Welcome to the Firth of Clyde Forum web site. The Forum is a voluntary partnership of local authorities, organisations, businesses and communities committed to working towards integrated, sustainable management of the Clyde's environmental, economic and community resources.

We implement Marine Planning / Integrated Coastal Zone Management initiatives and engage with local communities and other coastal and marine groups, facilitating discussions between parties on key coastal and marine issues. We produce newsletters, organise conferences and are involved in and promote various information and public events around the Firth of Clyde. The Forum Core Group of key stakeholders meets on a quarterly basis and is currently responsible for the implementation of the Firth of Clyde Marine Spatial Plan.

Hot Topics and Breaking News
SEPA video explains Flood Risk Management
The launch of this animation coincides with a meeting of the National Flood Management Advisory Group which has over 50 member organisations, reflecting the national importance and widespread impact of flooding in Scotland.

Chair Announced for New SW Inshore Fisheries Group
Alistair McNeill has been announced as the new Chair of the SW Inshore Fisheries Group. IFGs are non-statutory bodies and aim to improve the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries out to six nautical miles and to give commercial inshore fishermen a strong voice in wider marine management developments. For more information go to the Scottish Government website.

Summer time and reporting is easy!
The Marine Conservation Society is always looking for reports of basking sharks, turtles and jellyfish and as summer has finally arrived you have no excuse but to get out there and enjoy the seaside. Download these posters to help you identify the different species you might see.

Scotrail announce new community fund
ScotRail has committed £100,000 for the period 2013/2014 to support and develop a wide range of projects which bring communities together, specifically: Support for children and young people, improvement of the local environment and improvements to local communities’ general health and wellbeing. Click here for more information.

Climate Challenge Fund OPEN
Applications for Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) grants up to £150,000 per year are invited now and application deadlines for the next three grant panels in 2013 and 2014 are available on the Climate Challenge Fund website.

Scottish Marine Atlas e-book
Marine Scotland recently launched an e-book version of Scotland’s Marine Atlas, this can be downloaded on most tablet devices - click here.

SEPA launches new mobile website for water users
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has announced the launch of a new mobile-friendly website to make it even easier for fishermen, canoeists, walkers and other water users to plan their activities. Water levels monitored by SEPA at over 330 gauging stations across Scotland will be available to view through the new website. To view the new mobile-friendly website please visit: http://www.riverlevels.mobi/

Consultations Galore!
We did warn you that this summer we are going to have a series of important Government consultations on the National Marine Plan, the Offshore Renewables Plan and Marine Protected Areas. Well to break you in gently we have a few more consultations for you. Starting tomorrow (30th April) there is the Scottish Planning Policy consultation, the National Planning Framework 3 consultation and the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment Report consultation. For all this and more go to www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current

Marine Station at Millport Facing Closure
UMBS Millport is a unique marine and coastal biology facility based on the Isle of Cumbrae in the Firth of Clyde. For more than 100 years the Millport Marine Station has been a crucial part of a network of research stations round the UK and European coasts.The future of the Millport Marine Station is at risk because of shortfalls in funding see www.gla.ac.uk/centres/marinestation and to sign the petition click here.