Guardian ‘Shell has abandoned its controversial drilling operations in the Alaskan Arctic in the face of mounting opposition in what jubilant environmentalists described as “an unmitigated defeat” for big oil. The Anglo-Dutch company had repeatedly stressed the enormous hydrocarbon potential of the far north region in public, but in private began to admit it had […]
MCS ‘The iconic European cod fishery which collapsed in the 1980s and has been ailing ever since, has finally increased above dangerously low levels and hauled itself off the MCS Fish to Avoid list. As part of the MCS autumn update to FishOnline (www.fishonline.org), North Sea cod is now rated 4 and amber, which means it’s showing signs […]
Marine species around the world, including populations of fish critical to human food security, are in potentially catastrophic decline according to a new research report. WWF’s Living Blue Planet report, an updated study of marine mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, shows a decline of 49 per cent in the size of marine populations between 1970 […]
A recent report for FAO highlights the threats to global shark populations, highlighting the point that focussing on shark fins is missing the point on the growth of consumption of shark meat. “There is a persistent belief among many well-intentioned folks that the only threat that sharks have ever faced, or are currently facing, is […]
Next two years likely to be hottest recorded as the world’s climate reaches major turning point – but UK summers may be cooler, report predicts the UK Met Office. The world’s climate has reached a major turning point and is set to deliver record-breaking global temperatures in 2015 and 2016, according to a new report […]
Stephen Hull ABPmer: Ten years on from the Irish Sea marine planning pilot study and following enactment of legislation for marine planning through Marine Acts for the UK, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the establishment of the necessary institutional frameworks, marine plans for UK seas are finally in production. In a new white paper, Stephen […]
The Crown Estate We have announced a new programme of leasing for small scale wave and tidal current test and demonstration projects under 3MW. The new leasing will open from 21st September 2015 and has been introduced following feedback from industry that further opportunities for some technology types are required. This need has been identified […]
Bluepint for Water, a broad coalition of environmental, water efficiency and fisheries organisations, launched its vision for a healthy water environment that people and nature can enjoy at the Houses of Parliament. There seemed to be real appetite for the vision as representatives from government, industry and NGOs – including the Secretary of State for […]