The Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation (FIMRO)
2025 Update
The Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation (FIMRO) is a local community-led research group based in Fair Isle, made up of four resident volunteers working together for the benefit of the Fair Isle marine environment and the people of Fair Isle. FIMRO is a member of the Coastal Communities Network and represents the community in the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area, a unique community-led statutory MPA designation with a governing stakeholder partnership.
FIMRO's purpose
FIMRO promote the advancement of environmental improvement by:
- Understanding the marine and coastal habitats of Fair Isle, the biological interactions and the impact of human activity.
- Representing the interests of Fair Isle residents for the protection and use of Fair Isle's marine and coastal natural heritage.
- Promoting the value of Fair Isle's coastal and marine natural heritage to the wider public, independently and co-operatively.
The advancement of citizenship or community development by:
- Exploring the potential for economic development linked to Fair Isle s natural marine and coastal resources.
- Empowering the community to contribute to discussions regarding the use and protection of its natural marine and coastal resources.
The advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science by:
- Carrying out biological research and monitoring within Fair Isle DR MPA (Demonstration and Research Marine Protection Area).
- Promoting scientific research conducted the isle both to the local community and wider society.
Fair Isle hosts the first and, at present, only Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area in Scotland designated in November 2016. The Fair Isle DR MPA seeks to demonstrate, through research and dissemination of learning, the effectiveness of a community led partnership approach in achieving a long-term programme of sustainable management of Fair Isle's waters.
Now in its ninth year, the DR MPA has conducted and published a number of baseline studies in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands Shetland and the National Trust for Scotland and has begun to explore building independent capacity and mechanisms for sustained community-led and participatory research where possible for DR MPA priorities. Looking toward 2026, the DR MPA will seek to summarise and analyse the work to date, identifying possible marine management measures, further research and community participation.
FIMRO employ a part-time Research Officer following a co-management approach with NatureScot who provide the day-to-day line management and human resources support for the post. Under the steerage of FIMRO, the Fair Isle DR MPA Research Officer is responsible for coordinating ongoing research, community engagement and knowledge sharing and the further development and delivery of the DR MPA.
In summer 2025, FIMRO ran a pilot trial hosting a seasonal Education Officer, based locally to lead on citizen science and community engagement activities in Fair Isle including coordinating beach cleans and Shorewatch surveys. The aims of this pilot trial were designed to inform FIMRO s strategy and planning within the three-year Fair Isle DR MPA community-led marine monitoring and citizen science programme pilot scheme toward enabling the sustainable community leadership of the DR MPA.
More information on FIMRO, their work and the Fair Isle DR MPA can be found on FIMRO's website and social media pages.
2020 update
The Fair Isle Marine Research Organisation (FIMRO) has taken the place of the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative (FIMETI) as representing the community on the MPA Steering Committee. Please follow this link for more information.
2018 update
FIMETI was established in 1995 and led by the Fair Isle community in partnership with the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust (FIBOT) and the National Trust for Scotland. It was set-up to establish the long-term protection and sustainable management of the marine resources around Fair Isle, to the mutual benefit of the community of Fair Isle, users of the marine area and for the education and enjoyment of visitors.
If you want to explore the natural wealth of Fair Isle then we highly recommend watching this inspirational five minute film from Liz Musser.
In November 2016, we were really pleased that the Scottish Government announced the designation of the Fair Isle Demonstration & Research Marine Protected Area, recognising the importance to marine life of the waters around the Isle. Fair Isle's seabird colonies are very well known as amongst the best in the British Isles although in the last 25 years they have experienced several periods of food shortage partly from over-fishing of sandeel and latterly from climate change effects on the sandeel populations. Besides seabirds, there are also Grey Seals, Common Seals, and several species of cetacean – notably Minke Whale, Killer Whale, White-sided Dolphin, Risso’s Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise regularly seen in its coastal waters.
The MPA designation offers a model for research and protection to Fair Isle waters out to 5km from the shore and is the first ever, and currently only, Demonstration & Research Marine Protected Area in Scotland. The MPA’s two principle objectives are to conduct robust research on population decline of seabirds and to demonstrate the social and economic value of a healthy marine environment to the Fair Isle community and others.
With the dedicated effort of FIMETI leading to the designation, now a new marine conservation body is being shaped by the community which will manage the running of the MPA alongside the other stakeholders who are involved in the MPA Steering Group.
You can follow this link for more information on the Fair Isle Demonstration & Research MPA, including the Designation Order.