Marine Directorate Communications
Written 357 posts
Scotia resumes survey programme
30th June 2020
As with many other aspects of our lives at this time, our marine research vessel (MRV) survey programme of 2020 was significantly affected by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and ultimately stopped with the lockdown restrictions imposed in March.
However, in mid-June the MRV Scotia programme was permitted to resume with survey 0820S – the annual North Sea and West coast Nephrops underwater television survey (UWTV).
Day of the Seafarer
25th June 2020
Today is International Day of the Seafarer and with three protection vessels and two research vessels we certainly know a thing or two about life at sea. Marine Scotland, and its predecessors, have a long fleet history, with both research and patrol vessels at the heart of our work.
New Scheme to Help Aquaculture Sector Preserve Stock
22nd June 2020
Aquaculture businesses affected by the collapse of international markets due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can apply to cover the costs of maintaining unsold stock through a new £1.25 million fund. The scheme, which is being funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, will support businesses by compensating for the costs of transport, processing…
Protecting Scotland’s Seafood Sector
19th June 2020
Critical amendments must be made to the UK Fisheries Bill to ensure that it protects and supports Scotland’s seafood sector in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges of Brexit, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said. Ahead of its reading in the House of Lords on June 22, Mr Ewing has proposed…
Collaborative Effort to Support COVID-19 Testing
16th June 2020
Marine Scotland is continuing in its efforts to provide support and assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with colleagues in the Marine Laboratory, in Aberdeen, arranging the transfer and loan of testing equipment to NHS Grampian. The equipment identified for loan is usually used for molecular testing for diagnosis and surveillance of diseases in aquatic…
Support for the Seafood Sector
15th June 2020
Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing has provided an update on the support the Scottish Government has provided for the seafood sector during Coronavirus (COVID-19). “The collapse of international markets and the shutdown of the UK’s food service industry due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a severe impact on our seafood industry and the communities that live…
Call for Clarity on Future Funding
11th June 2020
The UK Government must provide urgent clarity on how it plans to replace the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and support coastal communities who have been hardest hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has said. In a letter to Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George…
How our Planning Team Plan for a Plan!
11th June 2020
Last December, after two years of technical planning work, stakeholder engagement, drafting, revising, re-drafting and several sleepless nights the ‘draft Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy’ was published and open for public consultation, meeting a Programme for Government commitment. Over 350 people attended across all of the events, including; community councillors, elected members, local…
Boarding Safely in the Future
2nd June 2020
As an organisation that deals with regulation and enforcement, the COVID-19 pandemic has created some challenges for us and we are committed to doing everything we can to limit the spread of the virus, and to protect our own people as they carry out their duties. Whilst we haven’t stopped all of our surveillance and…
Research Partners Collaborate One Last Time
20th May 2020
Earlier this year our colleague and Spatial Ecologist Dr Grant Campbell attended the final EU ATLAS General Assembly meeting in Edinburgh. 26 multidisciplinary partners and leading organisations, including Marine Scotland, attended the conference both in person and via video call to discuss their combined knowledge and understanding of the marine environment in the North Atlantic….