If you would like to learn about the Seas, Tides, Weather and other Observational Rescue Skills, or even find out how to help save a life then why not become a member Coastwatch West Fife.

We are looking for people to help us with our plans to improve safety along the Fife Coast. If you are interested, no matter what your experience, we would like to hear from you.

Based at North Queensferry Harbour, we were recently formed as a volunteer coastal safety & monitoring organisation. Our concerns are for the ever expanding number of sea and coastal users and the welfare of marine wildlife along our shores.

Our volunteers will be trained as observers to Spot, Plot, Report & Update activity on the sea and along the coastline. Where any potential incident or safety issue is spotted we record the exact location and report accurate information to the appropriate agency, primarily HM Coastguard.

Coastwatch West Fife is one of a growing number of coastal surveillance stations crewed by trained volunteers located around the coast of mainland Britain. All stations carry out the same tasks which is to assist His Majesty's Coastguard in their task of helping people along the coastline and at sea.

Many Coastwatch stations have achieved HM Coastguard 'Declared Facility Status' which means they are recognised as an integral part of the UK Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) organisation. Coastwatch West Fife has from the outset been working towards and now has achieved Declared Facility Status (DFS) with HM Coastguard.

We are currently equipped with VHF marine radio and optical aids such as Maritime Binoculars. These assist us in keeping watch over walkers along the coast, pleasure crafts, open water swimmers, marine wildlife & commercial shipping. In addition to visual watches we maintain radio monitoring of the international VHF distress channel in support of search & rescue operations.