COAST works with scientists, fishers and the community to facilitate research that develops the knowledge base of the marine ecosystem around Arran. After years of doing survey work from a RIB the time was right for a versatile and suitably-specified boat to enable delivery of a wider marine restoration programme.
SMEEF’s funding of the Explorer vessel has made an enormous impact on work the COAST team has been able to undertake. Commissioned in 2022, the boat has been used for sea science; drop down camera and habitat mapping, seabird surveys, plankton hauls and water clarity tests, primary and secondary school work in curriculum enrichment, value-adding work with Arran Outdoor Education Centre, research surveys – independently and in partnership with universities and research establishments, beach cleans, dive charters, and more! It has allowed their seasonal deployment of a floating classroom – and a project to allow all of Arran’s schools and a number of North Ayrshire schools the opportunity to take part in citizen science has proven particularly popular. Over 500 primary school children took part in collective citizen science and marine education during 2024 alone.
It has enabled habitat mapping and species wellbeing assessments in North Arran’s unprotected seas – still used for bottom trawling and dredging. The datasets COAST are collating will feed into future planning on North Arran seas. There has been more community-led monitoring and research to help develop a marine conservation management plan across the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone and the South Arran Marine Protected Area. It has also been used to improve citizen science skills’ including for SeaSearch volunteers’ deployment.
The expectation is that COAST Explorer will go on making a significant difference to scientific knowledge and connection with island waters across communities of interest and place for a long time to come.
In 2021 SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £136,000 to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.