The waters off the Berwickshire coast have long been considered special by marine biologists as they contain a fantastic abundance and diversity of marine life. Add to this clear waters and spectacular underwater scenery and it is not surprising that divers have been coming to the area for decades.

In the early days numbers were low, but word soon spread and by the 1970s there were concerns that increasing human activity might start to have an adverse effect on the wildlife. Initially divers banned themselves from taking a crab or lobster “for the pot” from around St Abbs and the Barefoot Marine Reserve was set up at Eyemouth by a local landowner. Then in 1984 local fishermen, divers and conservationists got together and decided to create St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (VMR). This was the first reserve of its kind in the UK and, to this day, remains the only one in Scotland.

The VMR aims to balance the needs of the area’s marine life with the needs of recreation & traditional creel fishing. Protection of the marine life relies on educating people who use the area, promoting responsible behaviour and asking them to stick to a voluntary Code of Conduct.

29th September 2008
Splash In slide show on Flickr
It has taken a while thanks to the slowness of the "broadband" connection to the office, but I have managed to get all the images from the Splash In loaded onto Flickr. Go to www.flickr.com/photos/30592553@N03/ to see the photostream.

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27th September 2008
New species recorded in Reserve
Whilst diving in the VMR over August Bank Holiday weekend, underwater photographer, Stephen Judd, spotted a rather pretty looking little worm. He snapped off a few shots to help him ID it when he got back to the surface and it was lucky he did as it turned out to be a first for the Reserve!

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Tuesday 2nd September
Come help turn the tide on marine litter
If you are fed up with seeing our fabulous beaches blighted by rubbish that is washed up by the tide, why not come and do your bit. Come and help us do a beach clean and litter survey on Linkim Shore on Sunday 21st September.

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