Laura Laker, the Guardian ‘Friends of the Earth says revised national planning policy makes it ‘virtually impossible’ for councils to refuse fracking schemes. The government is facing a legal challenge over its new planning policy, which campaigners say was illegally adopted because the government failed to assess its environmental impact. The revised National Planning Policy Framework, […]
EEA: Europe’s freshwater and marine resources may seem limitless but they are under increasing pressure from pollution, over-exploitation and climate change. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Signals 2018 explores the state and trends of Europe’s waters, asking how we can ensure healthy rivers, lakes, groundwater resources and seas for future generations. The new ‘EEA Signals 2018 […]
By Sara Jerome Flushing contact lenses is contributing to water pollution because lenses do not break down entirely in wastewater treatment systems, according to a new study. “Americans use about 14-billion contact lenses every year, resulting in an estimated 50,000 pounds winding up in sinks and toilets,” WTOL reported. Researchers presented the findings at an American Chemical […]
Since 2013 various proposals have been mooted to create the first ‘Marine Park’ in the Plymouth area with Martin Attrill leading this thinking. In June a conference was organised by the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) – the UK-based marine conservation charity to develop this idea. A useful report of a meeting held in June has […]
Bob Earll. ‘In the late 1970s a friend, David Erwin, who was working on the idea of a marine reserve for Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland told me about a visit he’d had from a London minister – Peter Melchett – a keen diver who was really supportive that this idea should go ahead. At […]
Guardian ‘A former chief of the naval staff has said the UK has “insufficient ships” to patrol its waters after clashes between British and French fishing crews over scallops. The ex-first sea lord and Labour peer, Lord West of Spithead, says co-ordination of the “few” ships that Britain has is “fragmented” and the lack of […]
The “Blue” in “Blue Economy” stands for the seas and oceans. As a vital component of Europe’s coastal economies, oceans can also contribute to our continent’s overall prosperity. They can produce investment, jobs and economic growth – and the heathier they are, the more productive they’ll be. Therefore, the Blue Economy must be a Sustainable […]
Win for Marine Life, California to End Drift Gillnet Fishing Paul Shively The Pew Charitable Trusts ‘Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and other marine wildlife in California waters will get a reprieve from an indiscriminate fishing gear—drift gillnets—thanks to state lawmakers’ passage of a bill to phase out the destructive equipment, which is used to target […]