Once again we invite you to join us to share in our fascination for all things marine - from the shores to the deep sea! 2020 has been designated Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, so it is fitting that we are choosing to hold our conference at SAMS in Oban on Scotland’s beautiful west coast. In a world of changing climate, habitats and politics we know this is a challenging world and we look forward to sharing our news and stories about what is happening in the seas around the UK and Ireland and the wider northeast Atlantic environment.

Venue

This year our venue will be the Scottish Association of Marine Science (SAMS) Dunstaffnage, Oban: https://www.sams.ac.uk/. There is plenty of information on their website regarding travel to and from the location and also accommodation in the area: https://www.sams.ac.uk/study/our-area/

Please note that there is now a Premier Inn in Oban (it doesn’t come up in a booking.com search). It is brand new, with 80 rooms, and situated next to the railway station and the ferry terminal. This is also right next to the Olive Garden restaurant.If anyone has any issues with sourcing accommodation, SAMS are preparing some information about options. If you would like a copy or have any other accommodation questions, please email Claire Purdie – (Claire.purdie@sams.ac.uk) and she will be happy to help.

Registration

Registration costs have been retained at the same level as 2019 and include all refreshments as well as lunch on both days (please state any dietary requirements during the registration process), providing excellent value over the 2-day period.

2 days, member: £80

2 days, non-member: £90

1 day, member: £40

1 day, non-member: £45

Student fee 1 or 2 days (to include membership of PMNHS for one year): £45

Conference dinner

This will be held on the evening of 14th March at the Olive Garden in Oban. More information about the restaurant can be found here: https://theogoban.co.uk.

Dinner £35

Menu choices will be available once the restaurant have returned from their winter break at the beginning of February.

The SAMS events organiser, has agreed to be the contact point for liaising with the restaurant. In order for her to do so, she will need everyone’s email addresses. If you wish to join us for the dinner please tick the box on the ticket to give your permission for us to pass your information to SAMS for this purpose. Details will not be used for any other purpose and will be destroyed after the conference.

PMNHS Field Trip to Clachan Sound

The PMNHS field trip will take place on Friday 13th March (LW, 13.30, 0.5 m, Seil Sound) at Clachan Sound, which is 13 miles drive south from Oban (~30 minutes), so a car, or car-share, will be needed to attend.

Attendees should meet at the Tigh an Truish hotel/pub at 12 pm. This is on the west side overlooking the ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’. The pub car park is right at the bridge, so you can’t miss it. NM 784197 would get you there. The site(s) there would be under the bridge; plus either south or north of the bridge.

Participants are responsible for organising their own travel to and from the field site. If you wish to join the field work, please indicate on the Eventbrite system and provide a phone number for contact.

Julia Nunn (Porcupine Recorder) is also planning to undertake fieldwork on Wednesday 11th (LW 13.10, 0.4 m, Oban) & Thursday 12th (LW 13.50, 0.5 m, Oban). But this will not be a formal PMNHS field trip. If others are also interested in field work on these days please contact Julia via the Porcupine Recorder email address (records@pmnhs.co.uk).

For any further questions please contact conference@pmnhs.co.uk or see the website/facebook.