The Scottish Government has an announced that an area of the Firth of Clyde will again be closed to most types of fishing activity in spring 2024 and 2025 to protect spawning cod. The closure has been in place each year since 2002 during the cod spawning season. While there has been variation, the closures […]
A blog by Alex Plant, Scottish Water Chief Executive Officer The amount customers pay to keep Scotland’s water cycle flowing is increasing. It’s going up because the climate we rely on for the water needs of our nation is affecting every aspect of our services, and we must do more to maintain and replace our […]
Fishing for sandeel is to be banned in Scottish waters ahead of the 2024 fishery season, subject to Parliamentary approval. Sandeel support the long term sustainability and resilience of the marine ecosystem and are an important food source for many species, including marine mammals, seabirds and predatory fish. Commercial fishing for sandeel is currently carried […]
Young Sea Changers Scotland, a new charity dedicated to training the next generation of marine advocates, launches across Scotland this month. Young Sea Changers Scotland (YSCS) was set up to address a lack of young people participating in formal discussions and decision-making processes affecting how our seas are managed for the future. In a 2018 […]
A trial to research the economic opportunities and environmental impacts of electrofishing for razor clams has been extended for a further 12 months. The extension aims to strengthen the evidence-base and inform future decisions about capacity for a sustainable razor clam fishery in Scottish waters, including developing fisheries management measures. Scottish razor clams […]
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation, seeking views on its proposed principles and considerations in developing policy for the future of the water industry in Scotland in response to the climate emergency.
Scottish marine energy company Nova Innovation has installed a marine floating solar demonstrator to power Forth Ports’ headquarters in the Port of Leith. Nova’s marine solar demonstrator was constructed and installed over the summer, showcasing the company’s ability to harness abundant solar energy on water surfaces. The operational array has already demonstrated its resilience by […]
Scotland’s National Marine Plan (NMP) was published in 2015 and following statutory reviews on the current plan, last year Scottish Ministers committed to update and replace the NMP (NMP2). The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 requires that a sustainability appraisal is undertaken to assess the impact of the proposed policies within the National Marine […]