Marine Directorate Communications

Written 357 posts

Highlights from the MASTS Annual Science Meeting 2024 

12th November 2024

Marine Directorate scientists recently attended the MASTS (Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland) Annual Science Meeting, where they explored critical marine science topics like blue carbon, sustainable marine resources, and marine ecosystem health. This gathering emphasized the importance of innovative research in addressing marine sustainability and climate change challenges.  Workshops Towards Shaping Our…

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Marine Fund Scotland helps serve up ‘Seafood in Schools’

5th November 2024

Marine Fund Scotland has awarded over £55m, since 2021, to support projects that contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, support coastal communities, and contribute to Scotland’s net zero ambitions.   In 2022 Seafood Scotland identified a gap in the education system for children to learn about the seafood sector. They wanted to raise awareness…

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Outcome of the 2023 annual meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission

23rd November 2023

The annual meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC) took place between 14-17 November 2023 in London, with parties agreeing on a number of proposals which aim to ensure the conservation and best use of fishery resources in the NEAFC Regulatory Area.

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Outcome of Coastal States consultations on mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring

25th October 2023

Consultations between the Coastal States and Fishing Parties in the North-East Atlantic: the UK, EU, Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Russian Federation, have now concluded with agreement on 2024 catch limits for shared pelagic stocks. Agreed records for mackerel, blue whiting and Atlanto-Scandian herring were finalised on 18 October 2023 and set out…

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Bringing the ocean into climate conversations

27th September 2023

Scotland’s Climate Week is an annual event in Scottish Government’s Let’s Do Net Zero campaign that encourages individuals, communities and businesses to come together to show support for tackling the climate emergency.

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Responsible wildlife watching around seals

19th September 2023

Scotland is well known for our diverse flora and fauna, both on land and in the sea. Some of the most iconic species seen around our coasts are seals. Scotland is home to around a third of the world population of grey seals and around 5% of the world population of harbour seals.

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Pink salmon: an invasive non-native species

7th September 2023

The Scottish Government is working with Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS), NatureScot and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to co-ordinate a monitoring programme for pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), an invasive non-native species present in Scotland’s rivers. Data collected from this monitoring will guide the appropriate management response.  

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Remembering Helen Stormonth Ogilvie (1880-1960)

17th May 2023

On this day in 1880, Helen Stormonth Ogilvie was born who, as far as we know, was the first woman to be employed by the Fisheries Board for Scotland, now the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government. Born in Dundee, Helen Ogilvie studied at Dundee University College at the time it became affiliated to St…

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COP27 blog series: Scotland keen to take actions to protect marine environment

18th November 2022

Results from a survey on ocean literacy commissioned as part of Understanding Ocean Literacy and Ocean Climate-related Behaviour Change in the UK published.

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COP27 blog series: targeted tree planting provides a nature-based solution

16th November 2022

The Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy aims to reverse the decline of wild salmon by tackling pressures such as changing river temperatures. Trees can reduce river temperatures by reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the water surface, much like natural parasols. By increasing the amount of woodland next to rivers it is possible to reduce some of the effects of climate change on river temperature.

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