Marine Scotland

  • Plastic Free July

    13th July 2021 by

    Today is Plastic Bag Free Day, a global initiative that aims to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags. So, to acknowledge this day, we’d like to highlight some of the important work that we, in Marine Scotland, do to reduce the amount of plastic and marine litter from entering our amazing aquatic environment.

    Read more

  • Identification of Sabellaria spinulosa reef on the Scottish east coast

    2nd December 2020 by

    The Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme has commissioned research to confirm the existence of Sabellaria spinulosa (Sabellaria) in reef form.

    Read more

  • Sharks, skates and rays

    13th August 2020 by

    It’s shark week and with over 30 species of sharks, skates and rays recorded in Scottish waters there’s a lot to celebrate! Sharks are part of the elasmobranch family, which also includes skates and rays. Elasmobranchs differ from other fish in the sea by having a skeletal structure made out of cartilage as opposed to…

    Read more

  • Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Programme Firth of Forth

    29th November 2019 by

    MRV Alba na Mara Programme   Survey: 2119A   Duration: 28 November – 2 December 2019   Sampling Gear: BT 158 with 50 mm cod-end 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end Day grab and table Catamaran and neuston net   Objectives: To undertake flatfish sampling in St Andrews Bay, Inner Firth of Forth and…

    Read more

  • King Scallop Surveys in the Clyde

    7th October 2019 by

    MRV Alba na Mara Survey: 1719A Programme Duration: 4 – 18 October 2019 Objectives: Carry out a dredge survey of king scallops in the Clyde. Age, measure and assess shell damage for all king scallops caught. Collect information on by-catch of other commercial fish and shellfish species. Identify and quantify all starfish species in all…

    Read more

  • Scallops, Starfish and Heavy Metal

    24th June 2019 by

    MRV Alba na Mara Survey: 1019A Programme Duration: 15 June – 04 July 2019 Fishing Gear: Scallop dredges Objectives: Carry out a survey of scallop stocks on the East Coast. Age, measure and assess shell damage on all scallops caught. Collect information on by-catch of other commercial fish and shellfish species. Identify and quantify numbers…

    Read more

  • Mud, Fish and Marine Litter

    23rd January 2019 by

    The first survey of the year for the MRV Scotia (0119S) involved sailing around Scotland for two weeks collecting a range of samples such as: water, fish, mud, marine litter. Below is a picture of the team obviously looking forward to being away for two weeks. The Scotia sailed from Leith on a surprisingly calm…

    Read more

  • St Andrews Bay on St Andrews Day

    14th December 2018 by

    Survey: 1918A Alba na Mara Programme Duration: 29 November – 3 December 2018 Sampling Gear: BT 158 with 50 mm cod-end; 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end; Day grab and table; Catamaran, and Neuston trawl net. On 29th November Alba na Mara departed Leith at 07:00 hrs to sail up the Forth Estuary and…

    Read more

  • Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Programme

    30th November 2018 by

    Survey: 1918A Alba na Mara Programme Duration: 29 November – 3 December 2018 Sampling Gear: BT 158 with 50 mm cod-end; 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end; Day grab and table; Catamaran and neuston net Objectives: To undertake flatfish sampling in St Andrews Bay, Outer Firth of Forth and the Forth estuary (Tancred) in support of the…

    Read more

  • Looking for flatfish with the Sir John Murray

    30th October 2017 by

    Duration: 31 October – 8 November 2017 Sampling Gear: Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) – 2 m beam trawl with 50 mm cod-end SEPA – Demersal trawl with 50 mm cod-end SEPA – Day grab and table Marine Scotland Science (MSS) – Catamaran and neuston net Objectives: To undertake flatfish and sediment sampling in the…

    Read more