A new research paper published in the ICES Journal of Marine Science has been released. Entitled ‘Large-scale historic habitat loss in estuaries and its implications for commercial and recreational fin fisheries’, the paper summarised estuarine habitat use for twelve economically important finfish in the UK, of which seven were found to utilise estuarine habitats.   […]

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The Irish Sea Network has published its first ever review. It examines the increasing pressure from climate change and activities such fishing, aquaculture, development, shipping, aggregates, military activity, recreational activity and pollution.     The Network says that while 36 per cent of the Irish Sea is designated as a Marine Protected Area, only approximately five per […]

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North Sea oil and gas licenses ‘overlap’ with marine protected areas, which are home to threatened species. The analysis by Uplift found that more than a third of the locations being offered clash with protected zones, the Independent reported. The government’s response to the consultation on the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 (OESEA4) Environmental Report paved […]

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Following advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), the EU Commission closed 87 sensitive marine areas in EU waters to bottom fishing. The closed areas amount to 16,000 km2of EU waters, of which nearly 9,000 km2 are within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).     Thanks to the Deep-Sea Access Regulation, waters below […]

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Amendment to treaty on dumping of waste at sea will remove sewage sludge from list of wastes which may be given dumping permit. ​   The amendment to the London Protocol will remove sewage sludge from the list of permissible wastes – wastes which may be considered for dumping at sea. Parties to the treaties […]

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