Berwickshire Marine Reserve
The Berwickshire Marine Reserve (BMR), formerly the St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve, is a Scottish Registered Charity launched in 1984 by David Bellamy. It was established by local communities and interested parties to conserve and enhance the biodiversity of the local coastal waters, to raise awareness of the marine environment through education, and to promote responsible recreational use alongside a sustainable fishery to the mutual benefit of all. The BMR forms part of a larger statutory static gear reserve and is considered a top UK scuba diving destination with its clear waters and abundance and diversity of marine life.
In recent years, the BMR has undergone a steep change after receiving funding from the European Leader Programme and Blue Marine Foundation, which has enabled detailed mapping of the BMR as a foundation for future research and monitoring. We now have a full programme of citizen science activities on offer to the public and aim to raise that engagement further with the launch of a Lobster Hatchery and Marine Education Centre.