06 May 2024

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has published a consultation on the review of Northern Ireland’s Marine Protected Areas strategy. Since the publication and implementation of the original Marine Protected Area (MPA) Strategy in 2014, several key strategic policy drivers have been developed at global, UK and Northern Ireland levels relating to […]

06 May 2024

A recently released report titled “Legacy Plastics” suggests that community driven beach cleanups could be a more cost-effective strategy to removing large, macroplastics compared to trials testing novel technologies. However, preventing plastics from entering the environment must be a policy priority. The report, released by the Royal Society at the same time as the latest […]

06 May 2024

To coincide with the Our Ocean conference, a new report, co-authored by Marine Conservation Society, Seas At Risk and Oceana, shows that in the seven countries analysed, 4.4 million hours of apparent bottom trawling was allowed in MPAs between 2015-2023 – equivalent to more than 500 years’ worth of trawling. Using data compiled by Global Fishing Watch, the breadth and […]

06 May 2024

The Commonwealth has launched a new toolkit to promote gender-responsive practices in ocean-related occupations. Turning the Tides of Inclusion: A Toolkit for Gender Equality in Ocean Sectors is a guide for policymakers, organisations, and individuals to help promote inclusion and unlock the full potential of sustainable blue economies. The guide was launched during the inaugural Commonwealth […]

06 May 2024

The UK offshore wind industry is preparing for further growth supported by a range of new approaches and commitments introduced in 2023, according to The Crown Estate’s latest UK Offshore Wind Report 2023.    Credit: Marine Directorate Image Bank   The report contains a series of updates from offshore wind performances, farm ownership, data and […]

06 May 2024

A new study by a University of Sussex research team has identified 81 different marine species along the Sussex coastline, including tope shark, tub gurnard fish and the critically endangered European eel. Research led by Prof Mika Peck and Dr Valentina Scarponi, shows how using a combination of two biomonitoring tools, Baited Remote Underwater Video […]

30 Apr 2024

The world’s biggest floating wind farm has been given the go-ahead off the Aberdeen coast. The £3 billion floating offshore wind project from developers Flotation Energy and Vårgrønn has been granted offshore planning approval. The project titled Green Volt, has now received all its planning approvals and remains on track to be the first commercial-scale […]