With SMEEF funding the Community of Arran Seabed Trust Eyes on the Sea project was able to do a LOT! They purchased a range of new equipment and trained up staff and volunteers in their use. COAST is now significantly better-equipped to support citizen scientist volunteers the 2026 research season and beyond.
They successfully completed training for:
- 11 Snorkel Instructors, enabling all to achieve BSAC accreditation
19 Seasearch Observers, through snorkel and dive courses
70 Marine Life ID workshop attendees over 3 online sessions.
With SMEEF funding, COAST and training partners positively impacted the knowledge, skills, motivation towards citizen science, community engagement and education of over 100 individuals, more than double the original target number.
Thanks to this grant they have an additional 25 local people signed up to a shoreside Marine Life Identification course later in the year such has been the enthusiastic reception of our training and the Arran community appetite shown for more marine environment protection!
“We now have connection with more than 125 individuals trained in Snorkel Instruction, Seasearch Snorkel and Dive research methods, and Marine Life identification – a cohort 250% larger than initially anticipated, opening up huge scope for more research, more community education and engagement through the season this year and beyond, and more advocacy for policy change beneficial to the marine environment, the climate and coastal communities whose history and sustainability are intertwined with ocean health.”
In 2025 SMEEF was able to provide total grants of £16,381 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.