Coastal Communities Network Scotland

I’m obsessed with snorkelling in Scotland: starfish below, sea eagles overhead – and it really isn’t that cold Developing snorkelling trails is part of my job, but I never tire of the teeming underwater life and seeing some of the least crowded parts of Britain’s coast

I’m obsessed with snorkelling in Scotland: starfish below, sea eagles overhead – and it really isn’t that cold

Underwater close-up of a vibrant serpulid reef in Loch Creran, featuring spiral-shaped marine worms in red, green and white. Text overlay reads: “Ban on salmon farm polluting loch after 273 breaches.” Image credit to Graham Saunders and NatureScot, with The Ferret’s logo faintly visible in the top right corner.

🔴 NEW: A ban on a Norwegian salmon farming company dumping toxic pesticides in a Highland loch following 273 environmental breaches over six months has been strongly defended by the Scottish Government’s green watchdog.

Our latest: theferret.scot/salmo...

CCN priorities for the 2026 Scottish elections - CCN Scotland Community organisations from across Scotland’s coast have co-developed these priorities, drawing on their vast knowledge and experiences. These aim for an ecosystem based recovery of our marine and co...

The next Scottish Government will bring us to 2030, the milestone year where Scotland has committed to halting biodiversity loss. This makes next year's elections a critical moment for Scotland's seas.

Read CCN's priorities for the 2026 elections:
www.communitiesforseas.scot/2026-electio...

For more information or to book your place, please visit
www.berwickshiremarinereserve.org.uk/snorkel-fest...

@scotwildlife.bsky.social @bluemarinef.bsky.social

Scotland's first snorkel festival is happening in just a few weeks!

From the 27th - 29th June, there will be loads going on along the Berwickshire coast, including kids pool sessions, guided sea sessions,, photography competitions, and interesting talks 🐳

Arran seabed restoration championed by Sir David Attenborough As governments gather at the UN Oceans Conference, protections off Arran are hailed as an example in restoration.

"I just couldn't believe the regeneration that had happened and I was just swimming along with a demand valve in my mouth and a huge smile on my face. This is what it was all about"

Great to see this coverage of seabed recovery off Arran 🐟@arrancoast.bsky.social

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Our oceans are vital - for nature, climate, and people 🐟

This #WorldOceanDay, we would like to celebrate the communities across the coasts of Scotland who do incredible work to protect and restore our seas 🌊

🌊 Today is World Ocean Day 🤿
This short clip showcases just a tiny fraction of the incredible life we have in Scottish coastal waters.
There is so much out there, and it is all worthy of our protection!

#worldoceanday2025 #ocean #underwater #saltwaterlife #divediscoverdefend #scotland

Arran's COAST group lands £100k funding to help save marine life Arran's COAST campaigners win £100k to expand community consultations in a crucial next step in restoring Scotland's sea life

Lots of community discussions & consultations about to start on #Arran @arrancoast.bsky.social
@naturescot.bsky.social
www.ardrossanherald.com/news/2520988...

More than 135,000 cleaner fish have died at a Highland salmon farm run by Norwegian-owned Mowi, prompting welfare concerns and a formal complaint.

Read the full story: theferret.scot/13500...

Home Page - CCN Scotland Welcome to the Coastal Communities Network.

Delighted to join the inaugural Board of Trustees of @communitiesforseas.bsky.social!

This marks an exciting milestone for this network of community-led organisations and I’m honoured to support its mission and help shape its future.

👉 www.communitiesforseas.scot

Coastal Communities Network has received charitable status! - CCN Scotland Just this week, Coastal Communities Network has received charitable status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC054249)!We are really excited for this next chapter of CCN.

Exciting news - CCN has received charitable status!

We are so excited for this next chapter! Huge thank you to our members and supporters who have helped us reach this stage, and to @faunaflora.bsky.social for hosting the network over the past few years🌊

www.communitiesforseas.scot/coastal-comm...

Discharge of dangerous chemicals by a large vessel in Loch Hourn - CCN Scotland A serious pollution incident has poisoned a large area of the seabed in Loch Hourn duringthe night of April 19th. The Marine Directorate (MD) of the Scottish Government is currently investigating this...

In April, a serious pollution incident came to light in Loch Hourn when a fisherman found his catch dead and smelling strongly of bleach. It is still not clear exactly what happened.

Read Friends of Loch Hourn's outline of the event and its aftermath: www.communitiesforseas.scot/discharge-of...

🌊 Sea Scotland 2025🌊
This autumn, ahead of next year’s election, we will host our first ever Ocean Hustings, in partnership with @youth4seas.bsky.social

Discuss plans to support our marine environment and coastal communities with Scottish political parties:
www.seascotland.scot/sea-scotland...

Vacancy page | KCN Details of vacancies at KCN.

Last chance to apply for this exciting post as a part-time Seagrass Officer with Kintyre Coastal Network! 🌱

If you want to support practical conservation work along the Kintyre coast and work with a small, friendly team, this could be the role for you! 🌊

www.kintyrecoastalnetwork.org/vacancypage

Image detailing the Youth Ocean Action Fund. At the top it says Applications are open with two boxes below. The first, in white, says 'What is the fund for?' and describes campaign and advocacy activities that might fit the fund. The second box, in blue, details the two types of grant available - Individual £25 to £150 and Project/Campaign £100 to £500 available.

Applications for our Youth Ocean Action Fund are now OPEN! 🐳

With grants for both individuals and projects/campaigns, there's funding available to support your ocean advocacy, whatever that looks like!

All info and how to apply: youthforseas.org/action-fund ✊

Passionate about protecting Scotland's wildlife and habitats? The #NatureOfScotland Awards seeks out the unsung heroes dedicated to conservation efforts across the country. Know a person, project or partnership that fits the bill? Apply by 27 May bit.ly/natureofscot...

📣 Got ideas for an ocean advocacy campaign? Want to attend an event or training to develop your marine skills? 💡

We're launching a Youth Ocean Action Fund to support young people to make their innovative ocean advocacy ideas a reality✊

Read more 👉 youthforseas.org/action-fund 🧠

Moray Ocean Community | Marine Conservation in the Moray Firth Join Moray Ocean Community in protecting the Moray Firth’s marine ecosystems. Connecting locals and visitors with nature and conservation whilst having fun!

CCN members Moray Ocean Community have launched their brand new website! Have a look to learn more about the group, find out what they have been up to, and find some great citizen science resources 🐳 www.morayoceancommunity.co.uk

There are so many incredible organisations working to protect our seas & coasts that you might never have heard of! We've rounded up 10 you need to know about.

Head to the news section on our website to check it out (🔗in bio), and stay tuned for Part 2!

#MarineConservation #Scotland #OceanAction

Community groups and environmental campaigners join forces to urge government action on marine protection - Scotlink In a briefing event for journalists and policymakers on Wednesday, environmental and community groups jointly criticised the Scottish government’s slow progress on marine protection. The event was hos...

On Wednesday we hosted a briefing event with the Coastal Communities Network which jointly criticised the Scottish government's slow progress on on marine protection, and urged action.

Read more:

www.scotlink.org/community-gr...

Some exciting job opportunities have opened up at the Berwickshire Marine Reserve for the Summer period⬇️

🐋1 x Head Ranger
🐬2 x Marine Rangers

The deadline to apply: Midnight, Sunday 20th April⏰
Find out more on their website: www.berwickshiremarinereserve.org.uk/vacancies-1

Salmon farms file 210 appeals to 'sabotage' lice controls Salmon farms have lodged 210 appeals against controls on lice infestations imposed by the Scottish Government’s environment watchdog.

“The industry claims to be the best regulated in the world, and yet takes legal action against any attempts to implement regulation”
theferret.scot/salmo...

This is a really great opportunity for young people to help shape the future of Scotland's seas 🌊

The Leopard-spot goby (Thorogobius ephippiatus) is a small, cryptic fish species often seen by divers in the South Arran MPA. It belongs to the Gobiidae family, a diverse group of bottom-dwelling fish. This species is known for its striking pattern of dark spots on a pale body, #Biodiversity #Marine

🤿 Online talk 🤿Join us for an exciting presentation by Bethany Walsh, unveiling her MSc research on marine recreation around the Isle of Arran.

The talk will be 1 hour with an opportunity for Q&A at the end.
Tickets are FREE but donations welcome. Book your place at: bit.ly/MarineRecreationTalk.

If your community has united to take action for nature in your local area, share your story, and enter our #NatureOfScotland Community Initiative award!🙌

We want to celebrate your innovative ideas and positive impact 👉 bit.ly/NatureofScotland

First puffins of the year spotted!👀📢

We spotted our very first puffins of 2025 over the weekend on our Craigleith live camera: seabird.org/webcams/crai...

📷©️Nicol Nicolson

Pholis gunnellus, found in UK shallow coastal waters Butterfish prefers hiding in crevices or burrowing into the seabed. It's an adaptable and resilient species, capable of surviving in intertidal zones where it can be exposed to fluctuating temperatures and salinity levels. #MPAsWork

How One Scottish Community is Restoring a Critical Marine Environment The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) transforms marine data into maps, empowering their advocacy for coastal protection in Scotland.

The Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran—the UK's first community-led marine protected area—is managed by volunteers who use GIS to map underwater conditions, collect research data, monitor biodiversity, and record the remarkable comeback from trawling. www.esri.com/about/newsro...