Money from fines handed out to water companies that pollute our rivers and seas will be re-invested in schemes that benefit our natural environment, under new government plans. Water companies were handed a record amount in fines for pollution incidents last year as part of ongoing action to hold rule-breakers to account. Since 2015, the […]
Reported in edie The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has sent a letter to Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, calling for the immediate publication of new long-term targets for air quality, water, biodiversity under the Environment Bill and for clarity on key resource and waste strategies. Read more It follows a recent Defra announcement that the government […]
A new survey has revealed the overwhelming value the public feel the marine environment offers to their mental and physical health. However, around half of the 12,000 people surveyed also expressed concern, with over 80% of those taking part saying how crucial it is to protect the ocean. Almost 70% of people see marine litter […]
The new ‘Wild Ennerdale National Nature Reserve’ will protect over 3,000 hectares of landscape comprising of water, forests and mountains. A new National Nature Reserve is being formally created today (15 November) by Natural England in Ennerdale, West Cumbria. It will be the largest nature reserve in the county and the 9th largest in England. […]
An independent panel of external experts is to be set up to assess the evidence surrounding the deaths of large numbers of crustaceans, such as crabs and lobsters, on the North East coast between September and December 2021. In a letter to the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee, Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer confirmed Defra’s […]
About the Infrastructure Scheme At least £65 million in grant funding is available through the Infrastructure Scheme. The scheme will fund projects that improve the UK seafood sector supply chain through investment in: improved capability at ports, harbours, processing, and aquaculture facilities the social and economic welfare of coastal communities fleet modernisation recreational sea fishing […]
The UK government has announced £156,000 to protect England’s island seabird populations against the threat of invasive predators. This is one of the first instances globally of a central government providing funding to protect seabird islands against these specific threats, Defra has said. The UK’s islands such as Coquet Island and the Isles […]
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has said it was considering enforcement action against Defra after it failed to meet the deadline to set statutory targets as part of the Environment Act. Utility Week reported that newly appointed secretary of state, Therese Coffey, said the department had struggled to analyse the 180,000 responses to a […]