27 May 2025
Image: EU flags at the European Commission by Guillaume Périgois The General Court of the European Union has ruled that Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) must be properly protected from fishing practices such as bottom trawling. New regulations had been adopted on 8th December 2022, providing stronger levels of protection. However, the German fishing association […]
27 May 2025
Image: Brighton Marina by Being Momentx The MMO has been heavily criticised for renewing a licence for the Brighton marina to dispose of sediment, in Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone. While the marina needs to be dredged to allow vessels to access the marina, there are fears that the sediment is smothering marine […]
27 May 2025
Image: Bluefin Tuna in Torbay, Devon by Ray Harrington Angus Campbell, a fisher based on the Isle of Harris, the Outer Hebrides, has secured one of only 15 licences, which allows him to land 3 tonnes of tuna this season. Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) have returned to UK waters after being absent […]
27 May 2025
Image: Fishing boats by John Mark Strange The number of octopus are increasing in the south-west, and fishers are feeling the impact. Instead of hauling up pots with crabs, lobsters and other shellfish, fishers are finding octopus and empty shells instead. Plymouth crab fisherman Brian Tapper described the situation: “The octopus are ruining us… […]
27 May 2025
Image: Fishing boat by Michel Stockman A new report from marine conservation organisation Oceana claims that bottom trawling continues to pose a serious threat to the UK’s offshore marine protected areas (MPAs), with over 20,000 hours of suspected activity recorded in 2024 alone. The report, titled The Trawled Truth, estimates that the suspected trawling would […]
20 May 2025
Late Monday night, negotiations between the UK and the EU – covering trade, defence and fishing, came to a dramatic close, as the UK agreed to allow EU vessels continued access to UK waters until 2038. Reaction to the deal on fishing revealed highly differing views. The UK Government stressed that the agreement maintains […]
20 May 2025
Image: Ice by Sergey Guk Scientists are sounding the alarm as new research paper reveals that the colour of the ocean is visibly changing—a visible sign of profound ecological shifts driven by climate change. Research led by scientists from the University of Amsterdam highlights how the retreat of sea ice in polar regions is […]
20 May 2025
Image: St Mawes by Philip Auld Conservationists have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of ancient maerl beds off the coast of Cornwall, England. from recent dives near St Mawe, which were organised as part of the UK Maerl Forum 2025, revealed that these fragile ecosystems are now covered in dense algae – […]
Prev