New legislation requiring all under-12 metre vessels fishing in English waters to have an operational inshore vessel monitoring system (I-VMS) device, is just months away from being in place it has been announced. The positional data provided by I-VMS devices will aid in ensuring the sustainability of UK fisheries and provide a more thorough understanding […]
The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) in the Isle of Man has introduced new measures to protect three significant fishing sites in its waters by banning bottom trawling. These closed areas are located within the Western Irish Sea Mud-belt (WISMB), a vital habitat for various marine species, notably langoustines. Despite decades of extensive […]
New social research publication from the Scottish Government explores what influences the decision making of Scottish fishers. It presents findings from twelve interviews with fishers. The main findings are focused on the social, economic, governance, and environmental drivers in fishers’ decision making. The report titled “What factors influence the strategies and choices of Scottish fishers? […]
The £2.1million government-funded Weardale Natural Flood Management scheme, which includes a series of nature based solutions such as storage areas, wooden leaky barriers and timber fences, could reduce flood risk across 41km2 to communities including Lanehead, Wearhead, Westgate and Stanhope. It’s also seen 150 hectares of peatland restored, will aim to create up to 75 […]
The appointment of Richard Benyon as Defra minister in the House of Lords has prompted a rethink within the NFFO on its approach to the management of marine protected areas. In a long blog post, NFFO sets out its views and concerns: “To this point, our approach has been to challenge the Government’s shift from […]
Building with Nature (BwN) works: the time is ripe for its definitive scale-up in Dutch water management. This paper discusses the essential findings that emerge from more than a decade of EcoShape experience in BwN knowledge development, projects and dialogue with key Dutch stakeholders. BwN is an approach that makes active use of natural forces […]
‘Large marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly being established to contribute to global conservation targets but present an immense challenge for managers as they seek to govern human interactions with the environment over a vast geographical expanse. These challenges are further compounded by the remote location of some MPAs, which magnify the costs of management […]
Well-managed MPAs – using the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas for guidance Sue Wells Chair, IUCN WCPA Marine Management Effectiveness and Green List Task Force Contact: suewells1212@gmail.com 18 January 2019 Sue at suewells1212@gmail.com As part of our obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UK has committed to putting an effectively […]