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Kildonan seagrass © COAST

The Coastal Communities Network Newsletter
February 2022
 
This is my first newsletter as the new CCN Coordinator. I'm delighted to have joined this remarkable network of communities taking action for Scotland's seas and coasts. I have been in post only three weeks now, but am already stuck in helping members with consultation responses, giving the wesbite a face lift, and thinking ahead to development of the network over the next two years. I will be contacting all CCN member groups individually through next month to chat about the work you do and your priorities, with a view to seeing how I can best support you in those. So do keep an eye out for my email!
 

Alan Munro
CCN Coordinator
Welcome to our latest CCN member
 
We are delighted to announce that Largo Communities Together has become the 20th CCN member!  LCT is a registered charity established by the community that borders and surrounds the beautiful Largo Bay in the North East of Fife. LCT hope to become involved in the Restoration Forth project and inspire their communities to get more involved in oyster/seagrass restoration. Check them out on our member's page.
 
We also welcome the Kilchoan Estate as a new Friend of CCN.  The Estate is located on the Degnish Peninsula on the banks of Loch Melfort where they are currently restoring the native oyster population in Loch Melfort.
Did you catch the debate in Parliament on Ariane Burgess MSP’s motion? It was a fantastic celebration of CCN and many of CCN’s individual member groups. I found it  extremely inspiring to hear your collective work raised in Parliament and the need for our seas to be managed differently. You should be very proud of what your groups, and CCN as a collective, have achieved!
Clyde cod spawning closure
 
Areas of the Firth of Clyde have been closed for all fishing between 14 February and 30 April in 2022 and 2023, to protect cod during their spawning season.

For the past 20 years, an area of the Clyde supposedly closed to fishing to protect spawning cod had been subject to exemptions which allowed bottom-trawling and scallop dredging to continue operating in the area. We were therefore delighted to hear Ministers announcing a removal of those exemptions in a bid to promote cod recovery, however, concerned that they also banned low-impact fisheries such as creel fishing and hand-diving.

Following a bit of to-ing and fro-ing, the Scottish Government took the strange step to u-turn entirely on their plans, in a bid to appease mobile fishing interests. Changes to the closure now favour mobile fishing and reduce the size of the closure by 28%. More worringly, these decision have been taken without public consultation.

The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs Islands & Natural Environment is currently scrutinising the decision follwowing an evidence call.

Forth Lines is an Edinburgh Shoreline and Restoration Forth exhibition – remembering, reconnecting and restoring our firth. Follow the entire Forth Lines coast for the first time at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh until 22nd April 2022.
Independent aquaculture review
 
An independent review of how fish farms are regulated is underway.  Professor Russel Griggs OBE was tasked by the Scottsh Government to make recommendations for how best to reform and streamline the system. The first stage of this review is now complete and Pressor Griggs has presented his findings to Mairi Gougeon MSP Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands.  You can read his report here. 

Members of CCN's aquaculture subgroup have been reviewing the report and will be meeting with Marine Scotland's Aquaculture Policy team on the 8th March to discuss their initial impressions.  We are very concerned that among all the issues presented in the report, and indeed those that have been left out, is the overall presumption of the review being very much  that salmon farming is sustainable and of economic benefit to Scotland, and therefore should continue to be expanded. Professor Grigg's cites that communities are generally supportive of aquaculture where it is present, but does not back this up with evidence. We intend to draft a response to the Minister to highlight our concerns .
 Volunteering opportunities with The Wild Oysters Project

“The Wild Oysters project is aiming to restore Britain’s seas to health through the restoration of the native oyster! Oyster reefs clean our coastal waters and create an important habitat for other marine animals. Native oysters were once commonly found in UK seas, however populations across Europe have declined by 95% since the 1800s. With this decline, we have also lost the benefits they provided.
 
Get involved in helping to protect your local waters and the biodiversity that lives within through volunteering. If you already work in the conservation/marine sector, are thinking about a career in this field or in education or if you just have an interest in our work then we would love to have you here! As part of our work we carry out biodiversity monitoring and mortality checks monthly and will regularly be working with school groups.
 
If you would like to get involved in the Firth of Clyde oyster restoration efforts, please get in touch with David & Diane by emailing oysters@clydeporpoise.org or through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/wildoystersscotland”
 Funding opportunities

THighland & Islands Environment Foundation
The closing date for the next round of HIEF grants will be 9am, Monday 7th March 2022.

British Ecological Society Outreach grants
The British Ecology Society is offering grants of up to £2,000 to support projects that promote and engage the public with the science of ecology. The application deadline is the 18th March at 17:00 GMT.
Information about the grants and how to apply.
 
Community-led Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Equipment Fund
The NatureScot Monitoring Equipment Fund is still open and accepting applications on a rolling basis. Information about the Equipment Fund and how to apply.  Feel free to contact Maddy with any questions.  Please share this funding opportunity widely amongst your networks.

Rewilding Innovation Fund
Rewilding groups across the UK can now apply to the Rewilding Innovation Fund, launched by Rewilding Britain. The new fund will boost locally-led land and sea nature recovery projects, with a particular focus on health and wellbeing. Check out the press release.
 
The CCN Community Support Fund

The Community Support Fund is a dedicated small grant fund operated by Fauna & Flora International to support member groups of the Coastal Communities Network.  Grants can be sought by Network members for discrete projects, to build the capacity or governance of a group, or to support learning and development.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and there is no deadline - feel free to get in touch to discuss any ideas!
Find out more
CCN  Blogs

We are always looking for ideas for blogs or blog contributions. Send them to info@communitiesforea.scot
 
CCN Facebook Group

Did you know that the Coastal Communities Network has a Facebook Group for Members?  If you are a Member, Supporter or Friend of the Network, then join the group!
Join here
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