Scientists, climate and nature professionals have been appointed to a new group of international experts, tasked with advising the Scottish Government on environmental issues. Formed as a commitment for the first 100 days of government, the First Minister’s Environmental Council will focus on Scotland’s ambitious trajectory, drawing on global best practice to keep Scotland at […]
Over the past five years there has been increasing concern around the spread of wild Pacific oysters in Marine Protected Areas. In Devon and Cornwall, the abundance of Pacific oyster Magallana gigas (formerly Crassostrea gigas) within intertidal Marine Protected Areas has led to some sites being reported as being in unfavourable condition. Natural England, in […]
After over 18 months of passage through Parliament, the Environment Bill is nearly there. For the latest version Click here Over several late-night sittings in September, members of the House of Lords voted through 14 separate amendments to the Environment Bill in the face of Government opposition. Although all the amendments are welcome by Wildlife […]
The MMO Habitat Protection Strategy, for Studland Bay MCZ includes a Voluntary No Anchoring Zone (VNAZ), proposals for mooring licensing plans, and an annual monitoring process, to be introduced over six months between December 2021 and June 2022. In its response the RYA has stated that the approach gives little time to determine impacts on […]
As we near the date for the Glasgow meeting of COP26 a steady stream of views, demands, publications and reality checks in the media. They include: Historical climate emissions reveal responsibility of big polluting nations. Click here Letter to all parties from Alok Sharma including emerging elements of the COP 26 negotiated outcome. Click here […]
Marine ecosystems around the UK can both increase and decrease atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Carbon loss and gain globally by these ecosystems has the potential to influence climate change. Blue carbon has the potential to contribute to the UK’s carbon sequestration efforts. However, damage to blue carbon habitats may also result in release of carbon, potentially […]
A Forum to identify the key challenges and opportunities associated with the co-location of Offshore Wind and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) infrastructure, as well as solutions to help make this a reality where needed has been set up by the Crown Estate. Following the advice of the Climate Change Committee, both offshore wind […]
Latest publication with results from research carried out over the last 11 years in Lyme Bay since its designation as a Marine Protected Area. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of excluding using bottom-towed fishing across the MPA while still allowing static gear, rod and line and diving fishing methods. Overall, the number of […]