The Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot, has received approval from Mission Blue to expand the boundary of globally recognised coastal waters which now include Loch Linnhe, Loch Leven and Loch Eil.
The Argyll Coast and Islands Hope spot is a community-led celebration of this part of Scotland’s world-class natural riches. It is the first Hope Spot in the mainland UK.
Hope Spots are special places, vital for the ocean’s health, linked by the international organisation Mission Blue. This growing global network also includes the Galapagos Islands and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. There are now 170 of these places. The Argyll Hope Spot was in the first 40 of them.
Collectively, Hope Spots are creating a global wave of community support for ocean conservation that policymakers cannot ignore.
This year, on recognition of two community groups working to conserve their local seas, MACCOLL and Loch Leven Sea Savers, as well as the marine life that calls the seas lochs home, The Argyll Hope Spot made a case to Mission Blue that the borders of the Argyll Hope Spot be expanded. The Hope Spot designation gives us a globally recognised framework for celebrating the areas’s natural and cultural importance, while encouraging greater engagement in marine recovery and protection.
Why?
1. The area now covers open Atlantic to inland sea. An entire ecosystem that is interconnected.
2. The sea lochs are home to spiny dogfish, flame shells, horse mussels, mearl beds, fireworks anemones, tall sea pens and more.
3. The lochs are home to creatures and species known as Priority Marine Features. Understanding and celebrating what lives in these waters will make for better marine policy and support future conservation.
4. Local groups MaCCOLL and Loch Leven Sea Savers have been gathering that data to support the better conservation and management of the loch, for example achieving bathing water status.
5. These two new groups are now representatives of internationally recognised Hope Spot waters in celebration of their significant conservation work.
“We’re so delighted to share this and we hope to show other communities here and around the world what is possible when the people who live by the sea prove that they care.” Danielle Banks, co-cordinator of the Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot
