11 Aug 2015

The conservation of Europe’s freshwater fish and their habitats is an important EU policy goal, supported not only through the Habitats Directive and EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, but also because of the clear and close links between water quality and fish conservation status, through the implementation of the Water framework Directive and River Basin Management […]

11 Aug 2015

‘As we approach the height of the British Summer, thoughts turn to leather on willow, strawberries & cream and of course…the likelihood of flash floods! Experience has taught us that it is not the usual risk from around our coastline or rivers that threatens at this time of the year, but the high intensity storm cells […]

09 Aug 2015

This is an update on the development of Dean Quarry, Cornwall the coastal site that was earmarked to provide the rock armour for the Swansea tidal lagoon. The companies involved with the Swansea Lagoon own Dean Quarry. The Swansea tidal lagoon project website highlights a wide range of recent developments but not the Dean Quarry […]

09 Aug 2015

Valuing ecosystem services – WWF has produced two reports this year that relates to the ocean economy (http://www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/press_centre/?unewsid=7544 and http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/conservation/marine/news/?247658/Increased-protection-would-provide-big-boost-to-the-ocean-economy ) and in addition the four main organisations in Link have been working with NEF on a new approach to impact assessments for the second tranche of MCZs that does a better job of valuing […]

09 Aug 2015

Decent design – Before and After Control impact (BACI) – to establish the effects of MPAs ‘Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly being implemented as tools to conserve and manage fisheries and target species. Because there are opportunity costs to conservation, there is a need for science based assessment of MPAs. Here, we present one […]

09 Aug 2015

If you need quick briefing on the challenges of the reformed CFP try this.  Chris explains the background and the challenges of issues like discards and MSY. Pity about the advert at the start. https://audioboom.com/boos/3411479-sustainability-fish-and-the-future-of-fishing-with-chris-williams-nef

05 Aug 2015

Driven by the Government policies DECC have released a whole series of policy statements that cut many aspects of support for green – low carbon technologies and programmes. This looks mainly driven by the Treasury’s desire to cut back on public spending and help house builders. This is not the leadership what one would have […]

05 Aug 2015

Energy and Climate Change Committee: Chair Angus Brendan MacNeil (SNP) See committee video interview with Amber Rudd as she sets out her priorities at DECC http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/energy-and-climate-change-committee/news-parliament-2015/decc-priorities-2015/ http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/energy-and-climate-change-committee/ ECC First Inquiry: The Energy and Climate Change Committee is looking to gather views on which areas of DECC’s policies will require particular scrutiny over the years to […]