Lamlash Bay Marine Reserve

In 2008, the Lamlash Bay No-Take Zone was created — a small square-mile area where fishing was banned. It was Scotland’s first community-led marine protected area. Scientists monitored the area and, within five years, the marine ecosystem began to recover. Populations of lobsters and scallops tripled. The adult scallops were bigger and older, which means they produce more eggs — seeds for future scallops. And the nursery areas regenerated and supported diverse seafloor habitat that provides food and protection for young cod, scallops and other species.