07 Oct 2025

Photo by Jannet Serhan   The Scottish Government is investigating after two boats were filmed allegedly scallop dredging in a marine protected area in the north-west Highlands. Footage shows the Dawn Maid and another vessel hauling up gear after being challenged in Loch Alsh, between the Scottish mainland and Skye. The activity was spotted on […]

10 Sep 2025

Image description: A beaver entering a pool of water. Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash   NatureScot has launched a new call for expressions of interest in releasing beavers into additional catchments across Scotland, as reported by NatureScot. The initiative aims to identify suitable habitats and gauge landowner support for future conservation translocations. This move […]

28 Aug 2025

    Scotland is facing increasing water scarcity as prolonged dry weather continues to affect river levels, particularly in the east of the country. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has issued restrictions in areas where rivers have reached ‘significant scarcity’, the highest alert level. As reported by The Scotsman, SEPA has introduced curbs on […]

17 Jul 2025

The National Drought Group (NDG) met on 15 July as a drought is declared in the West and East Midlands. Dry weather continues to impact water resources across England requiring water companies to take action to manage demand with the public being urged to use water wisely. While drought conditions continue across much of the […]

01 Jul 2025

Should causing severe environmental damage be treated as a serious and distinct criminal offence? Are current penalties imposed by courts on individuals and organisations adequate? Could creating this offence impact on legitimate activities? These are the types of questions The Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy & Transport Committee is putting to members of the public […]

24 Jun 2025

Image description: Wildfire with the silhouettes of people looking on. Image by Issy Bailey / Unsplash   The planet’s remaining carbon budget to meet the international target of 1.5°C has just two years left at the current rate of emissions, according to the latest Indicators of Global Climate Change study published in the journal Earth […]

27 May 2025

 Image: Bluefin Tuna in Torbay, Devon by Ray Harrington   Angus Campbell, a fisher based on the Isle of Harris, the Outer Hebrides, has secured one of only 15 licences, which allows him to land 3 tonnes of tuna this season. Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) have returned to UK waters after being absent […]

20 May 2025

Image: Puffin flying by Phil Robson   Scotland’s seabirds are set to benefit from a major new funding initiative aimed at reversing decades of population decline. The Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) has unveiled a £1.6 million Seabird Resilience Fund, designed to bolster efforts to protect and restore vital seabird habitats across Scotland’s coastlines […]