01 Aug 2023

The UK Government and the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) have announced a joint commitment to undertake future oil and gas licensing rounds, with at least 100 new licenses and possibly many more expected to be awarded from autumn. This includes the possibility that licences could also be offered near to currently licensed areas where […]

01 Aug 2023

A vital system of ocean currents that governs weather patterns across the northern hemisphere could collapse by the middle of the century and potentially as early as two years’ time, according to a study warning that the ocean climate system is close to an irreversible tipping point. But other researchers have doubts about the accuracy […]

01 Aug 2023

A report published by the Marine Conservation Society has calculated the cost-benefit of banning bottom-contact fishing from the UK’s offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) designated to protect seabed features. The analysis shows that initially, costs outweigh the economic gains of banning bottom-contact fishing gear. Costs include the loss of earnings by fishers, and the setting […]

01 Aug 2023

The marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme  is a science innovation and transformation programme, which spans across land and water environments. It has been set up to collect data on the extent, condition and change over time of England’s ecosystems and natural capital, and the benefits to society. The following outputs from the […]

01 Aug 2023

Under future climate change, modification of temperature and salinity are expected to result in distribution shifts of marine organisms, including commercial fish and shellfish. Changes are anticipated everywhere, including in the seas of many important fishing nations. Species turnover will in turn result in both opportunities and threats to fishing industries. To determine the impacts […]

25 Jul 2023

Actions to increase the productivity of Scotland’s aquaculture sector and help reduce its impact on the environment have been set out in a new strategy. The Vision for sustainable aquaculture describes the Scottish Government’s long-term aspirations to 2045 for the finfish, shellfish and seaweed farming sectors, and the wider aquaculture supply chain. The Vision for […]