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 […]

22 Jan 2025

Since entering office on Monday, Trump has already: Withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement Declared a national energy emergency, promising to “unleash” US energy production, roll back restrictions on drilling in Alaska and increase gas exports Ended the Green New Deal, a series of Biden measures that were aimed at boosting green jobs, regulating the […]

22 Jan 2025

The new Global Risks Report from the World Economic Forum has identified extreme weather events as the top risk for the next 10 years, followed by biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.   Photo credit: Dibakar Roy   5 of the top 10 risks identified were environmental. They are Extreme weather (1st) Biodiversity loss and ecosystem […]