A year to celebrate the Sea

Major News: £189k National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant

We are absolutely delighted to announce that our three-year project, “Scotland’s Hidden Reefs: Saving Maerl, Herring and Underwater Ecosystems through Citizen Science, Advocacy and Storytelling,” has been awarded a significant grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this £189,385 project—partially underwritten by members of the North & West Fishery Board to cover a £30,000 shortfall—will allow us to upscale our vital work restoring regional fisheries, coastal economies and the precious pink maerl seaweed where herring spawns (see Chris Rickard’s incredible March 2026 photo, where you can actually spot the tiny eyes of the developing herring inside their eggs).

Celebrating a Decade of conservation: BHA’s Maerl Report Launched!

We are also delighted to present the results of a decade of citizen science underwater surveys in our newly published Maerl Report. Released on 20 May 2026, this landmark report—part-funded by NatureScot—is core to our wider maerl restoration project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The publication marks the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area’s (MPA’s) 10th anniversary - when Parliament ratified the 2015 Emergency Order which closed the largest ‘maerl MPA’ in the world to dredging. World leading maerl expert Professor J.M. Hall-Spencer analysed Blue Hope Alliance surveys from 2016–2025 to evaluate how this globally vital keystone habitat is recovering across the region, including Loch Carron and Loch Torridon. This monumental effort is a testament to the passion of our incredible volunteer network. Special thanks to the 2025 survey team aboard the Honeydew dive vessel including Inverness Sub Aqua Club divers coordinated by BHA members and science advisors. Thanks to Tanera and BSAC Hebrides for water sample collection. BHA Maerl Report webpage: https://www.bluehopealliance.co.uk/surveyreports or direct to the report itself, button below. We can’t wait to discuss these vital findings with you all at our upcoming Maerl & Herring Festival in September. We’ve much we want to share and discuss….

GO TO REPORT

Save the Date: Maerl & Herring Festival (25-27 Sept 2026)

You are warmly invited to Achiltibuie in the Summer Isles—the very heart of where the campaign for the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area began—to celebrate its 10th birthday. The festival will honour our regions two keystone species—maerl and herring—and launch a multi-year string of coastal events led by our new Project Officer (once appointed), to work for the restoration of our regions marine ecosystem and support marine groups along the coastline. Join us for thought-provoking grassroots discussions to dream up the future of our waters together. Enjoy a magic evening event with a small flotilla of boats lit by lanterns and filled with music, song and stories of the sea - and gratitude. Sparklers welcome. The Festival will mix film, story, science, art and discussion. Julia Barton will bring maerl to life as a ‘superhome’ for sea creatures - a glimpse below. Please wear pink to celebrate our favourite coral-like seaweed, or come dressed as a herring if you’re feeling truly adventurous! A schedule will follow. Most importantly we invite you to begin to dream what YOU envisage for the future of our seas….

How Can You Help Right Now?

The alliance is fuelled by volunteer passion, working for a future with abundant habitats, fish, cetaceans and seabirds again. Earlier this year the slow return of the herring followed by the humpbacks inspired hope.

We need your support to keep this incredible momentum going! We are looking for volunteers with social media skills as well as ‘hands on deck’ for the upcoming festival and other project milestones. Especially skippers and musicians willing to be part of our illuminated flotilla to celebrate the MPA with story, song, and music. Please text Sara on Whatsapp 07973 882287 to support our team or contact blue hope alliance (c/o sara@littlegreenislandfilms.co.uk)

Full time 3 Year Project Officers Role. We’ll soon be advertising our Project Officer’s job for the 3 year full time position….keep a look out.

Action Alert: Ardmore Bay in Skye needs you

Can you stand with our friends in Skye and sign their community petition to protect a uniquely diverse ecosystem, including an irreplaceable living pink maerl bed at Ardmore Bay on the Isle of Skye? This extraordinary bay is currently at risk from SSEN's seabed cable work, despite a viable alternative route that completely avoids risk of damage to this slow-growing, non-renewable species and many other endangered species too. Maerl is Scotland’s equivalent to the Barrier Reef. Please sign https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/tell-ssen-no

Keep a look out for our festival schedule in the Ullapool News and https://visitcoigach.com/events and on the bluehopealliance Facebook page and instagram)

NEXT: Global Rewilding Alliance have published Marine case studies including Blue Hope Alliance’s case study featuring our maerl report, they will be highlighting these over the next few weeks. Let us know if you can help. https://globalrewilding.earth/fisheries-and-marine-carbon-processes-in-the-context-of-climate-change-a-new-report-for-world-ocean-day/ but more on this later:

Our 2025 Survey was made possible by the generosity of the Honeydew Team, Travel Chapter, Reiff Beach Cottage with equipment funded by Sea Changers. Thank you once again to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and for National Lottery players for making this incredibly timely project possible.