CAOLAS (Community Association of Lochs and Sounds)
is a Scottish coastal charity rooted in the communities of Acharacle, Morvern, Sunart, Mull and Ardnamurchan. We work to protect and restore our local marine environment through research, education, and hands-on conservation. By empowering local people to lead the stewardship of our seas, we connect people with place and help shape a thriving future for our coastlines.
Mission & Vision
Our mission is to empower coastal communities to lead conservation of the marine environment through research, stewardship, and community engagement.
We envision a vibrant, healthy marine ecosystem in the Sound of Mull and Loch Sunart area, protected and celebrated by the people who live beside it.
Our story
2015: The Birth of a Local Voice
Before 2015, the community around Lochaline and the Sound of Mull watched as national policies were made about their waters, often without much local input. A group of residents realized that if they wanted their marine environment to thrive, they couldn’t just be spectators.
CAOLAS was formed in 2015 with a clear, grassroots mission:
To bridge the gap between scientific conservation and local knowledge.
To give the community a seat at the table when discussing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
The “Hidden” Treasure: The Flame Shells
One of the first big stories of CAOLAS involved the Flame Shells (Limaria hians). These aren’t just pretty orange molluscs; they build complex “nests” on the seabed that act as nurseries for fish. In 2015, these reefs were under threat from dredging. CAOLAS became the voice that said, “These belong to our community, and they are worth more alive than destroyed.”
2016–2019: From Meetings to Science
The charity quickly evolved from a discussion group into a powerhouse of Citizen Science. They realized that to protect the lochs, they needed hard data that the government didn’t have.
The Sea Change: They joined the Coastal Communities Network, linking up with other groups around Scotland to share tactics.
ROV Exploration: They started using Remotely Operated Vehicles (underwater drones) to show locals what was actually down there. Seeing a Common Skate (the size of a dinner table!) on a screen in a village hall changed everything. People started to realize their “boring” local loch was actually a world-class biodiversity hotspot.
The Native Oyster Restoration
By 2018, CAOLAS took on one of its most ambitious projects: bringing back the Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis). These oysters had been wiped out by over-harvesting a century ago.
“They aren’t just food; they are the kidneys of the sea.”
CAOLAS worked to install oyster nurseries—hanging cages under local piers—to see if the water could still support them. It worked. This project turned children at Lochaline Primary into “oyster guardians,” proving that conservation starts in the classroom.
The Heart of the Matter
The story of CAOLAS isn’t just about fish or shells; it’s about empowerment. In 2015, the community felt like their waters were being managed for them by people in Edinburgh. Today, because of the charity, the people of Morvern and Sunart are the ones leading the way.
CAOLAS (Community Association of Lochs and Sounds) is the story of a small community taking a stand for their own “front garden”—the incredible marine world beneath the surface of the Morvern and Sunart coastlines.
Here is the true story of the charity’s journey since it sparked to life in 2015.
Our Trustees
Annabel
Chair
Andy
Trustee
Alasdair
Trustee
Jo
Secretary
Allison
Trustee
Peter
Trustee
