07 Jun 2022

HD Hyundai has announced that the Prism Courage, a 122,000 tonne ultra-large natural gas tanker operated by its subsidiary Avikus, has become the first large ship to make an ocean passage of over 10,000 km (6,210 miles) under autonomous control. A ship that is capable of sailing itself isn’t new. Even the smallest vessel can […]

07 Jun 2022

Using stretches of fibre optic cables as sensors could enable continuous, real-time monitoring of conditions at the bottom of oceans and seas, and below the planet’s surface, researchers say. Despite sensing technologies advancing significantly in recent years, oceans and seas remain largely unmonitored as installing permanent ocean-floor sensors is very expensive. The new technique could […]

07 Jun 2022

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) has published a briefing paper on deep-sea mining. Discussing the significant reputational, regulatory, and operational risks associated with plans to mine the deep seabed of minerals, the paper addresses how financial institutions should respond to the deep-sea mining sector. It also lays out how financial institutions wishing […]

07 Jun 2022

Debate on the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report: Report on the Welsh Government’s marine policies  The Senedd Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee undertook a ‘snapshot’ assessment of marine environment management in May 2022, which we covered previously. The Committee’s report on the Welsh Government’s marine policies was debated in Plenary in the Senedd on […]

07 Jun 2022

Defra consultation on the principles of Marine Net Gain: The Government’s response to the 2018 terrestrial Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) consultation confirmed the intention to develop and consult on an appropriate regime for the marine environment which builds on commitments in Defra’s 25 Year Environment Plan. Broadly speaking, marine net gain aims to put the […]

07 Jun 2022

The Crown Estate has committed a further £25 million into its Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme, bringing the total investment intent up to £50 million.  There are 23 projects in the current portfolio representing £33milion of funding – £22million from The Crown Estate’s core investment fund, and £11million of co-funding or in-kind contributions. The […]

07 Jun 2022

Defra has now published the report into the dead crabs and lobsters on the north-east coast. We reported in early November 2021 on the news of large crustacean mortality, as well as subsequent updates on the investigation and reports of further accounts of dead crabs and lobsters. The Environment Agency immediately launched an emergency investigation, […]