Hosted by Blue Marine Foundation and Mark Ruskell MSP, Future Seas: Young People’s Perspectives brought together parliamentarians, conservationists and young ocean advocates following the launch of the Scottish Government’s consultation on protections for marine protected areas and Priority Marine Feature sites. More than 100 young people from across Scotland contributed artwork, postcards and personal messages expressing what Scotland’s seas mean to them and why stronger protection matters. Their creativity and passion helped bring youth voices into the heart of parliamentary discussions on the future of Scotland’s marine environment.
Guests heard from Mark Ruskell MSP (MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife), Gillian Martin (Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs), wildlife filmmaker Gordon Buchanan and young ocean scientist Lorna Farquhar, who highlighted the importance of protecting Scotland’s seas for future generations.
The event attracted an impressive turn out from Ministers and Members of Scottish Parliament of all political parties, who openly and warmly engaged with the younger audience, enjoyed their artwork and listened attentively to their passionate descriptions of why the sea and marine life is important to them and their concern about the threats facing Scotland’s seas.
By making direct connections between decision-makers and young people, the reception demonstrated the vital role future generations can play in shaping a healthier future for Scotland’s seas and reinforced support for ambitious action to protect and restore Scotland’s marine environment to support wildlife, people’s livelihoods and the next generation.
The event was held two days after the Scottish Government launched a major consultation seeking views on fisheries management measures for 76 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 90 proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas around Scotland’s coast. Many of the areas designated to protect important marine habitats and rare species, have remained open to bottom trawling and dredging for over a decade since being designated as marine ‘protected’ areas. As a result, the habitats and species these sites were established to protect remain vulnerable to ongoing damage and have continued to decline.
Everyone – of all ages – has the opportunity to input and influence the outcome of the Scottish Governments decision on whether or not to protect these areas from damaging bottom trawling. The consultation is open until 18 January 2027 and information on how to participate is on the Government’s consultation webpage.
Blue Marine is calling for ambitious, effective protection for vulnerable habitats, while supporting small-scale low impact fishing to continue in the Marine Protected Areas, and will be supporting meaningful participation by young people and coastal communities with dedicated guidance and resources to help with responding to this once in a generation opportunity to put the protection back into our marine protected areas.
