No Take Swim - Arran
We have embarked upon an attempt to swim across the 4 No Take Zones in the UK to raise awareness about these vital areas π
What is a No Take Zone?
A no-take zone is an area set aside by the government where no extractive activity is allowed. Extractive activity is any action that removes, or extracts, any resource. Extractive activities include fishing, hunting, logging, mining, and drilling. In this case, for marine No Take Zones, the prohibited activities are any and all kinds of fishing, including, pole, rod, trawling etc. Inside these zones no extractive activities are taking place, therefore leaving ecosystems mostly undisturbed. Studies have found that full protection from extractive activities will likely generate greater ecological, economic and social benefits than if protection is only partial, never mind absent entirely. These zones are critical for the recovery of marine life as well as for supporting local fishing communities by creating overspill and allowing fish and shellfish stock to recover.
What is a No Take Swim?
A no-take swim is a swim across a no-take zone. Simple.
In August 2023 we set off to swim across the Lamlash Bay No Take Zone, on the Isle of Arran off the West coast of Scotland π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
Local scuba divers Howard & Don were inspired to create the zone after witnessing local marine life plummet π€Ώ They campaigned for 13 years alongside the local community and the site was designated a No Take Zone in 2008 π₯³ Aine Purcell-Milton from Arran Coast told us it was a real moment of success and has bonded the local community together, fisherman, scientists and residents standing side by side to protect the natural world π
These stories of local activism are so inspiring that we set out to swim across the No Take Zone πββοΈ We assembled our crack team, my mum the Wild Swimming Mother, James Silson the human Swiss army knife πͺ π¨πAunty Fiona, Uncle Mike and Georgina & Aine from COAST π Swims are always better shared!
We set off on a point-to-point swim across the No Take Zone πββοΈ ππ½ββοΈ The visibility was great, we saw incredible Mermaids Shoelace π§ββοΈ Crabs π¦ and lots of huge Lions Mane Jellyfish πͺΌ Their large silver tentacles stretching for metres through the water π³ We had to dodge these are they are the largest jellyfish in the world and their stings are very painful π With the largest known specimen stretching across 120 feet (36.5 meters) from its top to the bottom of its tentacles π³
Itβs easy to see where the lionβs mane jellyfish gets its name from: the long flowing tentacles that surround the bell have all the beauty and bite of a lion π¦ Up to 3m in length, these tentacles are packed with stinging cells and are used to catch their favourite prey: fish and other smaller jellyfish.
We finished the swim after 40 minutes, our group of swimmers largely avoided the tentacleβs of the Lions Manes πͺΌ It was so special to be in the No Take Zone and to share the water with the Arran Coast team and family, these zones are so important and we need more of them ππ
We hope that by swimming the 4 No Take Zones within the UK we will inspire people to learn about these crucial areas and fight to create more of them in UK waters π¬π§ Go and support the amazing team Arran Coast to learn more!
3 down and 1 to goβ¦ Lundy No Take Zone up next π₯οΈ