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Scotland's marine sector is turning Green Blue

The Green Blue launched its series of environmental awareness raising seminars in Scotland, at Royal Gourock Yacht Club, on the banks of the Clyde, on Thursday 21st February. A wide audience including yacht clubs and sail training centres, marina companies and harbour masters were all equally keen to promote the sport and to learn all about best environmental practice from The Green Blue.

In Scotland the marine sector is economically very important, bringing in around £100m direct sales and around 2000 jobs. In the Scottish economy as a whole that makes it as important as golf.

The audience heard of a number of recent initiatives from the first speaker, Carolyn Elder from Largs Yacht Haven, on how she has helped make her marina greener. These included more recycling of materials within the marina, and providing new facilities to make it easy for yacht owners at the marina to minimise discharges, for instance providing a free pump out facility for sewage.

Ms Elder noted a big increase over the last few years in Clyde estuary leisure use, which as well as yachting includes wildlife trips, sea kayaking, dinghy sailing, sailing charter and tuition and wind and kite surfers. All these water users are attracted to both the beauty, and the environmental quality of the Clyde and its surrounding waters.

The seminar brought together speakers from a range of Scottish environment and conservation interests. Mark Wells, Education and Campaigns Manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said,”The seminar proved to me the enthusiasm from boat users for a clean water environment in which to enjoy their leisure activities. It was great to see the common ground between the marine leisure industry and environment and conservation bodies. We all want to protect and enhance Scotland’s water quality, and to see both visitors to Scotland and Scottish water sports enthusiasts enjoying the best of our marine environment.”

Other speakers came from Scottish Natural Heritage and the Marine Conservation Society, while Project Manager Sarah Black told the audience how The Green Blue could help companies and operators with information and advice to help them achieve best environmental standards. After the success of this first seminar, there are two more dates in Scotland, in Edinburgh on 28th February and Inverness on 6th March.

Presentations from the conferences are now available to download

» Carolyn Elder, Largs Yacht Haven: Setting the Scene
» Fiona Manson, Scotiish Natural Heritage: Marine wildlife in Scotland
» Mark Wells, SEPA: Preventing Pollution
» Olivia Lassiere, British Waterways: Managing Scotland's waterways with the environment in mind
» Alan Wells, Environment Link: A Marine Bill for Scotland
» Calumn Duncan, Marine Conservation Society: The Scottish Marine Bill and what it must deliver
» The Green Blue, how we can help
» Rhona Fairgrieve, Scottish Coastal Forum: How to be a good stakeholder
» George Hogg, Moray Firth Partnership: How to be a knowledgeable stakeholder and have your say

Edinburgh agenda and speaker biographies

Gourock agenda and speaker biographies

Inverness agenda and speaker biographies