By Sally Campbell See: www.greenpeace.org We have a unique opportunity to agree a global rescue plan for the oceans and their incredible life, bringing them back from the brink of collapse caused by the climate crisis, overfishing, pollution and the search for oil and minerals in the seabed. The good news? This year, we have …
Marine research continues on Arran Arran’s No Take Zone (NTZ) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) have proven that, with the right protection, seabed habitats and biodiversity will recover. Research by the University of York, published earlier this year, showed a dramatic increase of lobsters, scallops and marine biodiversity within these reserves. The NTZ and MPA …
Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill. How can we protect the Inshore Waters and their communities? 30X30: A Blueprint for Ocean Protection By Sally Campbell This Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2020. Sadly however, the vote to support the Wildlife Crime Bill Amendment 61 as proposed by …
A dramatic increase in species abundance and biodiversity has been documented in a long-term study of Arran’s No Take Zone. COAST’s pioneering work is now acting as a blueprint for similar marine conservation projects elsewhere in Britain, paving the way for the revival of UK seabeds. Marine life has returned at dramatic levels to the …
By Sally Campbell The world’s oceans take up more than a quarter of the carbon humans are emitting into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, partially mitigating the greenhouse effect of that carbon. The Southern Ocean accounts for nearly 40 percent of this marine carbon absorption, even though it makes up only one-fifth of Earth’s ocean …
Record numbers take part in citizen science to protect whales and dolphins off Scotland’s west coast By Morven Summers, 21 February 2020, published by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Feature image shows a common dolphin in waters near the Summer Isles. Copyright to HWDT. Record numbers of volunteers took part in research expeditions organised …
Ocean-Dwelling Species Are Disappearing Twice as Quickly as Land Animals. The law of the Seas, a licence for lawlessness By Sally Campbell At the present time there is a seemingly bewildering array of treaties /protocols /conferences of international importance for the environment So what are they and what do they hope to achieve? Below is …
Protecting the oceans and standing tall for our marine environment By Sally Campbell I received a shock last week when I read in the paper that I am considered a member of a terrorist organisation, because I support an environmental group, namely Greenpeace. How many of us on Arran support environmental organisations? Historically, the first …
A report by Sally Campbell on the Coastal Futures Conference in London, January 2020 The annual Conference covered many aspects of the marine environment. It was day One which provided a wake-up call to us all as it covered Climate Change and the marine environment. The Climate Emergency 2019 may well go down as the …
An update from COAST’s Winter Newsletter What has the Scottish Government done in 2019? There is now very little doubt that the UK will be leaving the EU and there is grave concern that our hard fought environmental protection will be diluted. Protection must have no borders, be joined up and coherent to produce the …