05 Aug 2025
Photo of Gannets on Bass Rock by Kristin Snippe The Scottish Government has approved one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, the Berwick Bank project, despite fierce opposition from conservation groups who warn it could drive vulnerable seabird species toward extinction. The 4.1 gigawatt development, located 23 miles off Scotland’s east coast in […]
05 Aug 2025
Photo by SpaceX Groundbreaking research using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence has provided the first comprehensive evidence that strictly protected marine reserves successfully deter illegal fishing, offering new hope for ocean conservation efforts worldwide. The peer-reviewed study published in Science analysed 1,380 marine protected areas (MPAs) globally and found that 78.5% had no commercial […]
05 Aug 2025
Photo by Yannis Papanastasopoulos Ocean oxygen levels are declining at an unprecedented rate, with new research revealing that ancient episodes of deoxygenation caused widespread collapse of deep-sea fish populations, offering a stark warning for marine ecosystems facing accelerating oxygen loss today. A groundbreaking study published in Communications Earth & Environment demonstrates how mesopelagic fish […]
15 Jul 2025
Photo by William Hook The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has launched the SkateSpotter app, a new tool designed to aid in the conservation of the critically endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius). This free mobile application allows anglers, divers, and the general public to upload photographs of flapper skates, which are then used to build a photo-identification […]
11 Feb 2025
A team of international marine researchers and economists, led by Octavia Aburto at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, have unveiled a comprehensive framework for Marine Prosperity Areas, or MPpAs. Marine Prosperity Areas encompass a more holistic approach to marine conservation, employing strategic financial investments and tailored community partnerships to align the realms […]
04 Feb 2025
Defra Minister, Emma Hardy MP, made a string of announcements at the recent Coastal Futures conference. The Minister for Water and Flooding confirmed the Government’s position on accelerating offshore wind growth while announcing new proposals to protect and enhance the marine environment alongside energy development. She reiterated the point that the nature and climate change […]
24 Dec 2024
Innovation, research and a mammoth volunteering effort helped conservationists learn more about wildlife in UK seas, reveals The Wildlife Trusts’ 2024 Marine Review. Every year The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas teams compile a Marine Review that explores the wildlife in UK seas. The Review reflects on work to protect and restore UK seas by staff, […]
02 Jul 2024
By Keith Hiscock, Associate Fellow, Marine Biological Association Marine life in the seas around Britain is diverse: from the colourful anemones in rockpools to huge basking sharks. Our oceans are important socially and economically – they provide us with healthy food and other resources, they benefit our mental health and physical wellbeing, and offer endless […]
