Scotland's magnificent marine life
The seas around Scotland are home to a third of the global population of grey seals; the world’s most northerly population of bottlenose dolphins; 23 other species of the world’s 82 whales and dolphins and 43% of all seabirds breeding in the EU. They also provide summer feeding grounds for the basking shark, which is the world’s second largest fish, and the endangered leatherback turtle.

Beneath the waves are some of the finest marine habitats in Europe, including rocky reefs covered in soft corals, sea fans and sponges, shallow beds of delicate pink maerl, a coral-like seaweed and haven for juvenile shellfish, sea grass beds home to pipefish, horsemussel beds rich in life and, in deeper waters, coldwater coral reefs.

Marine life under threat
However, fishing trawls and dredges plough up vulnerable seabeds; sharks, turtles and seals choke on discarded plastic bags and balloons; fish species such as cod are on the brink of commercial extinction; sewage and gender-changing chemicals still pollute our waters and farmed fish escape by the thousand, inter-breeding with wild salmon and ultimately threatening their survival.

The Marine Conservation Society has a dedicated office and campaigns programme in Scotland. Click here to contact our Scottish Office.

Find out more about Scotland's stunning sea lochs
Download a small colourful poster about Scottish marine life

Click on the links to the right to find out how we are campaigning for Seas fit for Scotland.