We covered on 8th March the opening of Part A of the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships scheme. Defra has announced that the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships scheme is now open to bid for contracts to carry out full research projects (FISP Part B) until midday 16th May. Up to £300K is available per bid. You […]
It has been widely reported that a new independent Commission is being set up to assess tidal renewable projects in the Severn Estuary. The assessment of the feasibility of schemes within the estuary is not new – the Sustainable Development Commission in 2007 released a comprehensive report and ten years later the ‘Hendry Review’ was […]
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots MLA has said that we must all work together to protect and restore one of our important natural assets, our blue carbon habitats. The Minister made his comments during an Oral Statement in the NI Assembly, where he outlined his Department’s intention to develop an action plan […]
As reported in ENDS [paywall] and the Independent, a new report by the Plastic Soup Foundation states that millions of waste plastic “nurdles” from UK sewage plants on the east coast are polluting the North Sea and reaching the Dutch coast. Sewage plants in Britain use black “bio beads”, also known as nurdles, to filter water, but spillages […]
We previously covered the news that Chris Grayling, MP, was introducing a Ten Minute Rule Motion entitled ‘Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling)’. The Hansard record can be found here and a second reading of the Bill is due on 18 March. As reported in Fishing News: introducing the private members’ bill, which will ‘regulate and […]
Reuters have reported that the successful ScotWind partners, ScottishPower and Shell, are set to invest a total of £75 million to help the supply chain and businesses support the growth of the offshore wind industry in Scotland. ScottishPower and Shell were awarded the seabed rights to develop two new floating wind projects through Crown Estate […]
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth believe a strategy used to protect popular surfing spots could now be more widely adopted to help preserve endangered coastal environments. A new research paper, published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, says, ‘wave reserves’, initially aimed at protecting treasured surf spots, are also a way to ensure the conservation […]
The Marine Management Organisation has released their ‘Marine Planning newsletter Spring 2022 – Updates from the MMO Marine Planning team’ In this issue of the marine planning newsletter, you will find: Marine plans monitoring surveys Explore Marine Plans Annual Report Strategic Renewables Unit (SRU) update Offshore wind expansion Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) position statement Supporting research […]