.O.A.S.T. has been instrumental in raising the problems of the Clyde, and now hopes to be part of a movement to bring back the 3 mile limit on dredging and bottom trawling. This would not affect sea angling or creeling. However, there is every hope that an inshore 3 mile ban of dredging and bottom trawling would give the seabed environment time to recover from the damage, and increase stocks of white fish, sea trout and other species. There will be coffee and discussion after Howard’s talk. All are welcome! Make a note in your diary – Ormidale Pavilion at 7pm on THURSDAY, 3 MARCH.
Last summer a TV recording crew filmed on Arran, talking to the research student Leigh Howarth who has been working on scallops from around Lamlash, then going out with Howard Wood and the volunteers to see them diving. Note the photo of Howard with a handful of scallops!
The programmes about the North Atlantic islands are being aired on German TV from Monday 7th-Friday 11 March, an hour each night. Arran appears on Thursday 10 March at 19.30 German time. If anyone has cable, or subscribes to German TV they will enjoy it! Arved Fuchs is a quite famous explorer and spent the year visiting many islands around the north Atlantic, including Ireland, Arran, Bute, Outer Hebrides, St Kilda, Orkney, Fair Isle, and Shetland. Each of the 5 programmes lasts one hour.
