28 Oct 2024

The European Union (EU) has decided to request the establishment of an arbitration tribunal under the dispute settlement mechanism of the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) concerning the United Kingdom’s decision to prohibit the fishing of sandeel. The arbitration tribunal would rule on the compatibility of the measure with the TCA. The ban has […]

22 Oct 2024

  Welcome to OCF’s insights from the marine and coastal sector. This week we have summarised the most relevant stories for you from across these sectors: Fisheries, Offshore Wind, Offshore Industries, Science, Aquaculture, Conservation, Climate and Marine Pollution.   Fisheries Professor Rebecca Selden is creating a “spatial sea map” designed to illustrate the adaptive styles […]

22 Oct 2024

As global leaders head to the U.N. Biodiversity Conference (COP16) , a new report has issued a stark warning: The world is falling short of its pledge to protect 30 percent of the ocean by 2030. The “30×30” target, agreed at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in 2022, is the most ambitious conservation commitment ever made. However, the report […]

22 Oct 2024

New legislation implementing a range of short-term management measures for certain species of fish have been introduced to the UK Parliament (16 October 2024). These new arrangements have been identified within the first Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) as priority to help provide additional protection to vulnerable stocks. The measures, which are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, […]

22 Oct 2024

The Azores Islands, part of Portugal, have approved the creation of the largest marine protected area (MPA) in the North Atlantic, covering nearly 287,000 square kilometres. The network, called the Azores Marine Protected Area (RAMPA), designates 15% of Azorean waters as fully protected and another 15% as highly protected, restricting or banning fishing and other […]

22 Oct 2024

A new report titled “UK Offshore Renewable Energy in 2040: Building a Sustainable and Competitive ORE Sector on a Pathway to Net Zero by 2050” has been published by the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub. Acceleration is needed The ORE outlook 2040 report emphasises the urgent need for a new approach to ensure the […]

22 Oct 2024

Research conducted by the Marine Conservation Society and the University of Portsmouth has revealed that sewage discharges are a significant source of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) pollution in marine environments. PFAS also known as ‘forever chemicals’ are a complex group of nearly 15,000 substances used in consumer products around the world since the 1950s. […]

22 Oct 2024

A new report from the Economist Impact and Nippon Foundation initiative, Back to Blue, calls for urgent, integrated actions to combat ocean acidification (OA) and halt biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems. The report, Ocean Acidification and Biodiversity Loss: Connecting the Dots with Data, outlines critical recommendations for enhancing the scientific understanding of the direct links […]