Ferret Underground: Seas in danger

Hi ,

This week, The Ferret launches a special new strand called Scotland's Seas in Danger.

In a year-long project we'll be looking at marine protection in Scotland, covering threats to our seas such as climate change, industrial fishing and pollution.

We'll also be revealing the powerful people and organisations trying to influence government marine policy, as well as innovative projects aimed at protecting our seas and the vulnerable animals within.

Keep your eyes peeled for the first investigation this Sunday.

The longtime sponsor of Edinburgh’s book festival has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in a firm which wants to drill for oil near the mouth of the River Amazon, close to a reef which is a wildlife hotspot.

In August 2023 high-profile protests about sponsor Baillie Gifford’s financial ties to fossil fuels were held at the book festival, following a report by The Ferret. Greta Thunberg cancelled her appearance and some authors walked out of festival events in protest.

Baillie Gifford defended itself by pointing out that only 2 per cent of its client’s money is invested in companies that profit from coal, oil or gas. It said it was encouraging the fossil fuel firms it does invest in to “chart a path towards net zero”.

But research by The Ferret has found that, according to filings in the US, Baillie Gifford holds shares worth £690m in the Brazilian state oil company, Petrobras.