Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST)

A community looking beneath the surface

COAST works for the protection and restoration of the seas around Arran and the Clyde. From its base in Lamlash, it brings research, education and local engagement together, giving people a part in understanding the waters beside their homes. S003

Its research includes monitoring associated with the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone and South Arran Marine Protected Area. These established protected areas are part of a longer conservation story, alongside the charity’s continuing work on marine management. S004

Exploring more of Arran’s seas

Communities and the Sea takes seabed exploration beyond the existing protected areas. In 2025, residents joined surveys using underwater vehicles and drop-down cameras, while volunteer Seasearch divers recorded habitats and species in greater detail. S005

COAST recorded 33 community marine habitat surveys and 47 Seasearch diving surveys in 2025. The resulting seabed information was sent to NatureScot for use in decisions and policy, giving the fieldwork a practical route beyond the survey itself. S005

A research boat with room to take part

RV COAST Explorer supports research and dive charters, education and citizen science around Arran and the Clyde. Its Sea Science trips invite the public to help survey marine life, opening up a part of conservation work that often happens out of sight. S006

Knowledge with local roots

Seabed protection depends on understanding what is there. COAST’s surveys combine underwater observations with local knowledge, helping build a more detailed picture of habitats beyond familiar shorelines. S005

Local participation gives the fieldwork its roots in the community. Residents help identify survey sites and learn to record marine life, connecting the future of these waters with people who know and care about them. S005

The detail behind the work

The annual figures give a sense of the organisation’s scale. They cover the whole charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The spending breakdown follows its filed accounts for that year, checked on 13 October 2026. These are historical figures, not current balances or a project budget. S001, S020