Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye has teamed up with marine restoration charity Seawilding in a three-year partnership worth £600,000. The money will go towards practical efforts to restore sea life and habitats along parts of Scotland’s west coast.
The partnership will focus on two sites – Loch Harport on Skye and Loch Craignish in Argyll – where teams will work to support and grow native oyster populations and re-establish seagrass beds, which are both vital to the health of the marine environment.
Talisker’s ties to the sea go back nearly 200 years, when the MacAskill brothers founded the distillery on Skye’s rugged shoreline. This latest commitment reflects the distillery’s long-standing connection with the island, its coastal waters, and the local community.
Seagrass and oysters are considered key parts of the marine ecosystem, but both have seen major losses across the UK. It’s estimated that 95% of native oyster reefs and 92% of seagrass have disappeared over the last century. Restoring them helps bring back marine life, improves water quality, and can even help tackle climate change by storing carbon.
The team at Loch Craignish has already recorded breaktrhough results using a method that involves transplanting mature seagrass plants rather than growing them from seed. In just over a year, the amount of seabed covered by seagrass increased from 10% to 70%, with nearly all the transplanted shoots surviving.
From 2026, visitors to the Talisker distillery will be able to find out more about the work being done, with displays and tours planned to explain the restoration process and how people can get involved.
Dafydd Pugh Williams, Managing Director of Diageo’s Scotland Brand Homes, said, “For almost 200 years, Talisker has been made by the sea, and our connection to the ocean runs deep. Without it, we have nothing, so we look forward to working closely with the extremely knowledgeable and passionate Seawilding team over the next three years as we continue our efforts to make effective and lasting change.
“We’re inviting everyone to get involved as we move into the next stage of conservation with volunteering opportunities and experiences coming soon.”
Danny Renton, CEO Seawilding, added, “The fact that Talisker, such a globally renowned malt is backing the cause of marine habitat restoration, protection of the seabed and conservation of Scottish waters, is a really powerful statement – it’s all about the water of life – and Seawilding is so excited and grateful to be part of this.”
Picture credit: Seawilding