The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute today announced that a contract has been awarded to Spanish shipyard Astilleros Armon Vigo S.A. for the construction of a new research vessel contracted to complete in February 2027. The state-of-the-art marine research vessel is a significant capital investment by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to strengthen […]
Shifting shores: Ulster University Researchers map 193 years of Northern Ireland coastline changes A project examining the shifting shorelines of Northern Ireland over the last 193 years, has recently been completed by Ulster University, revealing for the first time, a detailed picture of coastal change. Using historical maps and aerial photographs, the team of researchers […]
There have been numerous recent incidents of blue-green algae at the UK’s largest lake in County Armagh and elsewhere across Northern Ireland. Reported by the BBC and elsewhere, the situation at the lake, which provides 40% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water, has become a political issue. There have been 168 confirmed reports of toxic blue-green […]
The Marine Protected Areas (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 came into operation from 1 January 2023, prohibiting demersal mobile gear (bottom-towed) in nine inshore MPAs, alongside management of pot fishing activity. A collection of Northern Ireland organisations including DAERA, AFBI, environmental NGOs and the fishing industry have come together to discuss fishery […]
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 […]
Green City, Clean Waters total projected economic impact for Philadelphia has risen to an impressive $4 billion. In other exciting findings, the research shows that new and improved open spaces resulting from green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) reduced crime by 8.7 percent and saved the city $50 million annually in avoided health-related costs. Typically, green spaces […]
Giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee last week, Fisheries Minister George Eustice stated that during the transition period “in practice, not much will change”. “We have to whisper in the ear of the Commission and hope for the best. Broadly, that will be the same. That is not going to change. When it comes to […]
Welsh MPA inquiry The Climate change, environment and rural affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the management of marine protected areas in Wales last week. We are carrying out a call for evidence and a public survey via our website: Could replace with: Written evidence can be submitted using the proforma on the website […]