Tag: marine

Environment groups urge public to respond to consultation on Scotland’s seas

26 Oct 2026

Leading environment charities have today (26 October) launched a major campaign action to help the public to respond to a large-scale Scottish government consultation on protections for Scotland’s seas. Scottish Environment LINK, a coalition of more than 50 charities including the Marine Conservation Society and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, says the consultation is the biggest […]

LINK Summary of ESS’s assessment of Scottish seafloor protections

13 Aug 2026

In June 2026, Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) published an official investigation evaluating the Scottish Government’s performance in protecting the marine environment. The report concludes that Scotland has failed to meet its statutory target of achieving “Good Environmental Status” (GES) for the seabed—set for and missed in 2020—and identifies critical deficiencies in policy design, environmental monitoring, […]

Naturesave funding will boost urgent nationwide action for Scotland’s seas

02 Jul 2026

Scottish Environment LINK has secured vital grant funding from The Naturesave Trust, which will help mobilise nationwide action to protect Scotland’s rapidly degrading marine environment. This crucial initiative will focus on mobilising public support for marine protected areas and applying coordinated pressure on the Scottish government to deliver a robust, well-managed and ecologically effective marine […]

Giving Scotland’s coastal communities a stronger voice in marine management.

24 Sep 2025

Across Scotland, communities are increasingly calling for a more active role in the caring for their local seas, whether through co-managing local marine areas, leading conservation projects, or shaping the decisions that affect their coasts. These ambitions reflect a wider global movement toward more inclusive, locally grounded approaches to nature restoration and environmental governance. Scotland’s […]

Scottish deep sea protections: a welcome step after years of delay

11 Sep 2025

The Scottish government announced new fisheries management measures for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) on 1 September, marking an important step in fulfilling its obligations to protect marine wildlife across a large area of Scotland’s seas. Scotland’s offshore MPAs – those beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore – were designated more than 10 years ago [...]

Deepening our understanding of life below the waves: introducing ocean literacy

09 Jul 2025

By Rebecca Crawford, Marine Policy Officer at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Introduction As a maritime nation with over 900 islands and one of the longest coastlines in Europe, the marine cultural heritage of Scotland is deeply ingrained. However, there is a disconnect between people and the ocean, with many people now calling for a better […]

Dear Cabinet Secretary, we love Scotland’s seas. Please protect them before it’s too late.

21 Jan 2025

We asked supporters to write personal messages to Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, telling her why they care about Scotland’s seas. The messages came from across the country, from people with first-hand experience of the decline of our seas, and from people concerned about the world their children and grandchildren will inherit if we don’t act now.

Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network in 2024 – where are we now?

19 Dec 2024

Introduction Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated spaces of the ocean and seas where human activities are regulated to protect natural resources and biodiversity. These areas are well-evidenced conservation tools to preserve marine species and habitats  and enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems against threats such as climate change and overfishing. Scotland, like many countries, […]

Out of sight, out of mind? Why we should care about protecting the deep sea

05 Sep 2024

The deep sea is one of those mysterious parts of planet earth – or should that be planet ocean? It’s so far away and out of reach that most people only hear about it occasionally in the news or on wildlife documentaries. But did you know that deep sea ecosystems have a powerful influence on […]

Upskilling the next generation of marine scientists and policy makers

15 Jul 2024

Blog by Fanny Royanez, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer at Scottish Environment LINK. Today, on the 15th of July, we celebrate the 10th World Youth Skills Day, a day dedicated to empowering young people by equipping them with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable […]

By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. more information

The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this.

Close