Coastal Communities Network Newsletter August 2022

CCN Forum updates

Aquaculture
Following CCN's meeting with the Cabinet Secretary & Minister for Environment & Land Reform, we requested representation on the newly established Scottish Aquaculture Council. This request was denied, meaning there is currently no organisaiton representing the community impact of the industy in this group. We continue pressuring Marine Scotland to ensure there is opportunity for community input.

Sadly, CCN group Friends of Loch Creran has disbanded for the time being. We are working to see what we can do to support its revival.

Restoration
The CCN Restoration Forum have produced a community vision for marine restoration in Scotland, which communicates a desire for a community-led model to restoration and what CCN considers key for this to happen. Groups continue to meet regularly to discuss how to take forward this vision.

Marine plastics
The CCN Marine Plastics Forum held a joint workshop with Scottish Islands Federation (supported by Marine Conservation Society) on the proposed Circular Economy Bill. Scottish Government's Circular Economy Team joined us and explained their proposals for a circular economy in Scotland and its relevance to coastal communities. The consultations for new legislation and a route map have now closed and we await the consultation analysis report.

CCN is now a member of the Marine Litter Strategy Steering Group, following a meeting with Marine Scotland.

CCN east coast gathering

Six CCN members on Scotland's east coast convened for aday at the Ecology Centre in Kinghorn. The focus of the gathering was about establishing connections between the different CCN groups, many of whom had not met each other face-to-face before, and learn about one another's challenges.

We were also teated to a demonstration on the benefits of seagrass restoration, as well as talks by Snorkel Wild and Fife Coast & Countryside Trust on the fabulous diversity of coastal and marine life that can be found around east coast Scotland.

Our very own Disney Conservation Hero

This month John Aitchison of Friends of the Sound of Jura was awarded with the Disney Conservation Hero award, for which he was nominated by Fauna & Flora International for outstanding conservation efforts.

Read his recent interview with FFI and hear some of the inspiring conservation work he is doing to safeguard Scotland's seas.

CCN website update
The CCN wesbite has had a facelift to keep it looking current. Check it out! communitiesforseas.scot

Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy (closes 12th September)

The Scottish Government is consulting to get views on how we should tackle the biodiversity crisis.

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. Get in touch to discuss ideas!

Scottish Marine Envirionmental Enhancement Fund
The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund is open for expressions of interest, with grants of up to £100K available to groups for restoration (and activities related to). More information is available on the website.

Crown Estate Scotland Sustainable Communities Fund
The Sustainable Communities Fund (SCF) was started in 2020 to support local regeneration and sustainable development. It has two grant programmes, currently open to applications.

Community Capacity Grants, which provide early stage financial support for community enterprise projects. This programme is open to all communities up to five miles from Scotland’s coastline or within five miles of our rural estates
Environment Grants, which provide funding to Crown Estate Scotland tenants only, for projects which can deliver demonstrable environmental benefits within 18 months of award of funds

In case you missed it!

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