SMEEF’s £4m investment in Scotland’s marine environment is making waves.
To celebrate World Oceans Day SMEEF is excited to release our third Impact Report highlighting the important work we have done in the last year.
As Sir David Attenborough sharpens focus on the supreme value of our oceans there is no better time to celebrate the success of the programme. SMEEF grants have helped conservation strategies for flapper skate around Shetland and Fair Isle, some of the most threatened marine vertebrates, increased puffin breeding pair numbers by enabling the Scottish Seabird Centre to tackle invasive species on Craigleith Island and funded the University of Glasgow to precision modelling nature enhancement at marine offshore energy sites.
In the first few months of delivery of SMEEF’s £2.4 million funding partnership with SSEN Distribution, the Seagrass Meadows Scotland Programme has enabled four organisations to employ 19 people from coastal communities in Shetland, Wester Ross, Inverness and Kintyre so they can start the task of planting 14 hectares of seagrass.
“The projects we support will help achieve the aims and objectives of key national strategies including the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, the Scottish Seabird Action Plan and a Cetacean Conservation Strategy. SMEEF’s work is only made possible by the generous donations from businesses across Scotland, we are proud that from this year onwards our work will be entirely funded with voluntary private donations.” Said Sarah Brown, SMEEF Manager.
SMEEF’s aims of establishing a substantial and long running marine enhancement fund are coming to fruition with more than £4m of privately sourced finance committed to fund projects up until 2029. The fundraising continues!
Click here to read the full SMEEF Impact Report 3.