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In the waters off the Isle of Arran, an ambitious new chapter in marine rewilding is unfolding. The (COAST), a trailblazing force behind Scotland鈥檚 first 鈥� and still only 鈥� No Take Zone (NTZ), is now leading a bold effort to bring their inspiring community-led rewilding approach to more of Arran鈥檚 struggling coastal seas.

The latest beneficiaries of the Rewilding Challenge Fund, COAST will use their 拢100,000 to take on one of the most urgent, complex and inspiring rewilding challenges in Britain today: bringing life back to the ocean floor whilst building a thriving future for people and nature alike through their project: Communities and the Sea: Exploring our Coastal Waters. 

This is rewilding at sea scale鈥夆�斺�塨acked by science, driven by community and designed to last.

North Arran鈥檚 marine ecosystems鈥夆�斺�塰ome to maerl beds, seagrass meadows and burrowed mud habitats鈥夆�斺�塧re vital nurseries for fish, carbon sinks and natural storm defences. Yet unlike neighbouring protected areas, these waters remain vulnerable.

COAST鈥檚 inspiring vision for North Arran aims to:

• Survey seabed habitats and natural marine processes
• Strengthen the ecological link between North and South Arran
• Embed community-led stewardship into Scotland鈥檚 long-term marine conservation strategy

This initiative is one of the largest community-led marine rewilding projects in the UK 鈥� and a perfect fit for our Rewilding Challenge Fund. 

This new funding will help COAST to build on its successful work by engaging with communities outside of Arran鈥檚 Marine Protected Area to explore areas currently lacking specific marine management.

The 拢100,000 grant will enable COAST to:

• Harness 30 years of community-led marine conservation by expanding COAST鈥檚 focus from Lamlash Bay to South Arran to North Arran鈥檚 unmanaged marine environments.
• Establish the Communities and the Sea: Exploring our Coastal Waters project, engaging with communities outside of the Marine Protected Area with a view of understanding community aspirations regarding marine recovery around Arran. 
• Strengthen partnerships with the community, marine businesses and academic researchers, ensuring restoration activities are informed by robust scientific data, community feedback and habitat assessments.
• Profile Arran鈥檚 community-led rewilding as a model for marine restoration, inspiring efforts across Scotland, Britain and globally.

Over the next two years, COAST will use the Rewilding Challenge Fund to support activity to:

• Complete over 45 habitat surveys to map the seafloor using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and divers
• Recruit and train 30+ volunteers in marine science and citizen-led monitoring
• Hold seven community workshops to co-design the North Arran Marine Recovery Plan
• Facilitate targeted roundtables with policymakers, fishers and local businesses
• Launch the data-driven restoration plan, backed by local knowledge and robust science

By the end of this project, North Arran will have a clear path forward to protect its seas 鈥� and a community ready to lead the way.

COAST was created in 1995 by two local scuba divers after witnessing the destruction of Arran鈥檚 marine habitats and a dramatic decline in fish stocks. After a 100-year ban on inshore bottom trawling (within three miles of the coast) was lifted in 1984, the industrial fishing practice鈥夆�斺�塩ombined with increased scallop dredging鈥夆�斺�墂as having an evident impact on Arran鈥檚 fish stocks and, by proxy, on the island鈥檚 community. By 1994, catches were down by 96% compared to 1984.

In 2008, the community was the driving force behind the establishment of Scotland鈥檚 first NTZ in Lamlash Bay, home to one of the largest maerl beds in Scotland. This pioneering 2.67&苍产蝉辫;办尘虏 marine reserve completely protects the waters, seabed and inhabitants from all forms of fishing. 

Increasingly concerned about the degradation of the Firth of Clyde鈥檚 marine ecosystem, the community once again pushed for further protection under the Scottish Government鈥檚 Marine Protection Area (MPA) programme. This ultimately resulted in the designation of the South Arran MPA in 2014, and the implementation of fisheries management measures, that promote sustainable fishing, in 2016. 

The NTZ sits within this 280&苍产蝉辫;办尘虏 MPA, and together these reserves are boosting sea and community life 鈥� including benefits to the local fishing industry.