SIFT is pleased to be supporting research into the vulnerability of carbon sequestered in marine sediments to disturbance by seabed-contacting mobile fishing gears.
Working closely with the Blue Carbon Academy at St Andrews University and one of SIFT’s long term funders, we have enabled a Masters in Research project to begin in 2025. The research has included sampling of seabed sediments in the Firth of Clyde and subjecting these samples to laboratory analysis to establish how carbon and other elemental levels are altered in both the sediments and water column when they are disturbed, in particular by benthic prawn trawls.
Photos by James Johnson
We believe that the findings of this research could have substantial policy significance as we advocate for the Scottish Government to take meaningful steps to minimise harm to the nation’s carbon stores. We look forward to reporting further on this research as it develops and concludes in late 2026.
