20 Dec 2022
The Irish Government has announced newly protected marine sites and government approval of the General Scheme of the Marine Protected Areas Bill. Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, said: “We started from a low base of 2.3% marine protection in 2020, but since I became Minister we have more than tripled […]
20 Dec 2022
People in Scotland believe sewage and chemical pollution pose the biggest threat to the health of our seas, according to new research. The opinion poll, conducted by Survation on behalf of the environmental coalition Scottish Environment LINK, also found high levels of public concern over litter and the impact of climate change on our seas. […]
20 Dec 2022
The Dogger Bank marine protected area (MPA), has experienced a 98% decrease in bottom towed fishing since a ban was introduced, according to research by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). In June 2022, a byelaw came into force that banned damaging fishing activities from four English offshore MPAs. Between June and October (2015-2019), an average […]
20 Dec 2022
The Arctic Pearl is the first vessel for more than 30 years to be given the go-ahead to harvest Iceland scallop from the rich habitats found in Norwegian waters. The seabed harvesting technology installed on board is entirely new and cannot be compared with any other kinds of bottom fishing gear currently in use. It […]
20 Dec 2022
A new deal to protect nature has been agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN biodiversity summit, COP15. The agreement – which was finalised in the early hours of Monday 19th December in Montreal, Canada – includes a global commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land […]
13 Dec 2022
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Ocean has released “The Ocean: Turning the Tide on Climate Change”, which examines blue carbon and ocean-based solutions to climate change. The report calls for the Government to prioritise and facilitate investment in blue carbon and ocean-based solutions in order to combat climate change, making several key […]
13 Dec 2022
Defra have announced that the UK has secured fishing catch limits worth £202 million to the UK fishing industry, a £33 million increase from last year, after reaching an agreement with Norway and the EU. The UK agreed catch levels for 2023 for six important fish stocks in the North Sea including North Sea cod, […]
13 Dec 2022
The Scottish Government has released plans to offer added protection to Scotland’s marine biodiversity. Proposals to develop Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) have been launched. Views are being sought on proposals that would make Scotland the first country in the world to designate at least 10% of its seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas. […]
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