After 15 years of campaiging and lobbying, the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) is celebrating the decision taken on Friday 19th September by the Scottish Parliament to establish Scotland's first 'No Take Zone' and marine conservation area in Lamlash Bay, Isle of Arran, the first of its kind in Scotland. With overwhelmingly positive responses to the public consultation in June, Friday's news will be widely welcomed by all groups who played a part in the campaign.

COAST were celebrated as 'Conservationists of the Year' at The Observer Ethical Conservation Awards in London in the Spring.  Other high profile publicity of the campaign and consequently, the Isle of Arran has been coverage on BBC programmes such as 'Landward' and 'Springwatch'.

Now that the No Take Zone has been established, COAST has an ongoing commitment to monitor the area. Clearly it is anticipated that there will be a positive impact on marine life, and a large part of the NTZ project is the government-funded scientific surveying, currently being undertaken by a state of the art Aberdeen-based vessel (which should not be mistaken for a fishing boat!) The scallop, for example, can travel 60 miles in its infancy to populate an area, and it is hoped that the NTZ will be a safe breeding bed from which the infants can disperse and repopulate the surrounding waters, leading to an increased stock for fishermen. The life cycle of the scallop in the area is around 6 years, so the research is very much a work in progress. The Marine Conservation Society has information on the impact of fishing methods on marine life.

Despite the NTZ being plainly demarcated on paper, the effects of pollutants and chemicals which drift by on tides and currents cannot be prevented, and there is concern over proposed neighbouring developments. In the past COAST has successfully campaigned for an effluent pipe to be taken outwith the Lamlash site and they are always aware of potential threats to the success of marine life in the No Take Zone. The COAST team are keen to share their experience and expertise with locals and other communities that may want to set up a similar model. 

For more news and to find out about research in the marine area go to www.arrancoast.co.uk