Tim Merrick @ Focal Plane Photo
A report to the Scottish Parliament on progress being made in implementing Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. Section 4 […]
The ethos of the Fair Isle DR MPA is to incorporate community and wider stakeholder involvement at every level, from decision-making to citizen science projects. The vision for this project is the development and delivery of an island wide citizen science and marine monitoring programme entirely managed and coordinated by a local community group – the Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation (FIMRO), an initiative which does not currently exist in Scotland. Following implementation of the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research MPA (DR MPA), FIMRO have recognised the need and appetite for community involvement in data collection to inform the continued research and monitoring necessary to meet the objectives of the Fair Isle DR MPA. This project would offer the excellent opportunity to build the capacity of FIMRO to independently achieve these objectives through an island – wide community-led citizen science and marine monitoring programme expanding on current community participation in citizen science and engagement with the DR MPA as well as fostering further engagement with wider Shetland communities.
The purpose of this document is to set out how those involved in the DR MPA will effectively communicate as the Executive Steering Group, and key messages to a wider audience.
April 2023 – March 2024. Research and Project Plan Year: 2
Harries, D.B., Purcell, A., Moore, C.G., Lyndon A.R., Porter, J.S., Saunders, G.R. and Hume, C.L. (Heriot-Watt University) Background The aim […]
Limited knowledge exists about the benthic habitats, identified as a research priority in the Fair Isle DR MPA Winter 2020/21 stakeholder consultation. This report focuses on modelling the potential benthic habitat composition within the Fair Isle DR MPA, with an emphasis on Priority Marine Features (PMFs). Utilising Distribution Models (DMs), this study aims to address this knowledge gap by analysing biotopes with environmental data, providing a baseline for future research, and marine management initiatives.
Shaun Fraser, Sarah Ayres, Mia McAllister, Louise Thomason, Katie Cubbon, Chevonne Angus. 2024. UHI Shetland. Executive summary In 2022 the […]
In 2011 the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative (FIMETI), a small community-led body from Fair Isle, developed a proposal for the Fair Isle DR MPA. Five years later, after the production of a series of documents, clarifications, meetings, and assessments, the Fair Isle DR MPA was designated and legally brought into force on the 9th November 2016. It remains the only DR MPA in Scotland’s seas.
The first Fair Isle inshore fish survey was conducted during July 2022 in line with the objectives of the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area (DR MPA) Designation Order and recommendations from consultation with community members and wider stakeholder groups.
April 2022 – March 2023. Research and Project Plan Year: 1