Wester Ross MPA Discovery Day, Ullapool, 14th October 2022
Posted: Friday 23 September, 2022 @ 15:02:13
The Wester Ross Marine Protected Area discovery day aims to provide something for everyone, young and old, with an interest in the sea. We will report recent findings, show remarkable new underwater video footage of wild fish in their natural habitats, and provide opportunities to share other stories and take part in future investigations and exploration.
- Talks, videos and supporting activities, 10.00am – 4.30pm, Macphail Centre, Ullapool
What do you know about the Wester Ross MPA and the remarkable diversity of fishes and other wildlife that lives within it?
The MPA was designated in 2014 to protect and recover fragile seabed habitats including maerl (a pink coralline seaweed) for which the area has some of the best examples in NW Europe.
Local coastal community groups and other organisations have achieved some amazing things! All share ambitions to restore habitats, ecosystems and revive marine wildlife including prolific stocks of herring, cod, salmon and sea trout, skate and many other species and related economic activites.
These include Sea Change Wester Ross, Little Loch Broom Marine Life group, Ullapool Sea Savers, Isle Martin Trust which organised a seaweed festival in 2021 as well as Wester Ross Fisheries Trust.
Recent activities include surveys by a Seasearch team in Little Loch Broom (following surveys in several other parts of the MPA); a drop-down baited camera trap fish study by Dr Neil Burns of SRUC; the launch of the West of Scotland Herring Hunt at Gairloch Museum; National Trust for Scotland’s Underwater Garden exhibition at NTS Inverewe Gardens, interest in seagrass and oyster bed restoration led by Seawildling, and much else . . .
We will open a window into the MPA a wee bit wider aiming to inspire other people to learn more . . .
- Songs Stories Seas: from about 7pm , Ullapool Harbour Ferry Terminal
A celebration of our wonderful waters! The gathering will feature music and words from acclaimed storyteller Heather Yule, singer Joanie Bones, and other local performers.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Cunningham info@wrft.org.uk / tel. 07786 836 003
Emma Watson admin@wrft.org.uk
