The Crown Estate has today announced an increased investment of £2 million in ECOWind – a four-year research programme led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) that brings together experts from science, policy and industry to understand how offshore wind affects ecosystems, species and habitats. The additional funds will be used to bring forward […]
Six new landscape-scale nature recovery projects are launched by Natural England and the UK Government. The multi-partnership collaborative projects covering 176,000 hectares of land across England – from the Tees Estuary to the South Downs – will create improved and better-connected habitats for wildlife and improve public access to nature. The projects will strengthen the […]
The United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority (ISA) has given itself a timeline for setting rules and oversight for companies that want to mine the ocean floor for minerals. At its annual meeting, the ISA’s 36-member policymaking Council said it would work “with a view” to adopting regulations in 2025. The agreement came after hours of closed-door […]
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters to ensure the sustainability of the sandeel stock, as well as providing wider ecosystem benefits. In a letter to stakeholders the Scottish Government said: ‘Given the importance of sandeel to the wider ecosystem and the subsequent benefit […]
Large trawlers fishing in English waters will soon have to install cameras that will monitor their catch, the Government has said. Known as remote electronic monitoring (REM), the cameras, along with gear sensors and GPS trackers, will collect data on the size of catches as well as types of species caught and will be introduced in stages over the […]
The Crown Estate and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have released a report which aims to help stakeholders involved in offshore wind developments better assess the impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from subsea power cables on the marine environment. The report will lead to an improved understanding of the potential effects […]
Following the ReMeMaRe (Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef) 2023 conference which took place in Scarborough last week, Dr Rob Bradburne, the Environment Agency Chief Scientist, sets out his views and vision for marine restoration. Taking a holistic approach to coastal habitat restoration Fresh approaches Restoring saltmarshes, seagrass meadows and native oyster beds is of importance […]
Defra has released six Fisheries Management Plans for consultation alongside a raft of other measures. In its press release Defra said that ‘the UK is introducing a world class system of fisheries management. This draws on the best available science and the expertise of our fishermen to ensure our fish stocks are healthy and sustainable long […]