Marine Protection Areas

COAST (Community of Arran Seabed Trust) is a local, community based organisation with the objective of making the whole of Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran, a Marine Protected Area. The north end of the Bay has now been designated a ‘No Take Zone’ meaning that nothing can be caught or extracted from that area by anyone. It is hoped the rest of the Bay would be designated as an area from which commercial dredging and trawling would be prohibited. Scientific monitoring and analysis will be used to determine the success of the project, over a trial period. By protecting this area of seabed COAST hope to show that important species such as maerl and seagrass will flourish and commercial species such as scallops will regenerate. COAST wish to raise awareness and understanding of this beautiful and fascinating aspect of Arran’s natural heritage whilst raising the profile of community led marine conservation both in Arran and across Scotland. For further information about the No Take Zone and the potential threats from proposed fishing developments in the nearby sea, visit www.arrancoast.co.uk or e.mail secretary@arrancoast.co.uk