EGCP SCOT EAST GRAMPIAN COASTAL PARTNERSHIP An Overview

EGCP. SCOT EAST GRAMPIAN COASTAL PARTNERSHIP An Overview

Background • The East Grampian Coastal Partnership was formed in 2005 • A partnership with statutory and non-statutory organisations, agencies, companies and individuals who have an interest in the coast from Kinnaird Head - Fraserburgh to the mouth of the river North Esk - just south of St Cyrus. • East Grampian Coastal Partnership became EGCP Ltd. on 20 th November 2013 • We are now governed by a Board of Directors and advisers from Local Authorities, other public, private and voluntary organisations and individuals involved with the East Grampian Coast.

Objectives of EGCP • Our primary aim is "to promote the wise and sustainable use of the marine environment and coast". • Other objectives of the partnership include: • Aiding the delivery of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and Scotland’s Marine Litter Strategy. • Helping to raise awareness of the coast and involving coastal communities in tackling issues and taking opportunities for improvement. • Engaging in practical projects to improve our coast. • Promoting the sustainable development of our coastline.

How we do this. . • Key to this is maintaining a programme fostering communications and relations between the wide variety of stakeholders, users and interest groups. • This is achieved through a variety of means including our website, egcp. scot, the use of social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), organising and hosting workshops and attending indoor and outdoor events. • We have three members of staff based within the Aberdeenshire Council, Economic Development Department at Woodhill House, Aberdeen. • Income is derived by grant and donation from a variety of sources including Marine Scotland, member organisations and other partners. • Our 2020 Business Plan can be seen on the EGCP website at egcp. scot.

What we do. . • In recent years, the Partnership has turned its attention to supporting the Scottish Government in the preparation of the proposed Scottish Marine Regions and Marine Planning Partnerships under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. • To support this, the Partnership has completed reviews of users to compile a sectoral interactions matrix and gathered stakeholder spatial data. • We also contribute to the Scottish Coastal Forum and liaise with all other Scottish Coastal Partnerships. • We undertake a range of projects related to our aims with funding sought on a project by project basis.

Previous Projects - 1 Key projects delivered by the partnership in the period up to 2017 included: • An early report suggesting how Regional Marine Planning could be delivered. • Gaining the first Seaside Awards for beaches in our area which has now been replicated, where possible, across all of our beaches. • A report examining the potential to save small historic harbours in the area focussing on Port Errol and Collieston. • A report highlighting the potential for a Geopark in the area. • The State of the East Grampian Coast Report • Two reports investigating the potential for Seafood Tourism in the area which led to a larger EU funded project to explore an East of Scotland Seafood trail. • A major project to understand how sectors interact by carrying out over 40 interviews giving over 8000 points of data, which has aided our understanding of our marine environment. • Gathering Spatial Data from stakeholders.

Previous Projects - 2 • Linking scientists and volunteers with Northlink Ferries to deliver a long running citizen science project to monitor whales and dolphins between Aberdeen and the Northern Isles. • Work on green tourism including running fifteen ‘Know your coast’ tours to show front of house tourism staff the wonders of our coastline and twice representing the area at Whale. Fest, a major cetacean event in Brighton attracting 15, 000 visitors. • Contributing to Energetica including writing the ‘Energetica Walking and Wildlife Guide’ and holding a range of events. • Representing coastal issues on the advisory group of the Area Water Framework Directive. • Being a member of the FLAG group assigning EU funds in the area. • Writing the Marine Local Biodiversity Action Plan. • Producing 10 EGCP newsletters with a total distribution of over 70, 000 copies and, for example, including 3 major articles on Peterhead Harbour.

Current Projects • More recently, after the delivery of numerous beach cleans over the years, we received dedicated NESFLAG funding for the hiring of a beach clean project manager to co-ordinate, lead, and participate in beach cleans on our coast, as well as educate community groups and businesses. • The project, entitled EGCP ‘Turning the Plastic Tide’ has exceeded expectations. • Since its launch in August 2018, this Marine Litter project has removed over 23 tonnes of rubbish from local beaches, engaged 2300 volunteers at beach cleans and 2100 children through school workshops, and has proven to be a real success in engaging individuals, communities, schools and businesses in improving our coastline. • The report for the first year of this project can be found on the EGCP website.

Discovering the Aberdeenshire Coast • We are now delivering a second new project, entitled ‘Discovering the Aberdeenshire coast’. • This project is a natural extension of the work EGCP has done to date, in reaching out to communities along our coast. • On the 24 th March 2020, Scotland went into lockdown with only essential travel allowed and restrictions on distance for exercise purposes. This spring and early summer has been a very difficult time for many people, with isolation and loneliness being an issue for people of all ages. This is especially true in the north east of Scotland where many people work away from their family and support networks. • To help address this, EGCP recently set up a dedicated Coastal Connects Facebook page, @EGCPCoastal. Connects. This has been developed to bring people together along our coastline to share stories, tips and companionship.

Reconnecting People with the Coast • What we are proposing for ‘Reconnecting people with the Coast’ is a really different, sustainable approach to traditional maps. • These Discover maps will be unique, capturing the culture and heritage of our coast by uploading stories, memories and history from individuals and communities, and providing a digital (and subject to demand - paper) product that will engage locals and visitors alike, which will lead to enhanced and responsible tourism for our Coast. • Each map will focus on one of four areas of the Aberdeenshire coast, namely the Buchan Coast from Fraserburgh to Peterhead, the Formartine coast from Peterhead to Blackdog, the Aberdeen City coast and the Mearns coast from Muchalls to St Cyrus. This in turn should generate opportunities for businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector. • This element of the project will become sustainable by printing laminated posters of the maps which are then distributed to Community organisations, such as schools, care homes, libraries and then simply updated by individuals using post it notes, marker pens, and then this information will be added to the digital database for the next map update, and so on.

The Discover Maps

Celebrating and Promoting the Coast • ‘Celebrating and Promoting’ the coast will be achieved by shooting a short film. In 2018, a partnership of local organisations, including EGCP, the local Biodiversity Action Plan and Aberdeenshire Council produced a stunning video entitled ‘The Wild North East, Scotland’s Natural Gem’, to show the very best of the area’s wildlife. • This film has been viewed by ca. 400, 000 people. Our aim is to develop and produce a follow up film entitled ‘The Wild North East Coast’ that will focus on the coast from Fraserburgh to St Cyrus, and will include images to: o show special the coast is, including highlights and hidden gems from the Discover maps o highlight the main issues and problems we are facing. o show Footage of people taking action, including beach cleans etc. o include interviews with people who make a difference and information on how to get involved. • This film is designed to act as a catalyst for attracting more visitors to our Coast, and therefore boost tourism in the area at a time when our economy needs support post Covid-19. The film also seeks to challenge and recruit people to actively improve their coastlines by taking part in projects such as the EMFF supported EGCP ‘Turning the Plastic Tide’ beach litter project.

Any questions? • • • Web: https: //www. egcp. scot/ Facebook: https: //www. facebook. com/Turningthe. Plastic. Tide Twitter: https: //twitter. com/Turn. Plastic. Tide Instagram: https: //www. instagram. com/turning_the_plastic_tide/? hl=en Linkedin: https: //www. linkedin. com/company/43293555