08 Oct 2024

I am coming. A razorbill attempts a very wobbly landing in Saltee Islands, Ireland. Photograph: Ines Godinez. Comedy wildlife photography awards 2024 Welcome to OCF’s insights from the marine and coastal sector. This week we have summarised the most relevant stories for you from Fisheries, Offshore Wind, Offshore Industries, Conservation, Climate and Marine Pollution.   Fisheries […]

07 Oct 2024

Plans for giant floating wind farms in Scotland threaten to destroy the country’s fishing sector, the leader of an industry body has warned. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) said despite efforts to find a solution to the problem, mobile fishing and floating offshore wind farms “are simply not able to co-exist”. Speaking at the SFF’s […]

07 Oct 2024

The annual update from Wildlife and Countryside Link (WCL) into progress in England on the target to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (the “30×30 target”) has been published. Campaigners are calling for a rapid rescue package for nature – including designating more English waters as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). The annual […]

07 Oct 2024

The Crown Estate has awarded an Agreement for Lease to global energy company, Eni, for the first carbon capture and storage project in the UK to repurpose existing pipeline infrastructure, reducing both cost and the environmental impact of construction. The Agreement for Lease will enable Eni to access the seabed and repurpose existing pipelines and […]

07 Oct 2024

First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that 67 projects will share a total of £14 million in support from the latest round of Marine Fund Scotland. This year’s awards include seven to Shetland-based projects, including support for a new fisher from Scalloway to help secure a vessel to enter the industry, along with grants for […]

05 Oct 2024

During Ocean Week in Brussels (30 September – 4 October), 140 organisations urged the newly elected EU institutions to take bold measures to protect Europe’s oceans and coastlines. These include launching an Ocean Fund and banning destructive activities at sea. On 1 October, the Blue Manifesto, led by Seas At Risk, BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, Oceana, […]

05 Oct 2024

Oysters once formed extensive reefs along much of Europe’s coastline – but these complex ecosystems were destroyed over a century ago, with the advent of steam ships with powerful dredges accelerating their disappearance through overharvesting,  new research shows. Researchers found past evidence of reefs almost everywhere, from Norway to the Mediterranean, covering at least 1.7 million […]

01 Oct 2024

Photo: 1st place, The Ocean Photographer of the Year: Rafael Fernandez Caballero. “A Bryde’s whale takes a bite”. Baja California Sur, Mexico. See more here.   Introducing our Ocean and Coastal news at a Glance. In our first edition, we are covering a two week news cycle, as it has been a particularly newsworthy fortnight. […]