Please follow the links below for information on Marine Stewardship Fund and Communities & Renewables Fund Case Studies from 2005.
Shellfish Growers Code of Practice and Seminar
In association with The Crown Estate and Highland Council, the Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG) developed a code of practice for Scottish shellfish growers in 2005. The code promotes good practice and provides guidance on environmental and legislative issues within the industry.
The code of practice also provides shellfish producers a guide to site location and design, identifies common problem areas (noise and odour), highlights safety and navigational issues, recommends specific waste management strategies and draws attention to environmental concerns facing the industry at all stages of production. By operating in accordance to these protocols, local communities could be assured that the best possible practice is being followed by the industry.
The code of practice was launched at the 2005 annual ASSG conference in Oban, also funded through the Marine Stewardship Fund.
Marine Reserve Ranger
The St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (VMR) has been running for 20 years. The first of its kind in the UK, the VMR employs a full-time Ranger to undertake marine education and interpretation projects, survey work, visitor management (including the promotion of a voluntary code of practice for SCUBA divers), as well as liaising with residents of Eyemouth and St Abbs, local fishermen and businesses.
Working with Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish National Trust, the Marine Stewardship Fund has committed funds to secure the future of the Ranger post and the excellent work that has been achieved to date, from 2005 to 2008.
Liza Cole, the Marine Reserve Ranger for the St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve, said: "The Crown Estate's funding has been invaluable in helping us to continue to conserve one of Britain's last true wildernesses at St Abbs & Eyemouth, Scotland's only Voluntary Marine Reserve."
For further information please visit the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve website.
Biodiversity Projects
We developed three projects with the RSPB in Scotland during 2005:
In the Tay Estuary we granted funds for a biodiversity audit on reed beds which not only host diverse animal life, but are also harvested annually.
A site user survey at Culbin Sands to review pressures (bait digging, dog walking, motorbikes) that are believed to be affecting the wild bird populations.
We also helped to update the information RSPB volunteers provide to the public through the “Birds from the Boat” initiative on ferries to Arran and Ailsa Craig. This initiative was also repeated in 2006 in the lower Clyde, Firth of Forth and plans for the northern isles.
Fishing for Litter
Fishing for Litter is designed to involve fishermen in the reduction and removal of marine litter. Fishermen participating are asked to remove litter fouling their nets and take it to port (rather than returning it back into the sea) from where it is disposed. The project has been trialled as part of the Save the North Sea campaign and has proven successful. During 2005 and 2006 some 63 boats have already signed up to the scheme - which only operates in Scotland for the present.
We are happy to be a project partner with Fishing for Litter as the initiative helps tackle the growing problem of marine litter and, because it will begin to reduce some of the litter washed up on our shores, it ties in with our support of various beach cleaning initiatives around the coast.
For further information please visit the KIMO International website.
Marine Life Display Tanks
In 2005 the 'Here We Are' centre, Clachan, Loch Fyne, a learning resource centre (run in partnership with Argyll College) for the local community, added to their socio-economic, historical and environmental information on the area to residents and the people visiting the Loch. To develop their resources further and provide better educational material on the marine environment, The Marine Stewardship Fund supported 'Here We Are' with a live display of marine animals similar to those found in the Loch. Information on marine matters around Loch Fyne is set to accompany the display tanks.
The mini aquarium project is following best practice advice on animal husbandry and display maintenance by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Education Facilities
Located on the banks of Strangford Lough, the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s Castle Espie centre benefited from Crown Estate support in 2005 to develop interpretation materials on the international importance of Strangford Lough for migrating Brent geese, as well as providing better educational facilities for visiting groups.
A mural on the winter migrating birds found in Strangford Lough was produced in one of the hides overlooking the Lough, and a converted farm building has been upgraded with new teaching materials, including an overhead projector system, for visitor groups.
Emma Meredith, Learning Manager for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to see the support of the public and the interest that many people have in the birds on our shoreline. We feel very privileged to have received this funding from The Crown Estate to make our educational facilities even better.”
For further information please visit the Castle Espie website.
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Northumberland Underwater Guide
The underwater guide is the third in a series of brochures developed to highlight the important European habitats and birds of the Berwickshire and Northumberland area.
The guide describes the environmental designations of this area and their relevance; highlights the rocky reefs and soft seabed sediments and the marine life characteristic of the area; describes the effects of predators on sea life and notes the various codes of best practice that recreational sectors should follow (SCUBA diving and boating).
The project was supported by The Crown Estate in 2006 to raise awareness of the underwater environment and generate wider public appreciation of the management issues of this important marine and coastal site.
Jane Lancaster, European Marine Site Implementation Officer, said: "The Marine Stewardship Fund helped get my project off the ground. Once The Crown Estate had agreed to give me half the funding I needed for the underwater guide the rest of the funding flooded in. Now I have an excellent tool to allow people to understand the wealth of marine life which lies beneath the waves of the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site."
For further information please visit the xbordercurrents website.
Friends of the Forth
The Friends of the Forth initiative is a 3 year project (2005 to 2008) that aims to bring about a change in peoples’ perceptions of the local coastal and marine environment as well as making open spaces in the Firth of Forth a more attractive place to live and visit. The programme will promote the environment and heritage of the Forth through a range of resources and exhibitions.
A key element of this work will be to pick up the momentum generated by the Forth Estuary Forum’s very successful ‘Coastal Litter Campaign’ and support the local communities that surround the Forth in improving, maintaining and enhancing their local shoreline.
Project Officer Nickol Stewardson said: “'The major contribution provided by The Crown Estate to the 'Friends of the Forth' project has allowed me to focus fully and support community and volunteer-led environmental improvement initiatives throughout the Firth of Forth”.
For more information please visit the Forth Estuary Forum website.
Strontian Slipway
In 2006 a new slipway was constructed with support from The Crown Estate and other funders, which is expected to boost tourism along one of Scotland’s most beautiful west coast sea lochs. Strontian Moorings Association is overseeing the £20,000 public slipway project which is due to be ready in time for spring. The slipway, which will be free to use, will give boat enthusiasts access to the full length of Loch Sunart.
PowerPlay
PowerPlay is an education initiative displayed at the many events that are run along and around the Thames Estuary. It uses attractive information, interactive materials and a model turbine to educate children, and their parents, about the need for renewable energy and context of developments in the broader Thames Estuary. With well informed and approachable staff at hand the initiative is an effective means of delivering key messages and is a good example of what can be achieved through successful partnerships.
The project is run by Thames Estuary Partnership and supported through the Renewables and Communities Fund and by developers of Round One and Two offshore wind farms located in the broader Thames Estuary.
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