27 Jan 2025

The Worshipful Company of Water Conservators (WCWC) has set out its concerns that there is no overarching strategy pulling all the elements of water conservation together in the United Kingdom and that current developments in policy and regulation are evolving as a patchwork of silos, often inconsistent, not linking together, or to what is in […]

27 Jan 2025

A new publication from UN-Habitat Healthier Cities and Communities through Public Spaces says that green and open public spaces are essential to fostering the health and well-being of urban areas and their communities. Thoughtfully designed and well-maintained, these spaces encourage physical activity, support mental health, promote social cohesion, and enhance community engagement. Moreover, public spaces […]

25 Jan 2025

A new report from NatureScot and SAMS sheds light on the significant changes occurring in Scotland’s rocky intertidal zones. The study, which surveyed 167 sites around Scotland’s coast, reveals how seaweed populations are being affected by climate change.   Here are some key findings: 1. Overall Shift Towards Warmer Water Species: The study observed a […]

25 Jan 2025

The government has ordered offshore energy firms to avoid “noisy” detonations when disposing of unexploded bombs on the seabed. Over 300,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the First and Second World Wars sit on the UK seabed and, if encountered, must be cleared during the construction of offshore wind projects. Marine minister Emma Hardy said […]

25 Jan 2025

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of the UK Parliament has launched the next of its thematic inquiries, on fisheries and the marine environment. MPs will delve into the challenges facing the fishing sector, including access to labour and competing spatial pressures on the marine environment.     The inquiry will see the Committee scrutinise the […]

25 Jan 2025

The materials used to protect wind turbines from corrosion leach into the surrounding water, which could pose risks to ecosystems, seafood safety and human health, new research from the University of Portsmouth has found. Offshore wind farms release thousands of tonnes of metals such as aluminium, zinc and indium each year. This is expected to […]

25 Jan 2025

The charitable research institute the Scottish Association for Marine Science (Sams) recently voted to make the ocean a trustee on its board, represented either by a specific person or a working group that can help hold the organisation to account and speak up for the ocean’s interests. The Conversation spoke to Sams’ director, Nicholas Owens, […]

25 Jan 2025

Dr Emma Sheehan, from the University of Plymouth, has been researching the ecological impacts of the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area since 2008, in what is considered to be the best example of a continuous long-term MPA monitoring study in the UK. Now, Dr Sheehan, together with ‘Ropes to Reefs’ Project Manager Amy Cartwright, gives […]