ALL ABOUT US
Our Mission
We are Moray Ocean Community – a volunteer group passionate about exploring, protecting, and celebrating the amazing Moray Firth coastline. We bring people together through fun activities, citizen science, and community projects, helping everyone connect with and care for our local marine environment.
We believe in learning, sharing, and having fun while exploring the coast, gathering valuable data, and celebrating the beauty of our seas. As a newly formed, volunteer-led group, we welcome anyone interested in supporting, participating, or shaping our future work -help us see what more we can do for our amazing coastline!
Our Story
A group of like-minded individuals living along the Moray Firth coastline, all passionate about marine life, citizen or community science and proactive conservation, formed Moray Ocean Community (MOC) as they couldn’t find an existing local group carrying out any community coastal restoration or surveys.
MOC formalised as a Community Interest Company in early 2024 with 5 founding voluntary Directors and we have a wonderful community of over 60 ocean loving folk on our Whatsapp group called Rising Tides who help organise activities and attend events and get togethers.
Our Strategy
Moray Ocean Community is dedicated to raising awareness about marine conservation and fostering a deeper connection between the local community and the environment. Through collaborative efforts, we hope to engage residents, visitors, and local organisations in various activities such as beach cleanups, species monitoring, habitat restoration, and educational workshops.
We also seek to empower community members by providing opportunities to learn about marine biology, ecology, and sustainable practices. Whether through guided nature walks, data collection projects, or hands-on conservation work, Moray Ocean Community aims to create a network of informed and enthusiastic individuals dedicated to preserving the beauty and biodiversity of the Moray Firth's marine ecosystems.
Our efforts are driven by the belief that, together, we can make a positive and lasting impact on the health of our oceans and the species that rely on them. By fostering a strong sense of stewardship and collaboration, we strive to ensure that the Moray Firth remains a vibrant and thriving marine environment for generations to come.
We also want to have fun! We all get a sense of joy and wellbeing by being in or near the sea and creating a positive impact and want to share that with our community.
OUR ACTIVITIES
We’re a passionate group of individuals committed to marine conservation and citizen science along the Moray Firth Coast. We aim to protect and enhance our local marine environments through various hands-on activities, data collection, and community engagement.
Our current activities are listed below, however we are keen to try any new survey, activity or idea to have fun at the coast or linked to the Moray Firth so if you have something you would like to try please do let us know!
Seagrass Surveys
Mapping the extent and density of seagrass beds, essential for coastal ecosystems.
Big Seaweed Search
Observing and recording marine mammal wildlife.
Invasive Species Monitoring
Identifying and recording invasive species along the coastline to protect native ecosystems.
Beach Cleans
Mapping the extent and density of seagrass beds, essential for coastal ecosystems.
Snorkel Surveys
Recreational snorkels as well as flora and fauna surveys.
Community Talks
Educational talks about marine life, conservation efforts, and environmental challenges.
High School Field Trips
Engaging local students in field trips to explore marine habitats and learn about ocean science.
Shorewatch
Regular clean-up events to reduce marine litter and raise awareness of environmental issues.
OUR TEAM
Meet the team of directors making a splash.
Get to know our current volunteer Directors and our founding Directors and if you would be interested in helping out with the organisation of the group please do get in touch!
Catherine Gemmell-Simpson
Catherine is based in Forres and enjoys spending time at her local beaches of Findhorn and Roseisle from sea swims to walks on the beach with Jasper her Springer Spaniel! Her day job is working on marine litter policy for the Marine Conservation Society and is loving volunteering with Moray Ocean Community to learn more about biodiversity. Catherine loves sharing her ocean optimism with everyone and loves trying anything new and learning from seagrass surveys with paddleboards to looking for oyster shells on the beach.
Terrie Sawyer
Terrie currently lives on the Black Isle and has had a career as a marine environmental scientist for many years, specialising in geochemistry. She is passionate about the protection and enhancement of all our natural ecosystems but particularly oceans and coastal environments. She believes in fostering a stronger connection between communities and their environment, creating a ripple effect of positive change. She has an energetic Collie dog who loves eating seaweed!
Lynne Laing
Lynne is from Lochaber and is based in Speyside. Lynne has spent her entire career working and volunteering in the Environmental education sector and more recently is working in the public sector supporting the journey to Net Zero. Lynne loves the coastal environment and snorkelling with Moray Ocean Community, A keen interest in doing all she can to raise awareness of this precious environment. She has found a recent passion for seaweed! Lynne has 2 mad collies who also love the beach.
Robyn Love
Robyn is a marine and environmental scientist who loves connecting people to their local marine spaces. She grew up in Spain with a deep connection to the sea and now lives in Inverness with her husband, also a marine and environmental scientist. When not offshore on survey vessels, she enjoys sharing her passion through the Moray Ocean Community, inspiring others to swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and engage in citizen science. She believes the more people connect with the sea, the more they want to protect it!
Gianlucca Gerich
Gianlucca’s connection to the ocean started early, growing up by the coast after moving from Germany to Spain as a child. His fascination with the sea led him to study marine and environmental sciences at the University of Cádiz, and he now works in the energy sector, specialising in consents for tidal turbines. Since moving to Scotland, he has embraced the colder waters, recently experiencing his first dry suit dive and discovering the incredible marine life beneath the surface. Whether exploring the coastline, learning about the local marine environment, or enjoying a good sea shanty, Gianlucca is always looking for his next ocean adventure.
PARTNERS & FUNDERS
We partner with others to share our workload and expand our capacity such as Mossy Earth and Findhorn Watershed Initiative. We are a member of the Coastal Communities Network Scotland.
We aim to exchange data to influence wider marine conservation efforts and policy; represent the community voice towards marine policy discussions; we are NOT a campaign group.
We have also received funding from....
NATURE SCOT
Community-led marine biodiversity monitoring equipment fund
SEA-CHANGERS
Equipment and snorkel training
FAUNA & FLORA
Capacity Building Kick Starter Fund