Open Seas

@open-seas

Research, investigations & campaigns to recover the health of our coastal seas & promote sustainable seafood. 👇 #SayNoToScampi 👇 #DivedNotDredged

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Open Seas @open-seas· 11d

Chef Lee Nelson of Fishers in the City (Edinburgh) sources hand-dived Orkney scallops, rope-grown Shetland mussels & works directly with small family fisheries. His take: chefs are custodians of the ocean, not just its consumers. 🌊🐟 #OpenSeas #SustainableSeafood

Open Seas @open-seas· 14d

We sent a drone into Lyme Bay's MPA and found a coral garden thriving in UK waters 🌊🐠 18 years of protection from bottom trawling & dredging = sea fans, schools of fish, life everywhere. Give nature time, it comes back. Proof it works. #LymeBay #MarineProtectedArea #OceanRecovery #UKSeas

Open Seas @open-seas· 15d

We joined MPs Edward Morello & Barry Gardiner to visit Lyme Bay, a reserve protected since 2008, & discuss why transparency on vessel/quota ownership + seafood traceability matters. https://bit.ly/4fnLhe0 #FisheriesTransparency

Open Seas @open-seas· 19d

We took a couple of MPs out to Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve this week 🌊 Years of protection from dredging and trawling = an abundant, thriving seabed. Great to show Ed Morello MP and Barry Gardiner MP what conservation can deliver 🐟 #LymeBay #MarineConservation #OpenSeas #UKSeas

Open Seas @open-seas· 25d

Small pub, big principles 🦞 We visited the Colintraive Hotel to talk seafood with head chef Joe, who uses creel-caught langoustines from Loch Fyne, hand-dived Orkney scallops, all local and seasonal. Simple food done right. Video 🎥👇 #SustainableSeafood #Scotland #DivedNotDredged

Open Seas @open-seas· 28d

Scotland has a new Marine Minister, the first time "marine" has ever appeared in a ministerial title. Our seas are 6x bigger than our land. It's about time that mattered in politics. Healthy seas. Fair fishing. Strong marine protection. This time, action, not just promises. 🌊🎥 #MarineConservation

Open Seas @open-seas· Jul 9

Hand-dived scallops. Creel-caught langoustine. Seafood that doesn't cost the seabed it came from. We talked to Chef Tom Marshallsay at Made from Grapes in Glasgow about sourcing seafood responsibly. Learn more 👇 🎥🐚 #Seafood #Glasgow #Sustainability

Open Seas @open-seas· Jul 7

BBC covers our seabed recovery monitoring in Wester Ross MPA 🌊 7 years after illegal dredging near Eilean Dubh, our drone surveys show sea cucumbers, crabs & cat sharks returning. Full recovery could take a decade, but it shows protection works 🔗 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20y9zlzwyzo

A group of people on a small boat at sea, focusing on a screen displaying data. The boat has the name "Mustang". The BBC and Open Seas logos are visible, alongside text stating, "Seabed damaged by fishing showing signs of recovery."

Open Seas @open-seas· Jul 6

Wester Ross MPA, protected since 2016 (no scallop dredging, limited bottom trawling), is bouncing back 🌊 Firework anemones, Celtic feather stars and local low-impact fishers all thriving together. Proof that management based on ecological needs works, for the sea and the people who work it.

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 30

Nearly 17,000 people are asking the Scottish Government to reinstate the coastal limit + protect at least 30% of inshore areas from bottom trawling and dredging. We have the science. We have the evidence. We just need leadership. And we need the inshore consultation results published NOW. 🌊

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 26

16,800 people demanded better for Scotland’s seas 🌊 We joined the Our Seas Coalition to hand in our petition to Minister Jim Fairlie at the Scottish Parliament, calling for 30% of inshore waters to be protected from bottom trawling and dredging. #OurSeas #Scotland #MarineProtection

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 25

🔎 Our first round of research in Wester Ross MPA is done! 🔎🌊 Surveying the seabed, tracking recovery after illegal scallop dredging, and comparing protected vs open fishing zones. More footage soon. 💙 #WesterRoss #MarineProtectedArea

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 18

"We are the custodians of what we put on the menus." 🌊 For #SustainableGastronomyDay, 3 chefs told us why they choose creel-caught langoustines and hand-dived scallops over damaging fishing methods and why it matters for Scotland's seas. 🎥👇

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 16

Kicking off summer research in Wester Ross! Our underwater drone is diving deep to uncover the state of Scotland’s sea bed. More trips ahead! Follow us for underwater footage and marine science updates. 🌊🐟 #MarineLife #Sustainability #Scotland

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 10

🎣 Loch Fyne once supported a thriving fishing economy built on healthy marine habitats. Protecting and restoring habitats can help bring back marine life, jobs and opportunities for coastal communities. 🌊 #MarineConservation

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 8

🌊 Healthy seabed = healthy seas. Bottom trawling and dredging continue to damage protected marine habitats in Scotland, harming wildlife and releasing stored carbon. This #WorldOceanDay, learn how sustainable fishing can help restore our seas and support coastal communities: openseas.org.uk

Open Seas @open-seas· Jun 2

Michelin's Green Star may be disappearing, but Scotland's sustainable seafood ambitions shouldn't. 🌊🍀 Healthy seas are the foundation of great seafood, coastal communities and future gastronomy. Read our latest blog: https://www.openseas.org.uk/news/retiring-the-clover/ #Seafood #Sustainability

A dish garnished with caviar and herbs on a white plate. An overlay text reads: "NEW BLOG. The gastronomy world was caught off guard when the Michelin Guide recently announced it would retire its Green Star award entirely. Introduced in 2020, the green four-leaf clover was designed to recognize restaurants leading the way in responsible practice within the hospitality sector.

Open Seas @open-seas· May 29

The Kyles of Bute are still open to destructive bottom trawling, damaging fragile habitats like maerl. Our Argyll Report shows sustainable fishing creates more value for coastal communities while protecting the sea. 🌊🦞 https://www.openseas.org.uk/argyll-report/

Open Seas @open-seas· May 26

From boat to focaccia 🦞 We spoke with the team at Inveraray Seafood Shack about building a business around low-impact creel fishing, local seafood and healthier seas. A great example of community-led sustainable seafood in action 🌊

Open Seas @open-seas· May 22

The loss of the Michelin Green Star risks pushing sustainability further out of the spotlight just when our seas need it most. 🌊 How seafood is caught matters. Hand-dived scallops protect marine habitats, unlike dredging which damages the seabed. #DivedNotDredged

This image shows a screenshot from The Guardian's website with a headline about the end of the Michelin green star and its impact on sustainable chefs. The top banner reads "Breaking News." Below, there is a photo of a person in a restaurant kitchen. The page is focused on sustainability in the culinary industry.

Open Seas @open-seas· May 16

What about the endangered species in Scotland’s seas?? 🦈 Basking sharks, flapper skate and sandeels all rely on healthy marine habitats threatened by bottom trawling and dredging. #EndangeredSpeciesDay #MarineConservation 📸 Photos: NatureScotland

Open Seas @open-seas· May 14

Scottish hand-dived scallops prove seafood can be both sustainable and premium quality 🌊 Supporting #Fish24 means choosing low-impact fishing that protects marine habitats, supports coastal communities and keeps our seas thriving. #DivedNotDredged

A scallop shell on a plate contains a fresh salad with radish, greens, and peas. Nearby, there is a copy of a menu and a small notecard with a blue and green pattern.

Open Seas @open-seas· May 13

🎉 We were able to exceed our fundraising goal of £20,000 for our #BigGive campaign! 🎉 Thank you so much for all your donations, support and sharing our message. It's thanks to you that we will be able to have a robust underwater research programme this summer. 🔎 🌊

Open Seas @open-seas· May 8

"The new Scottish government has the opportunity to prove it can manage its own waters effectively. It should grab it" - New op-ed by our public affairs manager Lucy Kay in today's Times!

Open Seas @open-seas· May 6

Scotland votes soon. But what are parties promising for our seas? We’ve reviewed the 2026 manifestos on fishing, fish farms, marine protection and coastal communities. Read the breakdown👇 https://www.openseas.org.uk/news/scottish-election-2026-marine-fisheries-party-manifestos/ #ScottishElection

The image features a blog post advertisement with a background of a sign reading "Polling Station" and "Way In," suggesting an election setting. Overlay text discusses the high stakes of a Scottish election, polling unpredictability, and minimal change in marine environment decisions since the last election.

Open Seas @open-seas· May 4

Bottom trawling is not sustainable. It damages marine ecosystems, threatens jobs and weakens long-term economic security. We need action now to restore Scotland’s seas and rebuild fish stocks. Visit link below to find out more 👇 https://bit.ly/42AO6lO

Open Seas @open-seas· May 1

🌊 Who’s actually in charge of Scotland’s seas? Right now? No one. With elections ahead, now is the time to make your voice heard. Ask the next Scottish Government to appoint a dedicated Marine Minister for Scotland. #Elections2026

Open Seas @open-seas· Apr 29

🚨 Final chance! Today is the last day to support our seabed research. 💙 Help us protect Scotland’s seas, donate now! https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000AFb1VYAT?utm_campaign=a05WS00000AFb1VYAT-bluesky #MarineConservation #BigGive #OceanAction

Open Seas @open-seas· Apr 28

There is still time to help us protect our seas. ⏰ Support us via the Big Give and help us fund our underwater research and discover what's really been going on in marine protected areas. 🔎 https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000AFb1VYAT?utm_campaign=a05WS00000AFb1VYAT-bluesky

A person on a boat operates a tablet during a marine expedition. The text reads: "We're working to document underwater damage and restore life to our seas." The message continues with, "Every £1 donated gets doubled," with logos from Big Give and Open Seas displayed.

Open Seas @open-seas· Apr 27

⏳ 2 days to go Help us protect Scotland’s seabed before time runs out. 💙 Donate now via the Big Give. https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000AFb1VYAT?utm_campaign=a05WS00000AFb1VYAT-bluesky #MarineConservation #OceanProtection