Sea Scotland

An image of underwater coral and fish with the text "Save the Date! Join us for Sea Scotland's 10 year anniversary. Theme: Joining the dots to safeguard Scotland's seas. Tuesday 27th October. The Discovery, Dundee.

Save the date for Sea Scotland 2026...and it’s our 10th birthday! 🎉 More details, including this year’s Sea Scotland youth event, coming soon.

@youth4seas.bsky.social @mcsuk.bsky.social @scotlink.bsky.social @scotwildlife.bsky.social @howellmarine.bsky.social @faunaflora.bsky.social

📸 NatureScot

Picture of Sea Scotland's ocean husting event in 2025

‼️OPPORTUNITY: Sea Scotland Steering Group Membership

We are inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from organisations, groups or individuals based in Scotland who would like to join the Sea Scotland conference steering group.

💡Find out more & apply: bit.ly/4cI6OhG

Five speakers at the Sea Scotland event

Delegates at the Sea Scotland event, with a screen announcing the launch of the Youth Manifesto for Scotland's Seas

An audience member asking a question at the Sea Scotland event

An audience member asking a question at the Sea Scotland event

Huge thanks to our speakers from @scottishgreens.org @scotlibdems.org.uk @snp.org and Scottish Labour, and all the delegates who attended @seascotland.bsky.social's first ever Ocean Hustings on Monday! It was great to share ideas on how we can bring our seas back to health.
@youth4seas.bsky.social

Claudia thanks all the panelists for their contributions and a big shout out to our wonderful Sponsors!

WWF Scotland
Young Sea Changers Scotland
Scottish Wildlife Trust
Scottish Power Renewables

And thank you all for coming!

#SeaScotland2025

Claudia invites final statements from the panel which included

Cross party agreement
Trust
Funding conflict resolution
Inclusive governance structure
Manifesto writing
Do not underestimate the impact you can have
Please reach out to your councillors, MSPs and MPs

#SeaScotland2025

Points raised in response included

Motion for the Ocean
Ocean Climate Biodiversity in the curriculum
Community involvement
@youth4seas.bsky.social
Reach out to your representatives
Learning for sustainability
Ecosystem literacy
Planetary boundaries
Jargon busting
The sea is amazing!

Claudia then asks a question on Ocean Literacy - what will your party do to prioritise Ocean Literacy both in and outside the curriculum.

Points in response included:

Enforcement
Restructed Marine Directorate
Work with fishers
Community Voice
Independent scientists
Inshore recovery
End bottom trawling in protected areas
Quota allocation
Robust data
Reducing bycatch
Positive conversation
REM

Claudia asks the next question on fisheries - what do you consider are the main priorities for both the environment and the sector?

Points raised on youth involvement included

Ocean Literacy
Young people need engaged with now as well as being the future of Scotland's seas
Can't be tokenistic
Break down barriers
Accessible for all
Ullapool Sea savers 🌊
Youth panels
Expertise
Citizen Assemblies
@youth4seas.bsky.social

Next we had Louis asking a question on behalf of young people - ensuring youth voices are involved, considered and supported in marine policy decision making.

#SeaScotland2025

Points raised on marine pollution included

Sewage spill monitoring
Circular Economy
Prevention is critical
International treaties
Leadership approach
Deposit Return Scheme
Fishing and aquaculture related litter
Clean Water Act
Forever Chemicals
Polluter pays

Calum from @mcsuk.bsky.social asked the question around marine pollution on everything from plastics to sewage to chemicals of concerns - what would the candidates parties do to tackle these issues if elected next year?

#SeaScotland2025

The panel did very well considering a big issue with only 2 minutes to respond.

Points raised:
We need better planning
Need to have everyone round the table
Importance of a Just Transition
Investing in nature restoration
Plans for renewables
30x30
Offshore renewables
Ocean Literacy
NMP2
Data

Our youth representative on the Sea Scotland steering group Udara asks the first question to start the Ocean Hustings around Marine Spatial Planning.

The questions have been themed together based on all the questions delegates submitted on registration.

#SeaScotland2025

Councillor Conor Savage from Labour stepped in last minute- thank you! Claudia gave a big shout out to the first Motion for the Ocean in Scotland which was thanks to Councillor Conor. The importance of working with all stakeholders and marine protection must be implemented with those stakeholders.

Councillor Kate Campbell from the SNP highlighted the opportunities with National Marine Plan 2 and would like to see by end of next parliament term to tackle pollution both by tackling upstream and removal and recognises the importance of this event to help with shaping manifestos.

Councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie from Liberal Democrats highlights they want science led and supported by coastal communities. They have to have a stake and a say in what happens - government should work with and not against communities empowering them to be stewards of their own marine environment.

Claudia now invites each of the candidates to introduce themselves - Arianne Burgess, Scottish Greens MSP highlighted the slowness of the journey so far and we need to move at pace in the next session. I want to see us move to an eco-systems based approach with communities at the heart of it all.

Fantastic to have @alanmunro.bsky.social Director and founder of @youth4seas.bsky.social officially launch the first Youth Manifesto for our seas to kick off the Ocean Hustings!

#SeaScotland2025

Claudia Beamish, chair of @youth4seas.bsky.social opens the Ocean Hustings and welcomes everyone.

#SeaScotland2025

A brilliant buzz as folk turn up to sign in for the Ocean Hustings!

It is fantastic to see such an engaging discussion between youth delegates and our Ocean Hustings candidates including Arianne Burgess MSP, Councillor Sanne Dijkstra-Downie and Councillor Kate Campbell.

Sharing experiences, knowledge, challenges and questions.

Thank you to all!

#SeaScotland2025

'Your opinion matters' - a really important point raised by Councillor Sanne - we need to make sure that everyone knows they can be part of ocean conservation conversations and action so when there is an opportunity to feed in we are all ready and know how to do it.

#SeaScotland2025

Brilliant discussion happening at the Making Waves event - discussing barriers to making successful and inclusive marine policy.

Ocean Literacy, more accessible consultation and breaking down policy jargon all suggested so far.

#SeaScotland2025

Members from @youth4seas.bsky.social give a fantastic presentation on the Youth Manifesto to young delegates and the candidates here for the Ocean Hustings later this evening.

You can read the manifesto here: Youth Manifesto — Young Sea Changers Scotland share.google/ccSml4FaAp2r...

Making Waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices event has begun!

@alanmunro.bsky.social & Caitlin from @youth4seas.bsky.social celebrating the launch of their manifesto which was created in collaboration with young people from across Scotland!

Sea Scotland Hustings is tonight🌊

We look forward to welcoming you all to the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute from 6.30 pm.

Can't join in person? We are livestreaming!🎥

Join us online at 7.00 pm 👉https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKCtstbbEZw

We're almost sold out! ✨

Make sure to grab the last seats to join #SeaScotland2025
A chance to hear directly Scotland’s political parties' ideas & plans on the future of our seas ahead of the Holyrood 2026 Elections.

Register 👉 bit.ly/44nKQfm

Can't make it in person? We will livestream!🎥

Meet the Sea Scotland Ocean Hustings speakers🌊

✨Ariane Burgess, Scottish Green Party MSP for Highlands and Islands
✨Cllr Sanne Dijkstra-Downie, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Edinburgh City Council (Forth ward)
✨Sarah Boyack, Scottish Labour MSP for Lothian (Region)

Register today👉 bit.ly/44nKQfm