The Arctic Pearl is the first vessel for more than 30 years to be given the go-ahead to harvest Iceland scallop from the rich habitats found in Norwegian waters. The seabed harvesting technology installed on board is entirely new and cannot be compared with any other kinds of bottom fishing gear currently in use. It […]
A new deal to protect nature has been agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN biodiversity summit, COP15. The agreement – which was finalised in the early hours of Monday 19th December in Montreal, Canada – includes a global commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land […]
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Ocean has released “The Ocean: Turning the Tide on Climate Change”, which examines blue carbon and ocean-based solutions to climate change. The report calls for the Government to prioritise and facilitate investment in blue carbon and ocean-based solutions in order to combat climate change, making several key […]
Defra have announced that the UK has secured fishing catch limits worth £202 million to the UK fishing industry, a £33 million increase from last year, after reaching an agreement with Norway and the EU. The UK agreed catch levels for 2023 for six important fish stocks in the North Sea including North Sea cod, […]
The Scottish Government has released plans to offer added protection to Scotland’s marine biodiversity. Proposals to develop Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) have been launched. Views are being sought on proposals that would make Scotland the first country in the world to designate at least 10% of its seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas. […]
New UKSF FISP round now open The fourth and final round of the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP) scheme, part of Defra’s £100 million UK Seafood Fund (UKSF), is now open for applications. The FISP scheme has been established to fund data collection and research to support sustainable fisheries management. All projects must involve a partnership between […]
A review of Studland Bay’s voluntary no anchor zone (VNAZ) is being conducted by Marine Management Organisation (MMO). The VNAZ was introduced in 2021 to protect the seagrass beds, and the animals it is home to, from damage from the dropping and weighing of anchors. This review will reflect on the first year of the […]
The Scottish Government has published their delivery plan for the Blue Economy Vision, which was published in March 2022. The document, ‘Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach’, was launched at the end of November and sets out the first phase of delivery towards the Vision. Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, […]