In a debate on nature conservation on Thursday (28 June), Labour MP and Shadow Environment Minister Toby Perkins announced that he “will stop destructive bottom trawling that is destroying our ocean ecosystem”. This would be “one of our first measures” he said, if his party comes to power after the parliamentary elections. The Liberal Democrats […]
The US Department of Commerce and NOAA has announced $16.7 million in funding across 12 awards to support the development of innovative new technologies and public-private partnerships focused on sustainability, equity, biodiversity and climate adaptation. “To tackle climate change nationwide, we have to better understand and manage our coasts,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina […]
By Keith Hiscock, Associate Fellow, Marine Biological Association Marine life in the seas around Britain is diverse: from the colourful anemones in rockpools to huge basking sharks. Our oceans are important socially and economically – they provide us with healthy food and other resources, they benefit our mental health and physical wellbeing, and offer endless […]
By Guglielmo Sonnino Sorisio, PhD Candidate in Ecohydraulics, Cardiff University and Catherine Wilson, Professor in Environmental Hydraulics, Cardiff University. The European eel Anguilla anguilla, a sleek, snake-like fish with a fascinating life cycle, once teemed in rivers. But their numbers have plummeted by over 95% since the 1980s. Behind this dramatic decline is a combination of threats, including […]
The marine conservation campaign group, Oceana, is preparing to take the UK government to court, claiming the decision to issue North Sea oil and gas licences without taking into account their impact on the environment was unlawful. The decision to issue the new licences was unlawful on several grounds, says the charity, including a failure to consider the […]
Newcastle University has collaborated with partners in Antigua and Barbuda to launch the Centre for Oceanography and the Blue Economy. The collaboration, which includes the University of the West Indies, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, has established the Centre for Oceanography and the Blue Economy […]
On the 20th of June, the European Commission launched a consultation to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the common fisheries policy (CFP). This consultation constitutes the first part of a thorough evaluation that will look at how the CFP has achieved its objectives since 2013, including: the long-term sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, the […]
A survey of 1,005 Scottish adults revealed 95.7% of those surveyed believe retaining control over UK fisheries is crucial. The Opinions Matters survey was commissioned by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF). Additionally, 91% see fishing as vital to the UK economy, and 89.7% equate the importance of UK-produced food with energy. The poll highlights that […]