28 May 2024

A global maritime court has determined that greenhouse gases constitute marine pollution.  The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) said emissions from fossil fuels that are absorbed by the oceans count as marine pollution. What is the ITLOS advisory opinion and what did it say? Client Earth explained the background to the […]

28 May 2024

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO), in collaboration with other UK governmental bodies, is responsible for managing marine non-licensable activities (mNLA) to further the conservation objectives of England’s inshore marine protected areas within 0-12 nautical miles (nm). mNLA activities encompass a range of recreational pursuits, from sailing and motorboating to diving and snorkelling. This excludes fishing […]

28 May 2024

The UK’s saltmarshes are under threat from climate change, coastal erosion, and sea-level rise, according to a new study led by the University of St Andrews and the University of York. Carbon Accumulation Occupying more than 450km² of the UK coastline, saltmarshes capture and store large quantities of carbon, which makes them one of the […]

28 May 2024

Scotland’s foremost fisher’s body, the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation (SFF), has challenged John Swinney, Scotland’s new First Minister, to “right the wrongs” of the Bute House Agreement and commit to putting support for fishing towards the top of the agenda. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) has launched its Industry Trends and Attitudes Report, calling for a […]

21 May 2024

A new report sheds light on the future impacts of climate change on marine species across the United Kingdom. Focussing on 21 marine species listed as ‘threatened’ or ‘declining’, ranging from sharks and rays to seahorses and oysters, predictive models were used to forecast the impacts of climate change on ‘habitat suitability’. Factors such as […]

21 May 2024

The Marine Data Exchange platform will now include data on offshore activities in Scottish waters. Following an agreement between The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, the Marine Data Exchange has been extended to cover Scottish waters. The agreement will allow all developers working in UK waters to benefit from a more streamlined and comprehensive dataset to inform offshore […]