A wide shot of seaweed on the sandy shores of the Scottish Atlantic Coast. In the distance are rolling hills.

Atlantic Coast

The UK's Atlantic coast is under threat from the worsening biodiversity crisis and the climate emergency, with pollution and habitat loss putting our marine life, coastal communities, and planet at risk. That's where we come in.

Stretching from Cornwall to the Hebrides, it encompasses sandy beaches, sheltered coves, estuaries, mudflats, soaring cliffs and deep seas. It's home to unique and diverse habitats, weird and wonderful species, and is an important marine migratory corridor.

We’re determined to regenerate our western coastline and ensure it thrives again. Through our Atlantic Coast programme, generously supported by Fat Face Foundation, we’re strengthening populations of key hero species – native oysters, seagrass, blue mussels, and kelp – to create thriving marine ecosystems bursting with life.

By bringing these species back, we’re not just rebuilding habitats or restoring populations – we’re helping to tackle climate change, purify coastal waters, protect marine biodiversity and drive long-term ocean recovery. Over time, they’ll become self-sustaining and spread into surrounding areas, allowing a coast-wide transformation.

A seagrass meadow is photographed from the seabed, looking up to the blue water

A seagrass meadow in Mounts Bay, Cornwall  |  Image credit: Heather Hamilton

Combining traditional and modern methods

Our work to support key hero species will be in partnership with communities along the Atlantic Coast. First, it will grow baby oysters (called spat), which will then be raised in Wales until they’re ready to live in the ocean; we’ll also create a spatting pond in Scotland to safely raise baby oysters there too. We’ll work with coastal communities to revive traditional centuries-old methods of oyster cultivation and will also pioneer new ways to restore oyster populations, like developing mobile hatcheries that can be moved to where they're needed most. 

So far, we’ve already restored 33,000 native oysters to the river Cleddau in Wales through Natur Am Byth! Môr, with 50,000 baby oysters moved to Tethys oyster farm to be raised until they’re big enough for deployment. 

We’ll work with coastal communities to revive traditional centuries-old methods of oyster cultivation and will also pioneer new ways to restore oyster populations, like developing mobile hatcheries that can be moved to where they're needed most. 

33000

native oysters restored to the river Cleddau

50000

baby oysters moved to Tethys oyster farm

Next steps for the project

Our programme' will connect the Atlantic coast projects across the four nations of the UK. Our next major plans will be Scottish Seascapes, which will focus on two areas: the Isle of Eigg and West Loch Tarbert.  

We’ll restore seagrass meadows and work alongside communities to establish native oyster spatting ponds and restore oyster populations. As well as providing habitats to an abundance of marine life, both species capture vast amounts of carbon and help stabilise the seabed to protect our coast from erosion. 

Scottish Seascapes will see Advanced Mooring Systems being used in Scotland for the first time. We’ve already successfully installed these systems alongside partners in Plymouth Sound, with astounding results – by lifting moorings’ ropes and chains off the seabed, they protect seagrass meadows from damage and uprooting. 

A yellow Snakelocks Anemone sits on top of kelp in Scottish waters. The sea is light blue.

A snakelocks anemone on kelp in Scotland  |  Image credit: Laura McConnell

By working with local partners and communities we can revive this corner of our seas and look forward to sharing our progress with you. Check back soon for more updates.

You might like...

A close up of several native oysters being held by someone wearing orange gloves

Reintroducing oysters

These ocean superheroes work hard for our ocean. Find out how we're mitigating native oyster decline through innovative projects.
Vivid green seagrass is photographed underwater in the Isle of Scilly. The white sand seabed is visible, and the water is a bright turquoise blue.

Seagrass restoration

We're working to protect and recover seagrass meadows in UK seas, a vital habitat for animals and a key tool in the fight to combat climate change.
Vivid green seagrass is photographed underwater in the Isle of Scilly. The white sand seabed is visible, and the water is a bright turquoise blue.

Natur Am Byth!

This is a four-year partnership with nine organisations, led by Natural Resources Wales, to help save threatened species across Wales and connect communities to nature.