Our Vision
An Aithris-lèirsinn againn
Our seas become healthy – supporting marine life, enabling coastal communities to thrive and inspiring future generations.
Gum fàs na cuantan againn slàn – a’ toirt taic do bheatha na mara, a’ toirt cothrom do choimhearsnachdan na h-oirthire soirbheachadh agus a’ brosnachadh nan ginealaichean ri teachd.
Our Mission
An Aithris-rùin againn
Arran is a model for community driven marine recovery by:
- Empowering communities
- Inspiring action
- Influencing policy makers
- Conducting research
- Supporting the Arran marine economy
Tha Arainn na mhodail airson ath-bheòthachadh na mara air a stiùireach leis a’ choimhearsnachd:
A’ toirt cumhachd do choimhearsnachdan
A’ brosnachadh gnìomh
A’ toirt buaidh air luchd dealbhachadh-phoileasaidhean
A’ dèanamh rannsachadh
A’ toirt taic do dh’eaconamaidh na mara ann an Arainn
Our Aims
Na h-Amasan againn
To co- produce with the Arran community on the management & use of the waters around Arran & the Clyde.
A cho-obrachadh le coimhearsnachd Arainn a chum leasachadh riaghladh is cleachdadh nan uisgeachan timcheall Arainn agus Chluaidh.
To raise awareness about the marine environment and increase activism for its recovery and protection.
Mothachadh a thogail mu àrainneachd na mara agus iomairteachd àrdachadh airson a h-ath-shlànachaidh is dìona.
To continue to research the health, economic value and social benefits of the seas around Arran and the Clyde.
A leantainn oirnn le ar rannsachadh mu shlàinte, luach eaconamach agus bhuannachdan sòisealta nan cuantan timcheall Arainn agus Chluaidh.
To support fishers, local businesses and organisations to benefit from the recovering marine environment, acting in a sustainable manner.
A thoirt taic dha iasgairean, gnìomhachasan is buidhnean ionadail gus buannachd fhaighinn bho ath-shlànachadh àrainneachd na mara, ag obair ann an dòigh sheasmhach.
To utilise research and learnings to better inform decision makers and to influence government policy.
A chleachdadh Rannsachadh agus ionnsachadh gus fiosrachadh nas fheàrr a thoirt do luchd-co-dhùnaidh agus buaidh a thoirt air poileasaidh an riaghaltais.
To make this happen, we work on campaigns and projects that promote sustainable inshore fisheries and aquaculture practices and regulation, often as part of networks, like the Coastal Communities Network, and partnerships, like the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership.
We work with scientists, fishermen and the community to facilitate research that develops the knowledge base of our marine ecosystem, for effective decision-making to protect and restore valuable marine habitats and species.
We build local capacity and awareness for community-led marine conservation with innovative and participatory marine education and communications. We enjoy sharing our experience with other communities and building awareness of our marine environment through the COAST Discovery Centre & aboard RV COAST Explorer. We run a unique and specialised calendar of events to engage people in our beatiful seas.
COAST achievements
Over the past 20 years, COAST’s people have achieved important changes for marine protection and restoration:
Lamlash Bay Community Marine Reserve (No Take Zone)
Establishment and ongoing management of Scotland’s only No Take Zone designated as a Community Marine Reserve in 2008 – we were awarded the Observer Eco Award in the same year. Key results show increased biodiversity, more juvenile scallops and larger lobsters within the NTZ.
South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA)
Preparation and submission of the South Arran MPA proposal was completed in May 2012. This 280 km² area was ratified by Scottish Natural Heritage and Marine Scotland and put to the Scottish Government in December 2012. In 2013 COAST received over 1400 responses in support of the South Arran MPA, more than any other Scottish MPA. The South Arran MPA was designated in July 2014 and a Marine Conservation Order legislating for its management measures came into effect on 8th February 2016.
Coastal Communities Network
COAST worked alongside Fauna & Flora to establish the Coastal Communities Network, which now comprises 25 community organisations across Scotland and is continually growing larger and gaining a significant voice to powerfully influence policy ensuring community voices are heard regarding marine management decisions.
The Discovery Centre (Scotland’s first MPA visitor centre)
The run down Old Pavilion building and land was purchased in 2016 and refurbished in 2017-2018 and opened to the public in July 2018 as the Octopus Centre, now known as the COAST Discovery Centre.
RV COAST Explorer
In May 2022 we officially launched our Research Vessel COAST Explorer. RV COAST Explorer was built and customised for multiple activities including Research Charters, Educational groups, Citizen Science workshops, Dive Charters as well as community engagement.
Public Recognition and Media Presence
COAST has been widely recognised for the impact they have made. The Trust won the 2008 Observer Ethical Award, for Conservation Project of the Year, the Nature of Scotland Award for Marine Conservation in 2014 and Howard Wood, Co-founder, was recognised, on behalf of the community, through the Goldman Environmental Prize (Europe) for grassroots activism in 2015 and an OBE in 2016. In 2016 COAST obtained the “Spirit of the Community” environmental award from the Clydesdale Bank Foundation.
COAST have been described as ‘pathfinders’ by George Monbiot in February 2016 and Greenpeace recently used our marine reserve as one of their three global case studies in the Protect the Antarctic Ocean campaign.
Media coverage of our work and achievements stimulates the democratic debate on marine protected areas and fisheries nationally and raises the profile of COAST and Arran. The PR and marketing value of TV coverage to the economy of Arran and the Clyde from the BBC, Aljazeera, ITV as well as French and German stations is considerable. COAST features nearly every week in the island newspaper, the Arran Banner, and almost every issue of the monthly online Voice for Arran. This is reinforced by our active social media presence and regular coverage in national papers and broadcast outlets such as The Scotsman and Good Morning Scotland (BBC Radio Scotland). Just in summer 2018 COAST’s story has featured in BBC Springwatch, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Sunday Times Magazine and the Sunday Mail.
Strong influence on marine policy
For a small community organisation COAST has had real influence on marine policy in Scotland and the UK, and has driven the Clyde ecosystem restoration debate. This led to the publication of five academic marine papers. On the basis of these we urged Marine Scotland to produce the Clyde Ecosystem Review (2012) which led to a Clyde 2020 Summit in April 2014 and the creation of a Clyde sub-group within the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland. No Take Zone research informs this debate and helps us make the case for more marine spatial management measures as an active member of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership, responsible for a Regional Spatial Management Plan for the Clyde.