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New Seagrass Project for Loch Ewe

Posted: Saturday 1 March, 2025 @ 09:34:38

Wester Ross Seagrass Project team by Loch Ewe in February, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Wester Ross Fisheries Trust has been awarded part of a major new grant for seagrass restoration work. This landmark new project is supported by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and will run for 3 years, starting on World Seagrass Day: the 1st March 2025.

WRFT is one of four organisations across Scotland tasked with delivering what has been described as Scotland’s most comprehensive seagrass planting programme. The scheme will help restore nature in Scotland’s seas, through an initiative between the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) and SSEN Distribution. The partnership aims to plant 14 hectares of seagrass in Scotland over the next three years, supporting both nature and coastal communities. This will help address the global decline in seagrasses seen since the 1930’s. For more information, see Seagrass Planting Programme Archives - Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund

The Wester Ross Seagrass Project will be centred around Loch Ewe, to restore lost seagrass to an area where seagrass beds used to be present within living memory. The project brings with it the opportunity of a new part-time role as Project Officer, to join the current WRFT team.

Peter Cunningham, WRFT Biologist said ‘Seagrass is one of the most important shallow water marine habitats for many species of fish and it’s exciting to have this opportunity to restore such an important habitat for wild fish within the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area’

Dr Michael Aitchison, Chair of WRFT, said ‘seagrass provides an ideal habitat for sea trout in our coastal waters. It would be wonderful if this project can be the first step in restoring the sea trout population that made Loch Maree one of the finest sea trout fisheries in Scotland.’ 

WRFT looks forward to working with several other partners including local citizen-science group Seabed and Seashore Loch Ewe. 

If you are interested in getting involved in collecting seagrass or any other aspect of the project as a volunteer, please contact us by emailing Sue on admin@wrft.org.uk