11 Mar 2025

An investigation by Greenpeace UK reveals that giant supertrawlers continue to catch fish in the UK’s Marine Protected Areas, despite the UK government having had the powers to prevent them doing so since Brexit.   Photo: Christian Aslund/Greenpeace   Investigators found that from January 2020 to January 2025, 26 supertrawlers spent significant time fishing in […]

11 Mar 2025

The European Commission has published evaluations of two directives on the protection of EU seas: the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Bathing Water Directive. The laws, in place since 2008 and 2006, respectively, have been assessed to measure their achievements so far and identify any gaps and any potential for simplification. The evaluation has found […]

11 Mar 2025

The UK Prime Minister and the Irish Taoiseach announced closer collaboration on energy production at the first of a series of annual summits between the two countries. The two prime ministers announced closer collaboration on subsea energy infrastructure to “harness the full potential” of the Irish and Celtic seas as part of ongoing efforts to reset post-Brexit relations.   […]

11 Mar 2025

Five Belgian fishing companies and their vessel masters have been successfully prosecuted for serious breaches of fisheries legislation in Welsh waters, marking the latest success in Welsh Government’s crackdown on illegal fishing activities. The prosecutions relate to the misreporting of Dover Sole catches between quota areas during 2022 and 2023. These cases form part of […]

11 Mar 2025

Research led by Plymouth Marine Laboratory highlights the urgent need for standardised compensation and improved collaboration between energy companies and fishermen. The study found that the majority of UK fishermen feel their livelihoods are being threatened by the rapid expansion of offshore wind farms (OWFs), with impacts felt across all vessel sizes and fleet sectors. […]

11 Mar 2025

In a new consultation on North Sea policies that UK ministers say will protect jobs and supply chains, the government vowed to help the energy sector shift to become a clean energy “world-leader” in technologies like offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture. The consultation also includes delivering the government’s commitment not to issue new licences to explore […]