Trip to Arran Natural History Society

A couple of phone pictures from my trip to Arran where I gave a talk to the Arran Natural History Society.  http://www.arranwildlife.co.uk/
Carl

Kintyre from Blackwaterfoot on Arran Thursday evening.

Fishing boat entering East Loch Tarbert Friday afternoon.  The colours are not enhanced - just straight off the phone...

CalMac at Lochranza.

Arran COAST - February Newsletter

www.arrancoast.com/

Community Of Arran Seabed Trust

About Community of Arran Seabed Trust

COAST is a not for profit, voluntary community group which recognises and values the amazing marine biodiversity right on our shoreline and the need to protect it.

COAST's vision: That the No Take Zone (NTZ) will protect Maerl beds and other seabed habitats, regenerate fish and scallop populations and enhance the marine biodiversity in Lamlash Bay.

COAST also endeavers to:
Educate others, especially children, on the need for marine conservation through local, national and international events.
Improve the marine environment in our own "backyard" and determine success through monitoring.
Help sustain the livelihood of those dependant on fishing and tourism.
Increase the popularity of the area as both a diving site and tourist destination.
Reverse the dramatic decline of local fish stocks.

What is a No Take Zone?
A NTZ is an area of sea and seabed from which no marine life can be removed by any method.
The NTZ was established in the autumn of 2008 to protect Maerl beds and to promote natural regeneration of all marine life. It benifits the local economy by attracting visitors and divers to Arran. Eventually commercial fishermen gain with bigger and better catches in the neighbouring overspill areas.
Scientific evidence from New Zealand show that NTZ's do work, so the future looks positive for Lamlash Bay.
C.O.A.S.T.

Arran Wildlife Festival to take a break

The Arran Wildlife Festival - which has been running for the past five years, is to take a break in 2011.  Their newsletter says...

"With the end of funding, over the last two months Arran Natural History Society, in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Scottish Natural Heritage, National Trust for Scotlandand Forestry Commission Scotland has considered various options for the future. This partnership has tried to determine what is both manageable and sustainable within available resources, people as well as finance, and came to the decision at their meeting last week that throughout this year its efforts will be put into developing a variety of projects, including developing a website, running walks and producing publications. These will be based around the aims and principles of the festival and the Arran Natural History Society. The energies of the volunteers will be absorbed in these priorities and therefore the decision has been taken that this partnership will not be organising an Arran Wildlife Festival in 2011."



http://www.arranwildlife.co.uk/index.html