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Displaying items by tag: British Marine Scotland

A recent survey of British Marine members in Scotland “reveals an optimistic, confident sector”, the industry body says.

More than half of respondents to the British Marine Scotland survey earlier this year reported increased business, while two thirds declared development plans they intend to progress over the next five years.

The survey also showed more than two thirds of members saw the regional marine tourism strategy Awakening the Giant — which targets increasing marine’s economic value from £350m to over £450m by next year — as highlighting the sector’s potential.

“This response has further endorsed plans to refresh the strategy for 2020-25,” British Marine Scotland says.

Undertaken in preparation for a “refresh” of the British Marine Scotland business plan, the survey has highlighted “priority areas for development” especially in regards to training, skills and careers in the marine sector.

One response is a shift of focus from already developed boatbuilding and repair training to marina and boatyard skills, with British Marine Scotland saying it has invited partners to discuss what can be done.

The summary report on the survey is available from the British Marine website. A draft update of the Marine Tourism Strategy will be launched at the Scottish Marine Trade and Marine Tourism Symposium in Edinburgh this coming Friday 15 November ahead of a consultation period and launch of the updated strategy next spring.

Published in Scottish Waters

Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!