An Aberdeen student has landed a key role to support the sustainable development of part of the North-east Scotland coastline.
Fourth Year Marine Biology student Adam Barker is working with the East Grampian Coastal Partnership (EGCP) to try and find out more about how our coastline is used so future planning and initiatives can be better informed.
In recent years, the north-east Scottish coast has seen a remarkable surge in popularity, with more people than ever enjoying the natural beauty and recreational opportunities it offers - from the growing interest in wild swimming and wildlife watching to the increasing number of paddleboarders and coastal walkers.
Despite this rise in activity, those working to maintain and improve the coast lack the evidence needed to support this and ensure that proper management and facilities are in place.
Adam has been appointed to conduct and analyse a survey to examine trends in different areas – to see what areas are being used, when, and by what demographics.
Adam said: “Gathering data through this survey will allow better management of the coastline and effective allocation of resources.
“For example, Scottish bathing waters are currently monitored for water pollution only during the summer months but it could be argued that water sports are now taking place year-round so consideration should be given to increased monitoring periods.
“This research will help us quantify year-round use and where this usage is taking place.”
A passionate outdoors enthusiast, Adam has spent the last decade as an outdoor activity instructor and feels more needs to be done to protect our natural environment.
“After spending a lot of time at our coasts, it became clear that it is experiencing major issues such as litter, pollution and degradation. I feel a strong sense of environmental stewardship which leads me to deepening my understanding of the issues presented and equipping me with the knowledge to allow for better advocation.
“The coast provides a place for social connections with friends and family while enjoying tranquil scenery and relaxing atmospheres all while deepening bonds and creating shared memories, so it needs to properly cared for.
“If you take part in activities such as coastal walking, surfing, coastal rowing, or kayak fishing, to name but a few, we need your help to complete this survey. With enough people taking part, it will help us drive real improvement to the area."
Ian Hay, EGCP’s Project Manager for Marine Planning and the lead on the development of the State of the Coast project, added: "We are aiming to develop a website that can be used by a wide range of people to gather information on our stunning coast. However, the lack of data on coastal recreation was clearly apparent, hence the need to carry out this survey."
The survey will remain active until the end of the year and will be updated regularly to allow for trends to become apparent and to highlight areas for improvement.
You can complete the EGCP survey – which takes around five minutes to complete – here.