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Reposted by Catherine Gemmell

Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

We have just a few tickets left for Sea Scotland on 27 October! Join us at the Discovery in Dundee to explore the big issues facing Scotland's marine environment. 🌊 Grab your ticket before they're gone: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sea-scotla...

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I remember being a very new member of staff at @mcsuk.bsky.social and joining this fantastic conference - can't wait to be back!

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Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

We are so excited to be back in Dundee at #DiscoveryPoint to celebrate our 10th anniversary - who was there at the first Sea Scotland conference at this fantastic venue? Discovery Point - Dundee Heritage Trust share.google/EaZxmeiTB1aM... @scotlink.bsky.social @mcsuk.bsky.social @wwf.org.uk

share.google

Discovery Point - Dundee Heritage Trust

Dive into history on the Royal Research Ship Discovery in Dundee and experience Captain Scott & Shackleton's Antarctic journey.

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Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Hands up who is coming to Sea Scotland this year? 🖐️ Not got your ticket yet? There are still some left: Sea Scotland Conference 2026 Date: 27 oct • 10:00 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sea-scotla...

eventbrite.co.uk

Sea Scotland Conference 2026

Joining the dots to safeguard Scotland's seas

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Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Registration for Sea Scotland 2026 is now live! Join us at Discovery Point, Dundee, on 27th October for our 10th anniversary conference 🥳 This year's theme is: Joining the dots to safeguard Scotland's seas. 🌊 Registration: shorturl.at/Ra7vT More details: www.seascotland.scot

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Scottish Environment LINK @scotlink.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Calling marine sector innovators! 📢 Want to showcase your leadership in the marine sector? Be a Sponsor for Sea Scotland 2026 on 27 October! Your support will help drive a diverse, inclusive, and engaging event. Find out more at www.seascotland.scot 🪸 @seascotland.bsky.social #SeaScotland2026

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Couldn't do it without the amazing communities and volunteers! @mcsuk.bsky.social

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Coastal Communities Network Scotland @communitiesforseas.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

It's really great to see the contribution of citizen science efforts to data and policymaking - thanks @cathgem2000.bsky.social 🩵

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Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Join Sea Scotland 2026 as a conference sponsor! Your support is crucial to help us make it as engaging, diverse and inclusive as possible. Plus it's a great opportunity to showcase your work and contribution to the sector. 🪸 🌊 For more details, go to www.seascotland.scot 📆 27th October 2026

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

The scheme needs to ensure it is driving change at the big multinational producer level and not discouraging or impacting local businesses who are already leading the way. You can watch the piece on the STV website here: lnkd.in/e5tAJpM3

lnkd.in

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

So many businesses are already doing this such as the fabulous Forest Farm which is a regular stop for me travelling to visit family. They are leading the way with reusable and refillable local systems - this needs to be supported so that we can see more businesses moving to reuse and refill.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

We highlighted that litter payments should be part of the scheme to ensure funds are ringfenced for litter picking & surveying activity as well as recycling infrastructure. But the EPR scheme must be doing what it set out to do - to improve recycling rates & move us towards a Circular Economy.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Last night I was on STV news talking about the UK packaging Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme. With thanks to our friends at @keepscotbeautiful.bsky.social and @keepwalestidy.cymru for leading this work I had the chance to advocate for our joint @mcsuk.bsky.social ask of litter payments!

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Our first pup paddleboard session of the year! These are the days to remind us why all the work to protect our amazing ocean is so important for nature and for our wellbeing! #OceanOptimism @mcsuk.bsky.social

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Another day another litter pick on Jaspers walk for @pawsonplastic.bsky.social 🐾

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

We have been big supporters or the Scottish Governments Marine Litter Strategy and we would like to see similar coordination and increased resource in each UK country.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

4. Development of national marine litter strategies was also raised as a specific issue and is something we have been calling for in our policy work too. The government view is that there are currently no plans for development of a UK marine litter strategy.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

We are pleased to see a focus on this following our work to help identify different gear types thanks to funding from @hief-enviro.bsky.social and the Conservation Collective X Depeche Mode X Hublot partnership with Scottish Islands Federation

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

3. There was a recognition of on going work to tackle fishing and aquaculture gear across the UK - this needs to involve industry, coastal communities and waste stream specialists.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

2. The OSPAR threshold of 20 items of litter per 100m is recognised - we have been included this as a recommended target in our @mcsuk.bsky.social State of Beaches Policy Recommendations Paper so also pleased to see this included

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

From a quick initial read my take aways for marine litter are: 1. The published government view that more sites in Scotland required for OSPAR monitoring including at least one Scottish Island is something we called for with the Scottish Islands Federation funded by @hief-enviro.bsky.social

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

First off did you know that some of our Beachwatch volunteers & staff conduct the beach litter monitoring on behalf of the governments of the UK? A small subset of beaches across the UK are monitored four times a year during specific windows set by OSPAR.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

The consultation responses and government view on the UK Marine Strategy Part 1 has been published: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69ce7d... We at the @mcsuk.bsky.social responded to the consultation & I helped feed in our views on the Marine Litter section - so what do we think?

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

It was great to share a Beachwatch update with the @communitiesforseas.bsky.social Marine Litter Group highlighting the new @mcsuk.bsky.social Beachwatch Data Explorer: beachwatch-data-explorer.vercel.app/explore With an important reminder this only provides a snapshot of what litter is out there!

beachwatch-data-explorer.vercel.app

Beachwatch Data Explorer

Interactive data explorer for UK beach litter survey data

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Plus my favourite photo of yours from the day - Snorkpooling demonstration 🤣

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Dr Lauren Smith @saltwaterlifeuk.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

🤿 A very enjoyable dip on Friday with @cathgem2000.bsky.social & Lynne from Moray Ocean Community 🌊 A sizeable swell coming in but thankfully the tidal pools were bursting with life! - Spiny Squat Lobster - Sea Hare - Common Prawn #snorkelling #tidalpool #underwaterphotography #scotlandunderwater

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

The @senedd.wales just passed their #DepositReturnScheme regulations!! A fantastic result for @mcsuk.bsky.social volunteers!

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

It was also fantastic to see one of our amazing Sea Champion Volunteers Violet feature on BBC Breakfast with Lizzie doing a beach clean and Beachwatch survey. We couldn't do anything without our amazing volunteers so thank you to everyone who gets involved! See you all on the beach soon?

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Find out all the things we are asking governments to do in our Policy Recommendations Paper: s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/media.mcsuk....

s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

This goes to show that policy is working - the carrier bag charge and single use plastic bans are having an impact but with over 150 litter items still found for every 100m of beach we still have a long way to go.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Following Lizzies brilliant interview I was then delighted to be invited onto BBC Radio Scotland to highlight the #OceanOptimism that is our incredible volunteers recording a 23% drop in litter on Scottish beaches.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

You can find out more on our website and also join the DRS Fan Club! www.mcsuk.org/ocean-emerge...

mcsuk.org

Deposit Return Scheme

Join the Marine Conservation Society and help recover our oceans

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

6. Exchange for Change has been set up as the public facing organisation to run the DRS 7. Beachwatch data has been crucial evidence for campaigning to bring in DRS across the UK

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

3. @reloop.bsky.social have shown that DRS countries have less bottles & cans on coastlines 4. England, Northern Ireland & Scotland will have plastic bottles & metal cans included in their DRS 5. Wales is looking to include glass & pathways to reuse (yay!) with legislation being voted on next week

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Here is a quick DRS rundown: 1. DRS is due to start across the UK in October 2027 2. A small deposit (currently being consulted on as 20p) will be added to bottles and cans which is then returned when the bottle or can is given back for recycling

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The incredible @lizzieprice.bsky.social as Beachwatch Manager for the @mcsuk.bsky.social was on BBC Breakfast this morning. With 95% of beaches surveyed by our volunteers last year having drinks related litter the main topic of discussion was the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme!

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

And although not a focus of the press this year but a huge thanks to Scottish Islands Federation for continuing to gather Beachwatch data across the Scottish Islands thanks to @hief-enviro.bsky.social - we will be releasing more data on this work in the coming months so watch this space!

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

With massive thanks as always to the players of the @postcodelottery.bsky.social for loving Beachwatch as much as I do 🤩

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Shout out again to every single volunteer who gave up their time last year to take part or run a survey - we couldn't do it without you! And of course the Beach Clean Queen herself @lizzieprice.bsky.social coordinating it all 🌊

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

Why not share our summary report, the dashboard or the policy recommendations paper with your political representatives to ask them what action they are going to take to stop litter turning up on our beaches and harming our incredible marine wildlife? www.mcsuk.org/what-you-can...

mcsuk.org

Beachwatch 2025: What you found

Join the Marine Conservation Society and help recover our oceans

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

With an 18% reduction in single use plastics on our beaches we are seeing early signs of the single use plastic bans working - with carrier bags continuing to decrease we know citizen science data driven policy is working - we just need more of it and faster!

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

We have also updated our @mcsuk.bsky.social State of our Beaches Policy Recommendations Paper where we list the progress and what still needs to be done by governments across the UK to reduce litter on our beaches: s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/media.mcsuk....

s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

I am also SUPER excited that thanks to the Scottish Power Foundation we are launching our first interactive @mcsuk.bsky.social Beachwatch data dashboard! beachwatch-data-explorer.vercel.app/explore

beachwatch-data-explorer.vercel.app

Beachwatch Data Explorer

Interactive data explorer for UK beach litter survey data

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

State of our Beaches 2025 is out 🌊 A huge thanks to the incredible 14, 507 volunteers who headed out to beaches across the UK last year to clean and collect vital litter data for the @mcsuk.bsky.social Beachwatch project.

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Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Save the date for Sea Scotland 2026...and it’s our 10th birthday! 🎉 More details, including this year’s Sea Scotland youth event, coming soon. @youth4seas.bsky.social @mcsuk.bsky.social @scotlink.bsky.social @scotwildlife.bsky.social @howellmarine.bsky.social @faunaflora.bsky.social 📸 NatureScot

An image of underwater coral and fish with the text "Save the Date! Join us for Sea Scotland's 10 year anniversary. Theme: Joining the dots to safeguard Scotland's seas. Tuesday 27th October. The Discovery, Dundee.

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Catherine Gemmell @cathgem2000.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Thank you @2050climategroup.bsky.social for inviting me to join your panel on politics and policy to be able to share my experiences from @mcsuk.bsky.social on Saturday - was a fantastic discussion with some brilliant questions from the audience!

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Reposted by Catherine Gemmell

Sea Scotland @seascotland.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

‼️OPPORTUNITY: Sea Scotland Steering Group Membership We are inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from organisations, groups or individuals based in Scotland who would like to join the Sea Scotland conference steering group. 💡Find out more & apply: bit.ly/4cI6OhG

Picture of Sea Scotland's ocean husting event in 2025

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