Loch Broom Celebrates Living with the Sea
People from the communities around Loch Broom and Little Loch Broom will mark the launch of Living with the Sea, celebrating marine wildlife and people, at an talla solais in Ullapool at 12.30pm on Friday, 12 June.
People of all ages from the coastal communities in the Ullapool area, including the remote Scoraig peninsula, helped to create 25 large and colourful weatherproof banners which will be on display around Ullapool throughout the summer. The banners bring together striking images of local marine wildlife from the UK?s best underwater photographers, and local photographs of people living and working with the sea. Five of the banners were drawn and painted by pupils from the five local schools.
Sue Scott, a leading marine photographer and well-known marine biologist, many of whose photographs feature on the banners, will be talking at the launch about the area's fascinating marine life. The exhibition will be formally opened by Jean Urquhart, councillor for Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh.
Twenty of the banners were created by local adult groups, ranging from fish farmers to sailors, community councils, divers, kayakers and marine tour boat operators. Each banner links a local activity with the marine wildlife that it relates to ? for example rocks and crevices and lobster creeling, marine life around wrecks, kayaking and tide-swept waters and marine life seen from a tour boat.
Living with the Sea was managed by Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), with help from Ullapool Harbour Trust, the Ullapool Tourism and Business Association (UTBA) and Wester Ross Environment Network (WREN).
Becky Boyd, SWT?s Marine Policy Officer, said: "This is very exciting time for Scotland?s seas. The Scottish Marine Bill has just entered Parliament, opening up opportunities for a stronger local voice in how the sea is managed so coastal communities can play a much bigger role. It will be important to know as much as possible about the amazing marine wildlife on our doorstep."
Kevin Peach of Ullapool Harbour Trust said, "Ullapool harbour is a hub for the whole area, bringing boats from all over the world. Ullapool was founded on herring and benefited from the mackerel Klondykers in the 70s and 80s. We can?t do without the sea here, and that means we need the marine life that supports everything we do, from fishing and fish-farming to sailing, kayaking and tourism."
Aaron Forsyth of WREN showed school pupils local footage taken with his underwater camera. He said, "Everyone was very interested in what is down there. Some of them had seen lumpsuckers on the beach or conger eels coming up in their dad?s creels, and they were really amazed at the colour and variety."
Andy Mackay, acting chair of UTBA said, "Local businesses, from fish and chip shops to top seafood restaurants, rely on the sea. Obviously getting reliable, good quality seafood means making sure the whole marine environment is healthy, not just the species that are caught for food."
The seas on the west of Scotland are world-class. Loch Broom and Little Loch Broom are strongholds in the UK for Scottish specialities, including flameshell and horsemussel reefs, as well as rarities like fan mussel, native oyster and giant sea pen. Diving, sailing, kayaking and marine tourism as well as fishing and fish-farming contribute a great deal to the local economy.
Visit the Scottish Wildlife Trust website for more information.
