13 Mar 2024

The government has announced that fast-tracked investment of £180m over the next 12 months is expected to prevent more than 8,000 sewage spills polluting English waterways. According to Defra, it follows the Secretary of State directing water and sewage companies last December to measurably reduce sewage spills over the next year by accelerating commitments and delivering new […]

09 Mar 2024

Marine and coastal sociocultural values review – Research wanted   Ecologos Research, in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, is currently undertaking a structured review of social and cultural values of UK marine and coastal ecosystems as part of Defra’s Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme. We would like to invite you to submit […]

05 Mar 2024

Defra’s Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (mNCEA) programme is currently undertaking a structured review of social and cultural values of UK marine and coastal ecosystems. Ecologos Research are undertaking the review, in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory. They are asking the marine and coastal social science and arts and humanities community to submit links to relevant studies and […]

27 Feb 2024

The Secretary of State must prepare a statutory report into the conduct and operation of the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA’s) every four years, which must be laid before Parliament. This third report covers the period from September 2018 to September 2022.  The report will assess the IFCA’s against their five high level […]

27 Feb 2024

On behalf of Defra, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are administrating the final round of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). Projects developing England’s catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and those enhancing the marine environment can now apply to access the FaSS pot of £6 million match funding. The funding is available for both new […]

27 Feb 2024

English fishers impacted by the recent closure of the UK pollack fisheries will now be eligible for fast tracked financial grants through the re-opened £6m Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS). Following EU fishery negotiations, the UK government set the pollack Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2024 to zero following concerns about the population stocks, permitting […]

13 Feb 2024

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking feedback on policies to update guidance on Marine Protected Area (MPA) assessments. In July 2021, Defra consulted on best practice guidance for developing compensatory measures in relation to MPAs.  The UK government department are now consulting on draft policies to inform updated guidance using this […]

13 Feb 2024

The Seabed User & Developer Group (SUDG), an informal grouping of the UK’s key marine industries, have called on the UK government to put in place a moratorium on the biodiversity metric for intertidal habitats. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a policy set out in the Environment Act 2021 and on 12 February 2024 it […]