Dalmore-owners whisky company Whyte and Mackay announce new initiative in partnership with Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) for a new biodiversity initiative along the Cromarty Firth
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A WHISKY company behind two Ross-shire major distilleries has teamed up with one of Europe's leading marine science research organisations to boost the growth of biodiversity in the Cromarty Firth.
Whisky makers Whyte and Mackay Ltd., who own Dalmore and Invergordon Distilleries in Easter Ross, have commissioned Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) Enterprise to consult on how to enhance biodiversity and the marine environment in the area.
PICTURES: New murals at Invergordon Distillery turn heads
Distillery sponsors pipes and drums
Distiller backs Cromarty Firth freeport bid
As part of the partnership with Whyte and Mackay, the marine science team at SAMS Enterprise will blend desk-based study, fieldwork, and laboratory analysis to produce a monitoring and management plan for the immediate shoreline around the Cromarty Firth.
The project will focus on assessing current seagrass and mussel populations as well as looking at restoration and replanting opportunities for the future.
Rachael Clark, sustainability lead at Whyte and Mackay, said: "Personally, I am passionate about the conservation field within sustainability. For us at Whyte and Mackay, we genuinely want to be good stewards of our natural environment and play a positive role in our local community, which has been home to our whisky making for many years.
"Sustainability does not start or end at the distillery door. Our location, beside one of Scotland’s great natural waterways – the Cromarty Firth – is a key part of what makes this place special.
"We want to ensure that we have a thriving biodiverse ecosystem around us for future generations to enjoy."
The initiative comes as part of The Green Print, the firm's sustainability strategy, which sees among its pillars a focus on water and biodiversity.
The Firth is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the purpose of wildlife conservation as it is home to several protected species.
The seagrass and mussel beds create complex physical structures on the seabed that work together to support one another.
Seagrass beds, which provide shelter for all sorts of other marine life, are a Priority Marine Feature in Scotland’s seas as they are a key element to increase marine biodiversity.
These seagrasses grow best in undisturbed, clean water, while the mussels act as a powerful and efficient water filter, with both features supporting the growth of the other. The goal of this multispecies enhancement is to allow the whole ecosystem of the Cromarty Firth to flourish.
Due to the seagrass beds needing time to mature and the mussel populations requiring a concerted effort to create the right habitat and encourage them back to a self-sustaining state, the initiative will set as a long-term project.
Mike Spain, head of SAMS Enterprise, said: "SAMS Enterprise are delighted to be working with Whyte and Mackay on this exciting and scientifically important research into the health and restoration opportunities for the Cromarty Firth. We look forward to this long-term collaboration, delivering ground-breaking research and restoration mechanisms for both the local area as well as Scotland as a whole."
