10 Apr 2023
The Marine Conservation Society’s latest ‘Good Fish Guide’ relegates mackerel from green list, while eel and Celtic cod remain on unsustainable red list. Mackerel is no longer deemed a sustainable seafood choice after the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has warned that populations of the fish have been in steady decline in recent years. […]
10 Apr 2023
A rare shark washed up on the shores of Co Wexford in what scientists believe to be the first official record of the species in Irish waters. The smalltooth sand tiger (Odontaspis ferox) is rarely seen by humans because it normally lives offshore in waters more than 100 metres deep. At 14 feet long (4.25m), […]
10 Apr 2023
DNA testing has confirmed widespread – and probably illegal – international trading of critically endangered European eels. A research team led by the University of Exeter carried out “DNA barcoding” on products including jellied eels and unagi, which is used in sushi and donburi. With European eel populations at about 5-10% of their former levels, the EU […]
10 Apr 2023
Rarely observed circling behaviours of endangered basking sharks have now been explained as ‘shark speed dating’ courtship displays. Marine biologists from the Marine Biological Association (MBA), the Irish Basking Shark Group and colleagues have led ground-breaking research which reveals the circles of basking sharks seen off western Ireland are engaged in annual reproductive behaviour, the first place in the world […]
05 Apr 2023
The government has published its Plan for Water, which it says highlights “more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement on water companies” But the issue of storm overflows continues to dominate, as the Environment Agency published sewage spill data for 2022, showing a 19% reduction in the number of sewage spills, largely due to last […]
05 Apr 2023
According to the government, it has set out “a new plan to clean up our waters and ensure a plentiful supply for the future”. Specific measures include £1.6 billion investment brought forward to speed up vital water infrastructure projects a commitment to consult on a ban on the use of plastic in wet wipes fines […]
05 Apr 2023
Looking ahead to the official release of storm overflow monitoring data Stuart Colville gives the industry perspective on the expected fall in spills. There were fewer overflow spills last year into rivers and seas, and the average spill was shorter The length of overflow spills reduced by a third, while the number of individual overflow […]
05 Apr 2023
The government has published its revamped net zero strategy. However, Powering Up Britain is rather more focused on energy security than net zero. The government view: Ambitious plans to scale up affordable, clean, homegrown power and build thriving green industries in Britain have been unveiled by the government today (Thursday 30 March) – boosting the […]
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