Scubaism

The projects receiving support include:

* Dover Sea Sports Development Centre received a £25,000 contribution towards a new centre of excellence for training and education in maritime skills;

* £15,000 was awarded to KIMO towards establishing their Fishing for Litter scheme in the South-west. The scheme provides bags for fishermen to collect marine litter, which accumulates in their nets. A team of volunteers collect the waste from dedicated harbours around the Devon and Cornwall coast which is monitored and then disposed of;

* RSPB Cymru continues their association with The Crown Estate by receiving £10,000 towards the cost of Information Officers at their Newport and Conwy nature reserves. The Information Officers will run guided walks of the reserves, provide information to visitors and involve people in nature conservation and the environment;

* Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum who have received £21,000 over three years for their outdoor charter group and marine code group. Both of these groups educate user groups on Pembrokeshire’s environment and wildlife; and

* Funding of £21,000 over three years will assist the Scottish Wildlife Fund and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society employ the seasonal Wildlife Centre Ranger at land owned by The Crown Estate at Spey Bay.

The grants have been made from the latest round of awards from The Crown Estate’s marine communities fund, part of the organisation’s programme of marine stewardship.

Dr Carolyn Heeps, Head of Policy, Science and Sustainable Development for The Crown Estate, said: “The aim of our marine communities fund is to provide support to initiatives and programmes which contribute to the development of best practice and make a significant contribution to the good management and stewardship of the marine estate.”

The coastline around the UK will also benefit from £20,000 awarded to the Marine Conservation Society towards their UK-wide Adopt-a-Beach and Beachwatch schemes, which operate a network of local communities who survey and clean litter from beaches. The Crown Estate has supported this important initiative since 1999.