27 May 2025

Image: Brighton Marina by Being Momentx   The MMO has been heavily criticised for renewing a licence for the Brighton marina to dispose of sediment, in Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone. While the marina needs to be dredged to allow vessels to access the marina, there are fears that the sediment is smothering marine […]

13 May 2025

Image description: The Seven Sisters in Sussex. Image by Andres Stefuca / Pexels.   The Prosecution:  The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has secured the first successful prosecution for a contravention of an MMO marine protected area (MPA) byelaw. Christoph Gouy, Master of the French-registered fishing vessel Pierre D’Ambre, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Magistrates Court to […]

15 Apr 2025

Mackerel sustainability rating downgraded in Good Fish Guide   Image description: A close up shot of a school of mackerel.   The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recently updated their Good Fish Guide in line with the latest scientific advice, resulting in a downgraded sustainability rating for mackerel. Mackerel caught by midwater trawl in the Northeast […]

15 Apr 2025

Image description: A side-on shot of a Cuttlefish. Image by Naveen Manohar / Pixabay   The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced the launch of an action plan to support the cuttlefish fishery in English waters, following engagement with stakeholders. AN estimated 4,000 tonnes of cuttlefish are landed in the UK every year on average. […]

25 Jan 2025

The government has ordered offshore energy firms to avoid “noisy” detonations when disposing of unexploded bombs on the seabed. Over 300,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the First and Second World Wars sit on the UK seabed and, if encountered, must be cleared during the construction of offshore wind projects. Marine minister Emma Hardy said […]

22 Oct 2024

New legislation implementing a range of short-term management measures for certain species of fish have been introduced to the UK Parliament (16 October 2024). These new arrangements have been identified within the first Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) as priority to help provide additional protection to vulnerable stocks. The measures, which are subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, […]

17 Sep 2024

A new report commissioned by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) titled “Exploring the challenges, opportunities and barriers to local decision making in the context of marine planning” has been published. The research aimed to scope out the challenges, opportunities and barriers to local decision-making within a marine planning context; defining localised marine planning, its potential […]