22 Dec 2024

EU countries have updated their goals for the deployment of offshore renewable energy up to 2050 in each of the EU’s 5 sea basins, with intermediate objectives to be achieved by 2030 and 2040. At an online meeting of the Directors-General of the Ministries of Energy in the respective countries today, non-binding agreements were reached […]

22 Dec 2024

New research published in Science Advances reveals that right whales can survive for more than 130 years — almost twice as long as previously understood. This made them the second-longest lived mammals on Earth, after bowhead whales which could live beyond two centuries. The study examined four decades of data collected by photo identification programs tracking individual […]

20 Dec 2024

We are excited to announce the shortlisted nominees for this year’s OCF Bob Earll Award for ‘Early career impact on ocean and coastal management’. We received numerous high-calibre nominations which have been whittled down to a shortlist of six early-career award finalists: Athena Allen; Danielle Clifford; Ffion Mitchell-Langford; Daniel Morris; Hannah Rudd; and Konstancja Wozniacka. […]

17 Dec 2024

The Environment Agency has published new data showing 6.3 million properties across England are based in areas at risk of flooding from one or a combination of rivers, the sea and surface water. Using the best available data from both the Environment Agency and local authorities, the new National Assessment of Flood Risk (NaFRA), provides a […]

17 Dec 2024

Coastal Futures Conference 2025 Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th  January 2025  The Royal Geographical Society, London and Online   Government Minister to open the conference     The UK’s largest and longest running annual gathering of coastal and marine practitioners, is excited to announce that UK Government Minister, Emma Hardy MP will open the Coastal […]

17 Dec 2024

The UK Government has launched its awaited Clean Power Action Plan, with a focus on a massive ramping up renewables.  The 136-page plan sees wind and solar – in particular offshore wind – becoming the backbone of the British electricity system. It says record amounts of new renewable capacity will need to be delivered, alongside reforms to […]

17 Dec 2024

Record funding of £150 million capital investment from the Scottish Government will support the growth of the offshore wind sector and support thousands of well-paid, green jobs across Scotland over the next decade. Overall strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years is expected to boost private investment in the sector by up […]

17 Dec 2024

Fin whale meat from off Japan’s northern coast was sold for the first time in nearly 50 years. Japan’s Fisheries Agency this year added fin whales to its list of three whale species that can be legally hunted as the country expands commercial whaling along its coast. Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic […]