The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is intensifying efforts to safeguard the safe transportation of plastic pellets on ships, recognizing the potential environmental damage if released into the sea. During the meeting at IMO Headquarters from February 19 to 23, the Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 11) reached a consensus on draft recommendations for […]
The Crown Estate has announced significant progress in collating world-class data, evidence and research through the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme (OWEC) to help shape and deliver future offshore wind development in a way that protects and helps restore nature and the vital marine natural environment. OWEC, a partnership between 26 members, provides a […]
An exciting discovery has been made by researchers in the waters off the southwest coast of England. A new species of sea slug, named Pleurobranchaea britannica, has been identified by scientists from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the University of Cadiz, Spain. Measuring between two and five centimetres long, Pleurobranchaea britannica is a […]
Members of the public are now invited to participate in a consultation to support the roll-out of potentially 27 new English bathing water sites. The two-week consultation will be administrated by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of the government’s plan to improve water quality across England. If designated, sites will receive regular water monitoring […]
The Secretary of State must prepare a statutory report into the conduct and operation of the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA’s) every four years, which must be laid before Parliament. This third report covers the period from September 2018 to September 2022. The report will assess the IFCA’s against their five high level […]
A new Nature Restoration law has been adopted which sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The law received 329 votes in favour, 275 against and 24 abstentions, a margin larger than initially expected. The […]
On behalf of Defra, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are administrating the final round of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). Projects developing England’s catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and those enhancing the marine environment can now apply to access the FaSS pot of £6 million match funding. The funding is available for both new […]
An investment of €233m to fund 12 European environmental and climate projects was announced by the European Commission on 22 February 2024. As part of the EU’s long-term LIFE programme, Ireland is to receive €15.14m of funding to expand and enforce a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) with its waters. The 12 Europe-wide strategic […]