World Ocean Day: protecting at least 30% Scotland’s seas for ecosystem recovery
Meeting commitments to protect at least 30% of Scottish seas for ecosystem recovery by 2030 Evidence is growing to show that the health of Scotland’s seas has been in decline for some time. Seabed habitats are a shadow of what they once were, fish stocks have dwindled, and coastlines are changing due to the […]
Are you wanting to encounter marine wildlife this Bank Holiday?
The coastal waters of Scotland are home to several marine mammal species like bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise and seals. It’s more common than you think to encounter them and, working for WDC on our Shorewatch project, I am fortunate enough to record numerous sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the Scottish coastline. As a […]
Reflections on the Clyde Cod spawning closure
What can we learn about making fisheries management effective for nature conservation? A short-term fisheries closure for the protection of spawning (breeding) cod came into force on 14th February for 11 weeks. This is an annual closure, but this year the process has taken a different turn.
How will COP26 Deliver Recovery for Scottish Seas?
A blog by Esther Brooker, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer. Scotland has been well and truly in the global limelight for the past weeks, with the high-profile UN Conference of the Parties for Climate Change (COP26) being co-hosted by the UK and Italian Governments in Glasgow [1].
Avoiding a chemical crisis for Scotland’s seas
Author: Hannah Evans, Project Officer, Fidra We’ve all heard about the devasting effects of plastic pollution and we know our relationship with single-use materials needs to change. We’ve seen plastic bottles, food containers and shopping bags floating in the seas. We’ve watched footage of marine life swimming in a fog of our disposable […]
Agreement between Scottish Government and Scottish Greens must be next wave in ocean recovery
Last week the Scottish Government and Scottish Green Party announced a co-operation agreement and shared policy programme, the first of its kind in the UK. Whilst not exhaustive, and still to be voted on by Scottish Green members, many welcome commitments are included