The Community of Arran Seabed Trust has been set up to establish Scotland’s first no take zone in Lamlash Bay. The intention is to stop fishing there to preserve stocks.

The organisation also wants to protect the maerl beds. Maerl is a coral-like seaweed which provides a habitat for a variety of species which in turn are an important part of the underwater food chain. The maerl beds are apparently easily damaged by trawling and take a long while to replenish.

COAST’s members are about 20% of the Arran population. I wouldn’t have imagined anyone in that small island being sufficiently motivated to launch such an initiative. But there ye go. I’m glad to find my bigotry misplaced.