Scotland’s marine area is vast, making up approximately 60% of UK seas and covering an area six times that of Scotland’s land area.

Scotland’s waters are home to over 6,500 species, including iconic basking sharks, orcas, Atlantic salmon and puffins. Scotland's marine life relies on healthy waters, as does humanity. However, with the ocean often being 'out of sight, out of mind', the importance of ocean health isn't always clear. Sir David Attenborough famously said: "People won't protect what they don't care about, and people won't care about what they have never experienced". Through our snorkel trail network and other innovative social-science approaches, we are passionate about making Scotland's seas, and conversations affecting it, more accessible and inclusive.

With your support we can-

Extend our current sea the connection project - an innovative engagement and advocacy project based on Ocean Literacy (the understanding of the ocean's influence on us and our influence on the ocean) that will benefit coastal communities and the marine environment.

Support the Trust's Snorkel Trail Network - our award-winning snorkel trails showcase the diversity of Scotland's seas and engage people with the vast array of wildlife they support. Our trails also promote sustainable tourism and support fantastic community projects around the country, as well as highlighting the physical and mental wellbeing benefits that snorkelling can bring. We need to update our two oldest snorkel trails (Northwest Highlands and Harris) and would like to re-launch and promote the Berwickshire snorkel trail at Scotland's first Snorkel Festival in the summer of 2025.

By connecting people with Scotland’s waters and helping communities take action, we can protect our precious marine wildlife. Will you help secure a better future for this unique environment?