Remote Islands, eDNA, and Art Activism: May Recap

We did it! Project One Wave kicked off this month with our first 3-day mission organised by Seashell and The Captain Paul Watson Foundation. From the moment our crew arrived—from across the UK and beyond—the energy, commitment, and sense of shared purpose were clear.

Over 30 volunteers were present, handpicked for their experience, passion, and expertise, all with different skills, stories, and reasons for being there—but all united by one mission: to protect our ocean. We boarded 5 vessels, including The Selkie and Lionheart from the Captain Paul Watson Foundation fleet, The Obsession with Ed Gatti from Clyde Charters, plus the Darcy Rose and Craig's Rib. We travelled to the remote Scottish island, Little Cumbrae, to tackle marine debris head-on—everything from ghost nets to plastic fragments. Working side-by-side, we removed an incredible amount of waste, loading it all onto Selkie, an ex-landing craft now part of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation fleet which was able to get to shore. 

Our final day together was all about sorting and repurposing. Back at Kip Marina, we unloaded the debris on Selkie and began separating materials for recycling and reuse. Many team members took items home to transform them—into art, products, and community projects. As we worked, people shared their ideas, experiences, and plans, learning from one another and sparking new inspiration.

What’s stood out most over these few days is the strength of the community we’ve built. People from different places and paths, coming together with open minds, ready to work, and eager to make a difference. We’re deeply grateful to every single person who showed up with their time, energy, and passion. You’ve reminded us why we do this. Take a look here for photo and video updates of the mission which we'll continue to share.

Thank you to our skippers Craig Barr, Rob Douglas, Ed Gatti, Alison Muirhead and Rob Read. We want to give a special shout-out to Craig, who has supported the project phenomenally—voluntarily fixing boats and sourcing new ones behind the scenes. His efforts and connections have been absolutely vital, and we couldn’t have done this without him. Also, a big thank you to Ed Gatti, who continues his brilliant work around the Clyde with Clyde Charter Tours. If you're ever looking to explore the area by boat, don’t hesitate to get in touch with him—he's your go-to skipper. A massive thank you to Lynne Lambourne for working in front of the camera all week, look out for the very exciting interviews to come! A huge thank you to Kip Marina who were absolutely brilliant, and Peter and Linda for their hospitality on Little Cumbrae - the only two people who live there! Delicious vegan meals were provided by Nick Coetzer of Roots Catering (with veg donations from Wonky Veg) who stayed with us onsite at Geilsland Estate - what a treat! Filming and photography of the mission was organised by Elven Villecourt, Jessie Crawley and James Heasman.  

To our brilliant One Wave team of volunteers - thank you for being part of this wave of change. We’re just getting started—stay tuned for more to come.

Last year, we met Sea Change —a team of women working in the fields of nature, climate, and corporate sustainability, who were taking on the GB Row Challenge, a demanding race around the UK coastline. After a storm forced their vessel out of the race, the team didn’t stop. Instead, they continued their mission on land, visiting coastal communities and organisations dedicated to protecting the ocean. Along the way, they collected Nature Metrics eDNA samples to study biodiversity at each location (pretty incredible stuff!) 

This week, team members Kat Bruce, Founder of Nature Metrics, and Madeline Craig, an Environmental Researcher, returned with a new purpose: to showcase the incredible work being done across the UK by a diverse range of groups. Through video storytelling, they’re creating a series that celebrates positive action in ocean conservation.

Their latest stop with us was in Peterhead, at the heavily polluted estuary, where we joined forces for a clean-up and filmed an interview. Filming was led by Basil from Oklahoma, with support from David, Kirsty, and Carol of Seashell. We were also joined by our valued ally, Lauren Smith of The East Grampian Coastal Partnership, whose deep knowledge of the area and local pollution issues was invaluable. We're really looking forward to watching their upcoming film.

This month, we had the privilege of diving into the world of Alyse Dietel — an artist, adventurer, and environmental advocate whose story has deeply resonated with us and our community.

What started with a hiking accident and paralysis in 2012 became the spark that ignited a life-changing transformation. Through candid conversation, Alyse shared how her time in a wheelchair gave her more than just physical healing — it gave her stillness, patience, and a renewed purpose. Turning to art to keep her connected to the natural world resulted in her leaving her professional rock-climbing career to create emotionally charged artwork full time. An artist residency in The Arctic shaped not just her creative process, but her environmental focus. Her experience in Svalbard, a front-row seat to the effects of climate change, was especially moving.

Alyse reminds us that “science is the backbone of our world, but art is the catalyst that sparks connection and action." Whether you're an artist, a climber, a nature-lover, or just someone looking to make a difference, Alyse’s story is proof that the detours in life can lead to our most powerful destinations.

We finally hit the moment we’d been working towards—Ghost Net 1000 Weigh Day! After months of hard work clearing the coastline, it was time to see the total weight of the ghost nets and debris we’d collected through various trips over the past year. We're delighted to announce that we hit our target with 1080kg recorded! It was a great evening, filled with excitement and anticipation as we gathered the final loads. A huge thank you to Donnie, Kirsty, and Dom for joining Jessie and David at the yard, it was a big haul to get onto a truck!

A big thank you to Ross Connan of Connan Brothers for generously providing his truck, access to the weigh-bridge, and manpower for a second time.

What's next? Now that we've reached our goal, the journey doesn't stop! We're focusing on the next stages of recycling and repurposing this material. Our campaign has evolved into Project One Wave alongside The Captain Paul Watson Foundation, as we bring together businesses, organisations, and creatives to collaborate on marine debris clean-up efforts for wider impact. 

As we wrap up another incredible month, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. Whether you're purchasing our gear, supporting Neptune's Pirates through our £1 per robe initiative, or simply sharing our stories, we couldn't do it without you! 

Join us every Saturday at 10am at the Fittie end of Aberdeen beach for invigorating dips in the sea. The refreshing waters will not only revitalize your body but also uplift your spirits, offering a perfect blend of mental clarity and physical well-being.

For updates on volunteering at beach cleans, joining adventure days, and other upcoming events please see our social media pages.