25 Jan 2025

The charitable research institute the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) recently voted to make the ocean a trustee on its board, represented either by a specific person or a working group that can help hold the organisation to account and speak up for the ocean’s interests. The Conversation spoke to Sams’ director, Nicholas Owens, […]

20 Sep 2024

The UK has become the first nation to map and estimate the amount of carbon stored in its seabed habitats, including in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Blue Carbon Mapping Project, completed by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) on behalf of WWF, The Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB, reveals that 244 million tonnes […]

23 Jul 2024

Researchers from a global collaboration have unveiled groundbreaking evidence of dark oxygen production (DOP) at the abyssal seafloor, challenging existing understanding of deep-sea oxygen dynamics. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, reveals that polymetallic nodules on the abyssal Pacific Ocean floor may contribute to unexpected oxygen production in the deep sea. Polymetallic Nodules reveal new […]

15 Jul 2024

A presumption that rapidly melting Arctic sea ice will open up new shipping routes has sparked a warning from scientists investigating the fast-changing ice conditions. Although seasonal sea ice – the ice that thaws in summer and reforms in winter – has been shrinking at a rate of knots because of climate change, this has […]

19 Jul 2022

The UK will become the first nation to produce a complete map of its blue carbon stores, thanks to a new, pioneering project, the Scottish association for Marine Science (SAMS) has announced: The Blue Carbon Mapping project – led by SAMS and funded by WWF-UK in collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts and RSPB – builds on […]

04 Aug 2020

SAMS Strategy:  Director Prof Nicholas Owens said there was never a more important time to support marine science research as Scotland develops its Blue Economy, a crucial part of the country’s recovery post-lockdown.  A commitment to saving the oceans, Earth’s largest ecosystem, is embedded in the UN Sustainability Goals and, as we approach the UN’s […]

05 Mar 2019

Euan Paterson SAMS        The Minke whale is one of the largest marine species regularly visiting the Scottish coast but its secretive and unpredictable lifestyle mean much of its behaviour remains a mystery. Now marine mammal researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) have recorded the sounds of Minke whales off Scotland’s […]

05 Feb 2018

Bob Earll: Background SAMS have produced a report on the impact of salmon farming in Scotland (click here to download this). [Jayne the report is in February] The Scottish Government is undertaking a consultation on fish farming – comments due on the 8th February. This report is the backdrop to substantial increase – doubling – […]