Caitlin || She/Her || 🐋🌊🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Merry Christmas from my family to all of yours & best wishes for the rest of the festive season 🎄🎅🏻

Except they don’t protect 37% of Scottish seas. Later in this very report it’s detailed that few of these sites actually have management measures in place. It is plain and simple: management of activity is what provides protection. This shameful bluewashing.

As many others have, I’ve also hopped over to BlueSky now. Come say hi! bsky.app/profile/thatse…

So incredibly proud to be a trustee for @Youth4Seas - we were Highly Commended with our FIRST EVER nomination for a @NatureofScot Award, recognising the impact this wee org has had already in only our 1st proper year running 🩵 There’s more to come from us, stay tuned 👀

❓Do you know someone under 30 who is starting to make a significant contribution to our community of coastal and marine professionals and shows great potential?🌊Nominate them for the Bob Earll Award, to be presented at the #CoastalFutures25 conference! 🗓️Nomination closes at…

More @ArranCoast rep here in Falmouth 🤣 @carlamillerx

Wait, I know these guys! @ArranCoast being discussed in my MPA lecture today. Also asked to highlight a community member who’s been key in conservation efforts & gave a shoutout to Bally from @CreelScff ☺️

Looking forward to being part of this panel discussing my background & experience in navigating the world of marine conservation & its barriers to access. Please share with young folks in your networks! 🩵

wondering why I’m so exhausted today, but yesterday I gave an assessed presentation, after a 12+ hr drive from Scotland the day before, getting shingles from stress (+ a cold), & attending a loved one’s funeral (all since Monday) that might be why 🫠

Assigned a presentation topic for one of my modules of ‘can MPAs benefit both marine vertebrate conservation & local communities?’ This is something I’m REALLY interested in & been a keen advocate on for a while, but curious to know others’ thoughts (either way)

The fact that even in the current offshore MPA consultation, management isn’t being proposed for those areas within MPAs that are actually subject to intense fishing is beyond me. Again, taking the absolute ‘p’ out of protection. & still no sign of an inshore consultation…

One of my assignments for one of my modules is to design my own MPA and I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited (or ever excited) about an assignment before 🥹

So happy to see @Youth4Seas shortlisted!! 🥹

Great first 2 days out on the sea for @MarineVertsMSc @ExeterMarine 🌊 Lots of gannets, grey seals, common dolphins & porpoise (yesterday) & bottlenose dolphins today. Other groups spotted a minke & tuna, they managed to evade us. Hopefully spot them soon too 🤞🏻

Always dreamed of living near a beach. Moved to Falmouth a week ago. All week it’s been hot & sunny so I’ve taken full advantage, sea swimming every day. Gylly is my local. Yesterday was the only day I didn’t, instead went rockpooling. Plenty of folks did swim though.

Organised a social for all our degrees under the @ExeterMarine school, met @carlamillerx who interned at @ArranCoast!! Such a small world 🌊

And so my journey to an MSc in Marine Vertebrate Ecology and Conservation with @UniofExeter begins… 🌊

Not sure what I’m more excited about, having finally moved near the sea, starting my Masters, or finally having a bookcase that can display all my marine & environment books 🤣

Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, so I decided to write something for it. 3rd July marked 8 years since my attempt. On Friday I move to Falmouth to start my dream Masters. I’ll be moving near the sea for the first time. Give yourself a chance, there’s so much life to live 💙

Thank you @markruskell for coming along to our Community Event, sharing your insights & advice & discussing campaigning, engagement & communities with @Youth4Seas today! It’s invaluable for young people to have opportunities to directly engage/communicate with politicians 🌊