Sign in

Open Seas

@open-seas.bsky.social
279 followers 244 following 349 posts

Research, investigations & campaigns to recover the health of our coastal seas & promote sustainable seafood. 👇 #SayNoToScampi www.openseas.org.uk/say-no-to-scampi 👇 #DivedNotDredged www.openseas.org.uk/dived-not-dredg…

PostsRepliesMedia
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Lucy has been at Labour Party Conference with a clear message for MPs: our seas must be at the heart of the UK Government’s environmental agenda. 🌊 The UK has yet to meet 13 of 15 indicators for Good Environmental Status. Healthy seas support thriving fisheries and coastal communities.
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“The sea can regenerate if it is looked after by us instead of taken advantage of.” 🌊 Craig and Charlie from The Free Company explain why they support small-scale producers and lower-impact seafood like creel-caught langoustines and hand-dived scallops. The way our seafood is caught matters. 💙
011
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Lucy has been at the Lib Dem Party Conference speaking with MPs and policymakers about why marine sustainability matters. 🌊 As MPs return to Westminster, we’re asking them to keep healthy seas and sustainable fisheries firmly on the political agenda. More conference updates soon.
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
What can a plate of seafood tell us about the health of Scotland’s seas? 🌊 At The Free Company, we used food to bring fisheries policy to the table, exploring damaging fishing practices, low-impact seafood and how our seas can be managed for the benefit of us all. #ScotlandsSeas #SustainableSeafood
001
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Scotland is consulting on new fisheries management measures for its inshore seas. 🌊 We believe this is an important opportunity for recovery, but that many of the proposals need to go further. 📩 Keep up with our analysis and the latest consultation news: bit.ly/3V1N3uY
054
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The MPA/PMF consultation is open! Scotland has a legal duty to protect its most important marine habitats, but these plans don't go far enough. If they're not strengthened, we risk more habitat loss, fewer fish, and struggling coastal communities. 🔗 bit.ly/4rjeaOa
A boat railing with colorful buoys is pictured against a sunset over the ocean. Overlay text reads: "The Herald. Consultation launched on Scotland’s inshore sea protections." The Open Seas logo is at the bottom.
011
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Scottish Government's consultation on protecting inshore Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features is open. We've pushed for this for years, it's a real chance to restore Scotland's seas. Have your say now 👇 bit.ly/3Tpz9SK
A breaking news announcement from Open Seas states that the Scottish Government has opened a consultation on protecting its inshore seas. The background shows a scenic view of the sea with distant hills.
085
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Six years after the Fisheries Act 2020 became law, is it delivering what it promised? 🌊 Defra says it is. We think independent scrutiny is needed. Lucy explains why we’re calling for a closer look at what’s working and where the gaps remain. 🔗 www.openseas.org.uk/news/pls-fisher…
032
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Protecting Scotland’s seas isn’t down to one group. 🌊 Fishing, coastal communities, conservation and healthy marine life all have a stake in their future. Our Scottish Parliament event showed just how much common ground there is, and why we need to work together to turn it into action. #OceanLife
011
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
We were at the Scottish Parliament for a special screening of Ocean with David Attenborough 🌊 The film was followed by a discussion on how effective marine protection can benefit wildlife, coastal communities and fishing. Thanks to @emmaroddicksnp.bsky.social and all our collaborators!
photo of 5 people on a panel answering audience questions
092
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
What happens beneath the surface matters. 🌊 We go out on the water to uncover damage, gather evidence and campaign for healthier, better protected seas. Your support helps make that work possible. 💙 Help us protect Scotland’s seas: www.openseas.org.uk/donate
020
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
The government will announce its plans today. Our message to the Scottish Government is simple: 🌊 Bring forward the long-awaited inshore MPA & Priority Marine Features consultation. After years of delay, it’s time to deliver for Scotland’s seas. #ScottishSeas #MarineConservation
081
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Scotland's MPAs cover a lot of sea in theory. In practice, most still allow bottom trawling and dredging, so "protected" often means no protections. Great piece from @scotlink.bsky.social on why the long-delayed inshore consultation matters and why we can't afford another delay. #MarineConservation
heraldscotland.com
Scotland can’t afford to wait any longer to protect its seas
One of the brilliant things about living in Scotland is that you’re never all that far from the sea.
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Scotland's seabed = 6x the size of our land, and holds 99.8% of our blue carbon. A new #ESS report confirms the Scottish Government is failing its legal duty to protect it. Weak plans, worsening monitoring, stalled reforms. We're ready to challenge that. www.openseas.org.uk/news/ess-seabed
Underwater scene featuring colorful marine life with plants and soft corals. Text overlay states, "Scotland's seabed is 6x the size of our land." Open Seas logo included.Underwater scene with a shark partially visible among marine vegetation. Overlaid text: "A new watchdog report confirms it: The Scottish Government is failing its legal duty to protect it." Open Seas logo in the bottom left corner.A vibrant underwater scene featuring a fish among corals and marine plants. The text overlay reads: "Where damaging fishing has stopped, seabed life has come back, with up to 3x more animals within years." An "Open Seas" logo is visible in the corner.Underwater scene featuring marine life, including coral and a scallop shell. Text overlaid reads: "THE LAW IS CLEAR. THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR. NOW IT'S ABOUT POLITICAL WILL." The Open Seas logo is present at the bottom right.
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
New #ESS report: Scottish ministers are failing their legal duty to protect the seabed. Read more to find out what comes next and why unlawful decisions may follow ⬇️ 🌊 www.scottishlegal.com/articles/scot…
Ocean scene with several dolphins swimming near the surface. Overcast sky and distant landform visible. Text reads: "Scottish Legal News" and "Scottish ministers failing in legal duty to protect seabed." Logo says "Open Seas."
040
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Marine biology isn't all scuba and dolphins. Meet Anna, a Research Manager at Open Seas, this week she was surveying a Marine Protected Area off the Isle of Mull using an underwater robot to check on reefs, seagrass and sea fans. #MarineBiologist #OceanConservation #ScotlandsSeas #OceanLovers
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Five years after illegal scallop dredging tore through a protected reef in Scotland’s Summer Isles, the seabed had recovered only partially. Read more👇 www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.108… #ScottishSeas #MarineConservation #Research
022
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
🌊 Just wrapped our second research expedition of 2026! Headed to #Mull to run ROV surveys in Loch Sunart, part of the Sound of Jura MPA, checking in on habitats earmarked for protection under the PMF consultation.
Three individuals are focused on a ROV screen, aboard a vessel. The image background features text: "Overview: Research Trip, Isle of Mull" with a map of the Isle of Mull and the Open Seas logo.A tablet displaying an underwater scene with a starfish on a rocky surface. On the left, a graphic reads "22 Total ROV Surveys" with the Open Seas logo.A black Humber inflatable boat named Mustang is docked at a pier. A sign on the image reads "186 Nautical Miles Covered with Mustang." In the background are several sailboats. The Open Seas logo is visible in the bottom right corner.A group of people are on an inflatable boat. One person is seated in front, wearing a colorful beanie and operating equipment. Another person is seated behind, wearing a hooded jacket. The boat is on a body of water with the "Open Seas" logo visible. Text reads, "Joined by University of Edinburgh students and COALAS trustees.
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
We had the Scottish Food Commissioner Jane Jones aboard to see our ROV in action 🌊 All-female crew, joined by trustees Jean & Lorna. Also met Marnick from Kilchoan Melfort Trust's oyster nursery + lobster/langoustine pots. #MarineConservation #ScottishSeas #Seagrass #Rewilding
032
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Chef Lee Nelson of Fishers in the City (Edinburgh) sources hand-dived Orkney scallops, rope-grown Shetland mussels & works directly with small family fisheries. His take: chefs are custodians of the ocean, not just its consumers. 🌊🐟 #OpenSeas #SustainableSeafood
062
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
We sent a drone into Lyme Bay's MPA and found a coral garden thriving in UK waters 🌊🐠 18 years of protection from bottom trawling & dredging = sea fans, schools of fish, life everywhere. Give nature time, it comes back. Proof it works. #LymeBay #MarineProtectedArea #OceanRecovery #UKSeas
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
We joined MPs Edward Morello & Barry Gardiner to visit Lyme Bay, a reserve protected since 2008, & discuss why transparency on vessel/quota ownership + seafood traceability matters. bit.ly/4fnLhe0 #FisheriesTransparency
Five people wearing life jackets are on a boat at sea. A sign reads "Bridport News" and text states "MPs champion sustainable fishing during Lyme Bay visit." The boat has the "Open Seas" logo, and a coastline is visible in the background.
011
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
We took a couple of MPs out to Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve this week 🌊 Years of protection from dredging and trawling = an abundant, thriving seabed. Great to show Ed Morello MP and Barry Gardiner MP what conservation can deliver 🐟 #LymeBay #MarineConservation #OpenSeas #UKSeas
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Big news from Orkney: its creel fishery is the first in the world certified under the new Community Catch standard for small-scale fisheries 🐟 Traceability. Labour rights. Community benefit. Here's why it matters and what could be next for Scottish seafood 👇
openseas.org.uk
Why would Scotland benefit from more community-led seafood certifications
For more than two decades, seafood certification has played an important role in helping consumers and retailers identify responsibly sourced seafood, reflecting growing public interest in the envir
063
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Small pub, big principles 🦞 We visited the Colintraive Hotel to talk seafood with head chef Joe, who uses creel-caught langoustines from Loch Fyne, hand-dived Orkney scallops, all local and seasonal. Simple food done right. Video 🎥👇 #SustainableSeafood #Scotland #DivedNotDredged
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Bycatch report finds 10,000+ seabirds, 1,000+ dolphins/porpoises, 500+ seals killed a year by UK fishing, but the fish toll is worse and barely tracked. Without cameras on boats, we're mostly guessing on the amount of damage being done to our seas. 🎣📷 #Bycatch #REM #FisheriesManagement
oceanographicmagazine.com
The forgotten fish: What the UK is killing by accident - Oceanographic
A report lifts the lid on what UK commercial fishing kills by accident - but the species drowned out the headlines are the fish themselves.
043
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Scotland has a new Marine Minister, the first time "marine" has ever appeared in a ministerial title. Our seas are 6x bigger than our land. It's about time that mattered in politics. Healthy seas. Fair fishing. Strong marine protection. This time, action, not just promises. 🌊🎥 #MarineConservation
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Hand-dived scallops. Creel-caught langoustine. Seafood that doesn't cost the seabed it came from. We talked to Chef Tom Marshallsay at Made from Grapes in Glasgow about sourcing seafood responsibly. Learn more 👇 🎥🐚 #Seafood #Glasgow #Sustainability
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
BBC covers our seabed recovery monitoring in Wester Ross MPA 🌊 7 years after illegal dredging near Eilean Dubh, our drone surveys show sea cucumbers, crabs & cat sharks returning. Full recovery could take a decade, but it shows protection works 🔗 www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20y9zl…
A group of people on a small boat at sea, focusing on a screen displaying data. The boat has the name "Mustang". The BBC and Open Seas logos are visible, alongside text stating, "Seabed damaged by fishing showing signs of recovery."
021
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Wester Ross MPA, protected since 2016 (no scallop dredging, limited bottom trawling), is bouncing back 🌊 Firework anemones, Celtic feather stars and local low-impact fishers all thriving together. Proof that management based on ecological needs works, for the sea and the people who work it.
020
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Nearly 17,000 people are asking the Scottish Government to reinstate the coastal limit + protect at least 30% of inshore areas from bottom trawling and dredging. We have the science. We have the evidence. We just need leadership. And we need the inshore consultation results published NOW. 🌊
020
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
16,800 people demanded better for Scotland’s seas 🌊 We joined the Our Seas Coalition to hand in our petition to Minister Jim Fairlie at the Scottish Parliament, calling for 30% of inshore waters to be protected from bottom trawling and dredging. #OurSeas #Scotland #MarineProtection
042
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
🔎 Our first round of research in Wester Ross MPA is done! 🔎🌊 Surveying the seabed, tracking recovery after illegal scallop dredging, and comparing protected vs open fishing zones. More footage soon. 💙 #WesterRoss #MarineProtectedArea
020
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
"We are the custodians of what we put on the menus." 🌊 For #SustainableGastronomyDay, 3 chefs told us why they choose creel-caught langoustines and hand-dived scallops over damaging fishing methods and why it matters for Scotland's seas. 🎥👇
020
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Kicking off summer research in Wester Ross! Our underwater drone is diving deep to uncover the state of Scotland’s sea bed. More trips ahead! Follow us for underwater footage and marine science updates. 🌊🐟 #MarineLife #Sustainability #Scotland
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
🎣 Loch Fyne once supported a thriving fishing economy built on healthy marine habitats. Protecting and restoring habitats can help bring back marine life, jobs and opportunities for coastal communities. 🌊 #MarineConservation
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
🌊 Healthy seabed = healthy seas. Bottom trawling and dredging continue to damage protected marine habitats in Scotland, harming wildlife and releasing stored carbon. This #WorldOceanDay, learn how sustainable fishing can help restore our seas and support coastal communities: openseas.org.uk
072
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Michelin's Green Star may be disappearing, but Scotland's sustainable seafood ambitions shouldn't. 🌊🍀 Healthy seas are the foundation of great seafood, coastal communities and future gastronomy. Read our latest blog: www.openseas.org.uk/news/retiring-t… #Seafood #Sustainability
A dish garnished with caviar and herbs on a white plate. An overlay text reads: "NEW BLOG. The gastronomy world was caught off guard when the Michelin Guide recently announced it would retire its Green Star award entirely. Introduced in 2020, the green four-leaf clover was designed to recognize restaurants leading the way in responsible practice within the hospitality sector.
1451
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The Kyles of Bute are still open to destructive bottom trawling, damaging fragile habitats like maerl. Our Argyll Report shows sustainable fishing creates more value for coastal communities while protecting the sea. 🌊🦞 www.openseas.org.uk/argyll-report
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Moray Firth fishers say dredging near Ardersier Port is damaging habitats. Scotland needs marine planning that protects seabeds, supports low-impact fishing and puts coastal communities first, not reactive decisions after damage is done. 🌊
pressandjournal.co.uk
Moray Firth fishers who 'used to catch prawns now have nets full of junk' amid dredging outrage
The fishermen from Burghead have reported a 50% drop in their catch.
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
From boat to focaccia 🦞 We spoke with the team at Inveraray Seafood Shack about building a business around low-impact creel fishing, local seafood and healthier seas. A great example of community-led sustainable seafood in action 🌊
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
The loss of the Michelin Green Star risks pushing sustainability further out of the spotlight just when our seas need it most. 🌊 How seafood is caught matters. Hand-dived scallops protect marine habitats, unlike dredging which damages the seabed. #DivedNotDredged
This image shows a screenshot from The Guardian's website with a headline about the end of the Michelin green star and its impact on sustainable chefs. The top banner reads "Breaking News." Below, there is a photo of a person in a restaurant kitchen. The page is focused on sustainability in the culinary industry.
031
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Congratulations to @gillianamartin.bsky.social on her appointment as Cab Sec for Climate Action & Rural Affairs, and to @jimfairliesnp.bsky.social on his appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Marine & the Islands. We look forward to working with you to restore the health of Scotland’s seas 🌊🐟⚓
010
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
What about the endangered species in Scotland’s seas?? 🦈 Basking sharks, flapper skate and sandeels all rely on healthy marine habitats threatened by bottom trawling and dredging. #EndangeredSpeciesDay #MarineConservation 📸 Photos: NatureScotland
051
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Scottish hand-dived scallops prove seafood can be both sustainable and premium quality 🌊 Supporting #Fish24 means choosing low-impact fishing that protects marine habitats, supports coastal communities and keeps our seas thriving. #DivedNotDredged
A scallop shell on a plate contains a fresh salad with radish, greens, and peas. Nearby, there is a copy of a menu and a small notecard with a blue and green pattern.
050
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
🎉 We were able to exceed our fundraising goal of £20,000 for our #BigGive campaign! 🎉 Thank you so much for all your donations, support and sharing our message. It's thanks to you that we will be able to have a robust underwater research programme this summer. 🔎 🌊
030
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
🐟 How can seafood support healthier seas? Join us for our documentary The Orkney Dive, for a special online screening + intro + Q&A for #OrkneyNatureFestival. 📅 Tue 12 Feb 🕖 7 PM 👉 www.eventbrite.com/e/the-orkney-div…
eventbrite.com
The Orkney Dive: a sustainable seafood story
The Orkney Dive is a short documentary produced by Open Seas, a Scottish marine sustainability charity advocating for healthier seas.
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
"The new Scottish government has the opportunity to prove it can manage its own waters effectively. It should grab it" - New op-ed by our public affairs manager Lucy Kay in today's Times!
Photo of the paper
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Join us for The Orkney Dive at Dunoon Film Festival. Explore scallop diving in Scotland, hear from chefs and local community voices and discuss sustainable seafood. 📆 Friday 8th May TICKETS HERE ➡️ www.ticketsource.com/dunoonburghhal…
ticketsource.com
Dunoon Film Festival - The Orkney Dive plus Q&A at Dunoon Burgh Hall
Tickets are now available for Dunoon Film Festival - The Orkney Dive plus Q&A at Dunoon Burgh Hall, Dunoon on Fri 8 May 2026 at 6:00PM. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!
000
Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Scotland votes soon. But what are parties promising for our seas? We’ve reviewed the 2026 manifestos on fishing, fish farms, marine protection and coastal communities. Read the breakdown👇 www.openseas.org.uk/news/scottish-e… #ScottishElection
The image features a blog post advertisement with a background of a sign reading "Polling Station" and "Way In," suggesting an election setting. Overlay text discusses the high stakes of a Scottish election, polling unpredictability, and minimal change in marine environment decisions since the last election.
000