This paper looks at the detailed relationship between trawling, fish and invertebrate populations in the Irish Sea ‘The effects of bottom trawling on benthic invertebrates include reductions of biomass, diversity and body size. These changes may negatively affect prey availability for demersal fishes, potentially leading to reduced food intake, body condition and yield of fishes […]
This book by Caveen, Polunin, Gray and Stead presents a critical analysis of MPAs in relation to marine resource management. It would be fair to say that these authors also represent the skeptical side of the scientific argument re MPAs. This book will stoke the debate about the objectives of MPAs. Plenty of material here […]
For MPAs the proof of the pudding is in the management – are Scotland’s proposals just ‘paper parks’ or have they, ‘put the P into protection’ – you judge. ‘Views are being sought on proposed measures to protect some of Scotland’s most important and fragile marine environments. A 12 week public consultation has been launched […]
Angling and conservation groups are gearing up for a parliamentary debate (Dec 3rd) on the management of sea bass stocks ahead of a crucial meeting of the EU Fisheries Council in Brussels. The debate has been called by Conservative MP George Hollingbery, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Angling, following the outcry over […]
‘SNH Commissioned Report 761: Assessment of carbon budgets and potential blue carbon stores in Scotland’s coastal and marine environment: This report provides the first comprehensive assessment of the carbon budgets and potential blue carbon stores in Scotland’s coastal and marine environment. So-called ‘blue carbon’ is captured and stored by a wide range of species of […]
The Wildlife Trusts: New report highlights need to protect important places for dolphins, whales and basking sharks. Many people are surprised to discover that in the waters surrounding our shores you could encounter 29 different species of whale, dolphin and porpoise and the second largest shark in the world – the basking shark. A new […]
The Marine Charter has been developed to help develop and maintain the cross party support that parliamentarians have given to MPAs. It states: ‘We the undersigned support Wildlife and Countryside Link’s call for the swift designation of a representative and well managed Ecologically Coherent Network of Marine Protected Areas in UK seas by 2016. We […]
Explaining MPAs A different and refreshing approach to explaining MPAs – thanks to Keith Hiscock for passing this on http://grist.org/living/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-marine-protected-areas/ The Government Response to Environmental Audit Committee Report The Report, Marine protected areas: Government response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2014-15 has been published as the Committee’s Sixth Special Report, HC 651. It provides a […]