Marine Conservation Society Annual Impact Report 2019-20

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Marine Conservation Society Annual Impact Report 2019-20 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2019–20 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR 3 A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE 4 OUR STRATEGY OUR GOALS 6 HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR GOALS 7 OUR THEORY OF CHANGE 8 OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS 10 GOOD GOVERNANCE 12 BEHAVIOUR CHANGE 18 A SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE ECONOMY 26 THE NEED FOR A ROBUST AND COMPELLING EVIDENCE BASE 32 SECURING THE MEANS 38 CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES 46 FINANCIAL REVIEW 48 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT 52 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 54 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 56 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORT 74 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 76 SUNSTAR ON KELP, LOCH LEVEN MARK KIRKLAND 2 A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2019–20 INTRODUCTION A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR I am delighted to have joined as THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SEAS FOR WELLBEING HAS NEVER MATTERED Chair of the Marine Conservation MORE. HEALTHY SEAS SUSTAIN US IN SO MANY WAYS, AS A SOURCE OF Society and to be writing the FOOD AND JOY, AND, NOT LEAST, THROUGH THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO foreword for my first Impact THE AIR WE BREATHE AND THE STABILITY OF OUR CLIMATE. Report with the charity. What a year it has been. Throughout Moving forward, we will be 2019-20 we were travelling on the working to reach out to politicians, crest of a wave – with the best ever businesses, communities and year for fundraising and increasing partner organisations to ensure awareness of environmental issues that our generation truly can be the meaning we were optimistic about one that achieves a step change in seeing big transformational change. restoring the health of our ocean and offer everyone the opportunity The pandemic hit just before to enjoy its great beauty. year-end making this a critical time to take on the Chair role. I must take this opportunity to It is to the enormous credit of thank Hugh Raven, who stepped our committed trustees, staff, down as Chair in December, volunteers and supporters that and also Alex Wilson, who we have been able to rise so then acted as Chair before my effectively to the challenges, arrival. Both have contributed so finding new ways of working to much to the organisation and provide a persuasive voice for the helped guide its growth and the ocean during lockdown. We are turbulent times as Covid-19 hit. indebted to our supporters for their continuing support as we all Like many of our supporters I adapt. We are determined to work have always had a passion for the together to emerge strengthened ocean: fossil hunting on wave- by the pace of change the battered shores, sitting on a bench pandemic has triggered. Our with grandparents watching the dedicated team and ambitious sun set in Blackpool, the delight strategy put us in good stead. of taking my own children on their first seaside trips and the awe and wonder of snorkelling and whale watching. It’s this passion that drives the whole organisation forward: an incredible team, working together to fight for the future of our ocean. Amanda Nobbs CURLED OCTOPUS, SHETLAND KIRSTY ANDREWS INTRODUCTION 3 A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE Writing this in the summer of 2020, Our teams worked with local with everything that has happened partners in the Caribbean in since the start of our new financial developing proposals that will year in April, makes last year seem improve the resilience of marine very far away. So it’s good to take resources and strengthen marine a moment to reflect on what was a conservation, and we look forward year of both fantastic successes and to the expansion of this work. significant frustration. In Scotland and Wales we have been able to engage closely with Years and years of data collection parliaments and governments by our Seasearch volunteers, to influence proposed fisheries parliamentary advocacy and public management and marine campaigning paid off when the last conservation frameworks. tranche of 41 marine conservation zones (MCZs) in England were finally WE REACHED MORE PEOPLE AND ENGAGED WITH NEW AUDIENCES – designated. FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN TO BEACH CLEAN ORGANISERS; ACADEMIC COLLABORATIONS TO CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS; SOCIAL MEDIA AND In the political arena, post EU-exit PUBLIC CAMPAIGN SUPPORT TO SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS. fisheries and environmental legislation started and stalled more None of this would be possible Of course, this does not mean we times than it is healthy to remember, without the passionate and will be quiet! and our policy and advocacy determined dedication of our staff teams were forced to submit and and without the incredible support There will be even more need for resubmit the same arguments over from our donors, supporters and public engagement, campaigning, and over again. Impressively, our volunteers. I would like to say a citizen science and political teams managed to keep key marine huge and heartfelt thank you for this advocacy. In the face of the nature conservation and sustainability and hope that this Annual Impact and climate emergencies, effective amendments in the running Report will show how much has management of marine protected throughout all of this, which we will been achieved. areas, sustainable fisheries continue to fight for. management and steps towards We were hoping to continue on the a circular economy are even more same trajectory but Covid-19 has crucial than before. meant that for 2020-21 we have had to revise our budget and reduce our We are also working on how we income expectations by at least 31%. can improve representation and inclusion in everything we do, and in future we plan to report on this in our Annual Impact Report. Sandy Luk Chief Executive, MCS 4 A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2019–20 SUNFISH PETER BARDSLEY INTRODUCTION 5 OUR STRATEGY OUR GOALS x ENVIRONMENTAL Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture UK COVERAGE OF VOLUNTEER-CLEANED NUMBER OF We will ensure there are more fish WELL-MANAGED MARINE BEACHES PER YEAR VOLUNTEERS in healthier seas, improve the way PROTECTED AREAS Apr 2018 1,000 Apr 2018 10,000 wild fisheries and fish farms are Apr 2018 1% Apr 2023 2,000 Apr 2023 20,000 managed, and influence consumers Apr 2023 30% and seafood businesses to be more responsible in their seafood buying choices. Clean seas P50% We will ensure our seas are cleaner, track the health of our seas, identify 20 INSHORE MARINE A 50% DROP NUMBER OF key sources of pollution and PROTECTED AREAS IN KEY ITEMS OF MEMBERS/ADOPTERS develop innovative solutions for FORMALLY MONITORED BEACH LITTER Apr 2018 8,700 preventing it and cleaning it up. BY SEASEARCH by Apr 2023 Apr 2023 13,600 by Apr 2023 Ocean recovery We will ensure our seas are better protected, improve marine management, secure well-managed marine protected areas, recover, nurture and protect REACH OF OUR DEPOSIT RETURN A BAN ON PLASTIC marine species and habitats, GOOD FISH GUIDE SCHEMES FOR DRINKS STRAWS, STIRRERS & and track ocean recovery. Apr 2018 730,000 CONTAINERS COTTON BUD STICKS x ORGANISATIONAL Apr 2023 1.4 million by Apr 2021 by Apr 2019 Income, impact and profile We will be the UK marine conservation charity of choice for funders and supporters, with a high profile and a large, FISHERIES & SEAFOOD MEALS AQUACULTURE sustainable, diverse income base. AQUACULTURE IN INFLUENCED BY MCS REGULATION THE UK BASED ON PER YEAR REVISED TO MINIMISE An expert and professional SUSTAINABILITY Apr 2018 300 million ENVIRONMENTAL organisation by Apr 2023 Apr 2023 600 million DAMAGE We will deliver first class science by Apr 2021 and practical conservation to support our memorable campaigns, and engaging outreach and education programmes; use all available media to promote our work; and use our gathered data as FACEBOOK solid evidence in our own research- WEB TRAFFIC TOTAL based projects – all of which will be (UNIQUE USERS PER MONTH) LIKES INCOME based on strong finances, human Apr 2018 51,500 Apr 2018 117,000 Apr 2018 £2,900,000 resources and professional IT. Apr 2023 120,000 Apr 2023 250,000 Apr 2023 £5,800,000 6 OUR GOALS ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2019–20 HOW WE ACHIEVE OUR GOALS Advocating policy and legislative x We advocate policy changes, influencing governments and change, including through decision-makers across the UK and internationally. influencing politicians, judicial challenges and public-facing x We challenge decision-makers when laws are not enforced. campaigns x We connect with and empower people and communities to take action and participate in our campaigns. Challenging, educating, engaging x We encourage understanding of the value of a healthy ocean. and influencing people, partners and communities x We work with people and communities to inspire behaviour change. x We build partnerships with other civil society organisations and influencers. Engaging in dialogue with and x We monitor business practice and identify the poorest performers. challenging regressive, unsustainable businesses x We engage with key businesses to challenge poor practice. x We use public-facing campaigns to change consumer opinions and influence business practice. Supporting and sharing best x We advise businesses on measures to protect the marine environment. practice, and creating alliances and partnerships with progressive, x We form partnerships with businesses to share best practice. sustainable businesses x We publicise where businesses have changed practice to protect our seas. Engaging in hands-on practical x We use sound scientific analysis and evidence to understand conservation and providing evidence our seas and work with academic partners to provide the through scientific, technical research supporting evidence for our projects and campaigns. and citizen science studies x We run a UK-wide Sea Champions volunteer programme to spread our message in local communities.
Recommended publications
  • Aerial Survey of Northern Gannet (Morus Bassanus) Colonies Off NW Scotland 2013
    Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 696 Aerial survey of northern gannet (Morus bassanus) colonies off NW Scotland 2013 COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 696 Aerial survey of northern gannet (Morus bassanus) colonies off NW Scotland 2013 For further information on this report please contact: Andy Douse Scottish Natural Heritage Great Glen House INVERNESS IV3 8NW Telephone: 01463 725000 E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Wanless, S., Murray, S. & Harris, M.P. 2015. Aerial survey of northern gannet (Morus bassanus) colonies off NW Scotland 2013. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 696. This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2015. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Aerial survey of northern gannet (Morus bassanus) colonies off NW Scotland 2013 Commissioned Report No. 696 Project No: 14641 Contractor: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Year of publication: 2015 Keywords Northern gannet; Sula Sgeir; St Kilda; Flannan Islands; Sule Stack: Sule Skerry; gugas; population trends. Background Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) commissioned an aerial survey of selected colonies of northern gannets (Morus bassanus) off the NW coast of Scotland in 2013. The principal aim was to assess the status of the population in this region, which holds some important, but infrequently counted colonies (St Kilda, Sula Sgeir, Sule Stack, Flannan Islands and Sule Skerry). In addition, an up-to-date assessment was required to review the basis for the licensed taking of young gannets (gugas) from the island of Sula Main findings Aerial surveys of all five colonies were successfully carried out on 18 and 19 June 2013.
    [Show full text]
  • S. S. N. S. Norse and Gaelic Coastal Terminology in the Western Isles It
    3 S. S. N. S. Norse and Gaelic Coastal Terminology in the Western Isles It is probably true to say that the most enduring aspect of Norse place-names in the Hebrides, if we expect settlement names, has been the toponymy of the sea coast. This is perhaps not surprising, when we consider the importance of the sea and the seashore in the economy of the islands throughout history. The interplay of agriculture and fishing has contributed in no small measure to the great variety of toponymic terms which are to be found in the islands. Moreover, the broken nature of the island coasts, and the variety of scenery which they afford, have ensured the survival of a great number of coastal terms, both in Gaelic and Norse. The purpose of this paper, then, is to examine these terms with a Norse content in the hope of assessing the importance of the two languages in the various islands concerned. The distribution of Norse names in the Hebrides has already attracted scholars like Oftedal and Nicolaisen, who have concen­ trated on establis'hed settlement names, such as the village names of Lewis (OftedaI1954) and the major Norse settlement elements (Nicolaisen, S.H.R. 1969). These studies, however, have limited themselves to settlement names, although both would recognise that the less important names also merit study in an intensive way. The field-work done by the Scottish Place Name Survey, and localised studies like those done by MacAulay (TGSI, 1972) have gone some way to rectifying this omission, but the amount of material available is enormous, and it may be some years yet before it is assembled in a form which can be of use to scholar­ ship.
    [Show full text]
  • SNH Commissioned Report 628: the Scottish Gannet Survey 2004
    Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 628 The Scottish gannet survey 2004 COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 628 The Scottish gannet survey 2004 For further information on this report please contact: Andy Douse Scottish Natural Heritage Great Glen House INVERNESS IV3 8NW Telephone: 01463 725000 E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Wanless, S., Murray, S., Harris, M.P. & Evans, S. 2015. The Scottish gannet survey 2004. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 628. This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2015. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary The Scottish gannet survey 2004 Commissioned Report No. 628 Project No: F04AC301 Contractor: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Year of publication: 2015 Keywords Gannet; Site Condition Monitoring; SPA; Sula Sgeir. Background Scotland’s Special Protection Areas (SPAs) support 80% of the British breeding population of northern gannets Morus bassanus. There are 15 ‘aggregations of breeding birds’ features that are notified for gannet in Scotland, seven of which are on SSSIs and eight on SPAs. Site condition monitoring is carried out on a six-year rolling programme. The gannet had low priority in Seabird 2000 and no counts were made of the three largest colonies, nor was Sula Sgeir, the site of the annual guga hunt, counted. This contract aimed to: assess numbers and conservation status, list any threats and establish survey protocols for gannet colonies on Bass Rock, Sule Skerry, Sule Stack, Sula Sgeir, Flannan Isles, St Kilda, Ailsa Craig and Scare Rocks.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Leach's Oceanodroma Leucorhoa and European Storm-Petrel Hydrobates Pelagicus Populations on North Rona and Sula Sg
    Leach’s and European Storm-petrel populations on North Rona and Sula Sgeir, Scotland, in 2009 A survey of Leach’s Oceanodroma leucorhoa and European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus populations on North Rona and Sula Sgeir, Western Isles, Scotland, in 2009 Murray, S.1*, Shewry, M. C.2, Harden, J.,3 Jamie, K.4 and Parsons, M.5 *Correspondence author. Email: [email protected] 1 Easter Craigie Dhu, Butterstone, Dunkeld, Perthshire PH8 0EY, UK; 2 Lylowan Cottage, Dunfermline, Fife KY12 0SG, UK; 3 Glaickchoile Cottage, Buntait, Glen Urquhart, Invernesshire IV63 6TN, UK; 4 217 High Street, Newburgh, Fife KY14 6DY, UK; 5 Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Inverdee House, Baxter Street, Aberdeen AB11 9QA, UK. Abstract In 2001, surveys of both Leach’s Oceanodroma leucorhoa and European Storm- petrel Hydrobates pelagicus were made on North Rona and Sula Sgeir, Western Isles, Scotland, using tape playback for the first time. North Rona held 1,133 apparently occupied sites (AOS) of Leach’s Storm-petrel (1,084 AOS after re- analysis of the 2001 data in 2009) and 371 AOS of European Storm-petrel; numbers on Sula Sgeir were five and eight AOS respectively. A repeat survey in 2009 using the same methods found 713 AOS of Leach’s Storm-petrel on North Rona, a decline of about 34% since 2001, and none on Sula Sgeir. A partial survey of European Storm-petrel on North Rona found 313 AOS, suggesting no significant population change since 2001; limited time on Sula Sgeir prevented a survey there for this species. Great Skuas Stercorarius skua and Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus breed on North Rona and take an unknown number of storm-petrels each year, but it has yet to demonstrated whether either or both together have caused the decline in Leach’s Storm-petrel.
    [Show full text]
  • Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science
    Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 5 Number 9 Strategic surveys of seabirds off the west coast of Lewis to determine use of seaspace in areas of potential marine renewable energy developments © Crown copyright 2014 Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 5 No 9 Strategic surveys of seabirds off the west coast of Lewis to determine use of seaspace in areas of potential marine renewable energy developments Published by Marine Scotland Science ISSN: 2043-7722 Marine Scotland is the directorate of the Scottish Government responsible for the integrated management of Scotland’s seas. Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) provides expert scientific and technical advice on marine and fisheries issues. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science is a series of reports that publishes results of research and monitoring carried out by Marine Scotland Science. It also publishes the results of marine and freshwater scientific work that has been carried out for Marine Scotland under external commission. These reports are not subject to formal external peer-review. This report presents the results of marine and freshwater scientific work carried out for Marine Scotland under external commission. Copies of this report are available from the Marine Scotland website at www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (Consulting) Ltd and HiDef Aerial Survey Limited accept no responsibility or liability for any use which is made of this document other than by the Client for the purpose for which it was originally
    [Show full text]
  • Population Viability Analysis of the Sula Sgeir Gannet Population
    Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 897 Population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir gannet population COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 897 Population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir gannet population For further information on this report please contact: Dr Andrew Douse Scottish Natural Heritage Great Glen House Leachkin Road INVERNESS IV3 8NW Telephone: 01463 725241 E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Trinder, M. 2016. Population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir gannet population. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 897. This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2016. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir gannet population Commissioned Report No. 897 Project No: 15222 Contractor: Mark Trinder, MacArthur Green Year of publication: 2016 Keywords Gannet; Sula Sgeir; Population Viability Analysis; harvesting. Background The Sula Sgeir gannet Morus bassanus population is subject to an agreed annual harvest of full grown chicks (known locally as guga) each summer. SNH commissioned MacArthur Green to undertake a population viability analysis of the Sula Sgeir population to assist in the understanding of the population’s dynamics in relation to the current harvest level and potential future changes. This report provides details of the approach taken and the results obtained. Main findings The modelling presented suggests that the harvest of gannet chicks at Sula Sgeir has reduced the rate of population growth rate below the level that would be predicted in the absence of harvest.
    [Show full text]
  • The Western Isles Islands Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1992
    Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 1992 No. 3322 (S.281) LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SCOTLAND The Western Isles Islands Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1992 Made - - - - 13th December 1992 Coming into force in accordance with Article 1(2) Whereas under section 17(1) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973(1) the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland on 12th December 1991 submitted to the Secretary of State a report on a review together with their proposals for a change of the electoral arrangements for the Western Isles Islands area; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by sections 17(2) and 233 of the said Act and of all other powers enabling him in that behalf, the Secretary of State hereby makes the following Order: Citation and commencement 1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Western Isles Islands Area (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1992. (2) This Order shall come into force on 5th May 1994 provided that for the purpose of all proceedings preliminary or relating to an election to be held on or after that day the Order shall come into force on 10th October 1993. Interpretation 2. In the Schedule to this Order— (a) a reference to— (i) an electoral division shall be construed as a reference to that electoral division as constituted in this Order; (ii) a road, footpath, railway line, river, burn or canal shall, where the context so admits, be construed as the centre line of the feature concerned; and (iii) the boundary or boundaries of a parish is to a line corresponding as nearly as may be to the line of the boundary or boundaries of the parish concerned as already published on Ordnance Survey Maps; (1) 1973 c.
    [Show full text]
  • Geophysical Surveys Were Then Undertaken, and 2.1 the Lewis Coastal Chapel-Sites Survey (LCCS) Each Site Was Described on the Ground
    Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports 88 2020 2. INTRODUCTION geophysical surveys were then undertaken, and 2.1 The Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey (LCCS) each site was described on the ground. This report describes the results of these desktop This paper reports the results of a survey and studies and surveys undertaken in Lewis between research project completed in Lewis over a 2004 and 2008. The author had previously been decade ago, but the results have been revisited involved with the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project (VESARP) at and checked in 2018/2019. The LCCS was set up the University of Glasgow, which included work in 2004 to record the archaeology of the chapel- on the chapel-sites of Shetland (see Morris 2001 sites on the Isle of Lewis in the Western Isles and references therein; Morris 2007; Morris & by surveying and studying the physical remains Barrowman with Brady 2008; Barrowman 2011). on the ground. Other than those surveyed The work on Lewis built upon this work. by the RCAHMS in 1928, there has been The chapel-sites of Lewis are a varied group little archaeological research focused on these in date, size and condition. The desktop study fascinating sites, in contrast to the attention given undertaken in the first year of the LCCS in 2004 to them by touring antiquarians, historians and identified 31 chapel-sites on the Lewis mainland, naturalists. These interested travellers were drawn and six on the outlying islands (North Rona, Sula to describe, or at least name, the sites in written Sgeir, Flannan Isles and on the three islands in the accounts of the natural history and ‘ancient relics’ Shiants; see Table 1 below and Barrowman 2005).
    [Show full text]
  • Sea Environmental Report – Cover Note - Part 1
    Strategic Environmental Assessment / Measadh Àrainneachd Ro-innleachdail ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan / Plana Leasachaidh Ionadail nan Eilean Siar December 2015 SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – COVER NOTE - PART 1 To: [email protected] SEA Gateway Scottish Executive Area 1 H (Bridge) Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ PART 2 An Environmental Report is attached for [name of PPS]: Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan The Responsible Authority is: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PART 3 Contact name Isla Macarthur Job Title Planning Officer Development Plan and Marine Planning Team Contact address Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW Contact tel no 0845 600 7090 [email protected] Contact email PART 4 Signature Date 21 December 2015 1 CONTENTS Page 1. NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 4 Introduction and Purpose of Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 How to comment on the Environmental Report 4 Summary of SEA and Local Development Plan Stages 5 SEA Process 6 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 6 Summary of the Likely Significant Effects of the LDP 7 2. ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT - INTRODUCTION 8 Purpose of the Environmental Report 8 Local Development Plan Key Facts 9 SEA Activities to Date 10 3. OUTER HEBRIDES LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ITS CONTEXT 11 Outline of the Plan 11 Objectives of the Plan 11 Relationship with other Plans, Programmes and Environmental Objectives 11 Relevant Aspects of Current State of the Environment 12 Environmental Baseline 13 Gaps in Baseline Information 22 Significant Environmental Issues 22 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 26 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Based Tourism in the Outer Hebrides
    Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report 353 Nature Based Tourism in the Outer Hebrides COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 353 Nature Based Tourism in the Outer Hebrides (Tender 29007) For further information on this report please contact: David Maclennan Scottish Natural Heritage 32 Francis Street Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2ND E-mail: [email protected] This report should be quoted as: Taylor, W.A., Bryden, D.B., Westbrook, S.R., and Anderson, S. (2010). Nature Based Tourism in the Outer Hebrides. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 353 (Tender 29007). This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2010. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary Nature Based Tourism in the Outer Hebrides Commissioned Report No. 353 ((Tender 29007) Contractor: Taylor, W.A., Bryden, D.B., Westbrook, S.R. and Anderson, S. Year of publication: 2010 Background Tourism in the Outer Hebrides is a significant contributor to the economy of the islands. Much of this is based on the outstanding wildlife, landscape and opportunities for activity in the outdoors that are available throughout the year. The Area Tourism Partnership consisting of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, HIE, VisitScotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Island’s tourism businesses recognise that the contribution that these assets can make to the island’s economy can be increased. This study undertook a review of the nature based assets within the Outer Hebrides and identified those assets that offered the greatest potential to help grow the island’s economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Grey Seal Studies on North Rona by J
    19 Grey Seal Studies on North Rona By J. Morton Bojd For eight years the Nature Conservancy has been studying the grey seals on the island reserve of North Rona to get the necessary facts for a grey seal conservation policy. The programme involves an annual visit to this most remote British island each October to count and mark the pups. The author, who is in charge of the programme, describes the methods used and the results so far, but it is still not known, for instance, whether seals born on North Rona return there to breed, and if not, where they do go. 'TpHE Nature Conservancy's eighth annual expedition to count, •*• brand and make routine observations on the breeding assembly of grey seals Halichoerus grypus on North Rona took place from October 24th to 31st, 1966. These annual expeditions are part of a continuous programme of research on the grey seals in this National Nature Reserve. North Rona is an island of 300 acres some 45 miles north-west of Cape Wrath, and one of the most inaccessible of the British Isles. Inhabited until 1844, and again in 1885 when two men from Lewis went to live there but died during their first winter, the only buildings on the island are the ruins of a village of semi-under- ground dwellings, and a chapel and cell. The cell dates to the immediate post-Columban period, the eighth or ninth century A D, when a monk, later called St. Ronam, lived on the island. The chapel was built on to the cell about the 12th century.
    [Show full text]
  • Outer Hebrides
    Journal of Global Change Data & Discovery. 2020, 4(2): 196-200 © 2020 GCdataPR DOI:10.3974/geodp.2020.02.13 Global Change Research Data Publishing & Repository www.geodoi.ac.cn Global Change Data Encyclopedia Outer Hebrides Zhang, Y. H.* Liu, C. Shi, R. X. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China Keywords: Outer Hebrides; Atlantic; Scotland; Minch Channel; Western Isles; data encyclopedia Dataset Available Statement: The dataset supporting this paper was published at: Zhang, Y. H., Liu, C., Shi, R. X. Outer Hebrides [J/DB/OL]. Digital Journal of Global Change Data Repository, 2020. DOI: 10.3974/geodb.2020.03.12.V1. Outer Hebrides, off the northwestern coast of the Scotland extending in the Atlantic, is comprised in the Western Isles. The Outer Hebrides are separated from the Inner Hebrides by the Minch and Little Minch channels in the north and by the Sea of the Hebrides in the south. The Outer Hebrides lies in a crescent about 65 km from the Scottish mainland and its geo-location is 56°46′38″N59°8′4″N, 8°39′1″W5°48′37″W[1–6] (Figure 12). Figure 1 Map of the Outer Hebrides (.shp format) Received: 16-10-2019; Accepted: 05-06-2020; Published: 25-06-2020 Foundation: Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA19090110) *Corresponding Author: Zhang,Y. H. A-3436-2019, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, [email protected] Data Citation: [1] Zhang, Y. H., Liu, C., Shi, R. X. Outer Hebrides [J].
    [Show full text]