16 Jun 2022

Freshwaters are underestimated sources of greenhouse gases. In a study published in Science of The Total Environment, researchers with the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have now shown that even dry water bodies can release considerable amounts of methane. An overview of the causes and magnitudes of methane emissions from freshwaters and […]

16 Jun 2022

A report from lawyers Leigh Day and the Guardian have covered the news that Wild Justice files legal claim over Ofwat’s failure to step in and prevent discharges of untreated sewage into rivers. Wild Justice has stepped up a legal campaign against Ofwat for failing to ensure sewage treatment plants are fit for purpose with […]

14 Jun 2022

The coverage of the crab and lobster deaths in the north east of England has continued, and last week we covered the release of the Defra report findings. Our previous coverage is summarised and linked here. Defra have also released a further news piece: ‘On Thursday 2 June, Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis provided an update […]

14 Jun 2022

A new tool to help increase the native oyster population around the English coast has been launched, the Environment Agency announced  on World Ocean Day, 8 June. Native oyster populations have decreased by 95% in England since the mid-1800s, mainly due to over-fishing. The aim is to reverse this decline because they bring multiple benefits, […]

14 Jun 2022

Four Marine Management Organisation (MMO) byelaws come into force to protect four offshore marine protected areas. These are being introduced under new powers under the Fisheries Act, the first major fisheries legislation in almost 40 years. These new measures will prohibit fishing activities in MPAs where there is evidence that they harm wildlife or damage […]

14 Jun 2022

Legislation covering marine protected areas (MPAs) is “almost complete” and will set an ambition for 30% of Irish waters to be designated, Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan has said. Mr Noonan was speaking after a report from a broad coalition of Irish environmental groups found that a mere 2.1% were MPAs, compared to 10% on average in the […]

14 Jun 2022

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Fisheries has published a new report: This report, published in June 2022, presents a synthesis of views gathered from the UK fishing industry based on their experiences in the 12 months after the UK officially left the EU. The UK fishing industry was frequently highlighted during the process that […]