23 May 2023
Judge considers legal challenge over scallop dredging in Scotland
A campaign group’s legal challenge to the Scottish Government over fishing techniques which it says are destroying the seabed has got under way at Scotland’s highest civil court, STV reported. Open Seas, which works to protect and improve the marine environment, claims the Government’s licensing of scallop-dredging in Scottish waters is causing significant damage to […]
23 May 2023
Imports of ivory from orca, walrus and hippo to be banned in the UK
Ivory imports from hippopotamuses, orcas and walruses will be banned under new legislation to protect the endangered species from poaching. The Ivory Act, passed in 2018, targeted materials from elephants, but a loophole meant that animals other than elephants, including hippos were being targeted for their ivory. After a consultation, ministers have decided to tighten […]
22 May 2023
Reactions to apologies from Water UK for sewage spills
The privately owned companies have apologised for the amount of contaminated water being discharged into rivers and seas, amid mounting public anger over the practice. Ruth Kelly, the organisation’s chair, told BBC News: “We’re sorry about the upset and the anger from the fact that there have been overspills of untreated sewage onto beaches and […]
22 May 2023
North Sea Transition Authority awards 20 carbon storage licences at offshore sites
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) launched the UK’s first-ever carbon storage licensing round in June 2022, with applications closing in September. Twenty licences have now been offered for award covering a total area of around 12,000 square kilometres. These are in addition to the six CO2 appraisal and storage licences already on the UK […]
22 May 2023
Marine Management Organisation announces results of I-VMS testing
Inshore Vessel Monitoring Systems (I-VMS) devices are required to monitor inshore fishing activity to improve marine management and sustainability, ensure proper fishing practices and prevent illegal fishing to help protect and enhance the livelihoods of fishers. Legislation in the form of a Statutory Instrument is due to come into force making it a legal requirement for all […]
22 May 2023
National Nature Reserves week – 20th-29th May
National Nature Reserves week will see Natural England come together with a wide range of NNR managing organisations, numerous charities, and community partners to put on a multitude of different events. Some events have a focus on wellbeing such as yoga, to others with a heavier focus on nature, such as beaver and amphibian walks. […]
22 May 2023
Oyster reef restoration can work out well – given enough time
Research has shown that oyster restoration projects in the U.S. have been largely successful, but ecosystem benefits may take decades to fully emerge. In a study published in Conservation Biology, scientists synthesized data on the restoration of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs in the U.S. They found that such projects improved the local ecosystem by […]
Prev