COAST News

It is a sad goodbye to 2016 after the loss of Tom Vella-Boyle (pictured right receiving COAST’s Observer Ethical Award from Annie Lennox in 2008). Tom was a key member of COAST’s original “dream team”, whose passion and skills were key to the success of the Lamlash Bay community No Take Zone campaign. COAST co-founders Don McNeish and Howard Wood said “Tom’s generosity epitomised the spirit of community volunteering and marine activism on Arran”.

We have a tribute to Tom Vella-Boyle, Community Marine Environmentalist, here.

There has been good news too. This year we have seen the legal enforcement of our hard-fought South Arran Marine Protected Area, followed by encouraging findings from our research – with lobsters more numerous and larger in the No Take Zone. Following local protests, Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has called in an application for an expansion to the existing salmon fish farm in Lamlash Bay. We are hopeful that the application will be rejected in the New Year. We have also worked with dozens of island and mainland schools and become part of a Scotland-wide network of coastal communities demanding fairer and more sustainable management of our seas.

This video is a snapshot of COASTs 2016 highlights. Thank you to everyone who has supported us over the last year. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2017 for our new exciting venture, the Marine Discovery Centre.

We are thrilled to announce that COAST are now the proud owners of the Lamlash tennis courts and pavilion. We will be inviting you to join us in the New Year as we begin to imagine and make plans for Arran’s new Marine Discovery Centre on part of the site (the existing pavilion will become COAST’s MPA HQ and tennis will continue!). This community project will attract more tourists, encourage marine recreation and engage many more people with our amazing marine wildlife. We will begin fundraising in 2017.