25 Aug 2026

Photo by Pratik Patil   Fishing nets remain the most likely cause of death for common dolphins that strand on the Cornish coast, according to a seven-year post-mortem review that has prompted renewed calls for wider access to acoustic deterrent devices. The study, carried out by the University of Exeter, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Cornwall […]

25 Aug 2026

Photo by Rob Wicks   The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched a dedicated GOV.UK page to keep the public, industry and scientists updated on the ongoing common octopus bloom in South West England, pulling together sightings data, research updates and monthly landings figures in one place. Since 2025 there has been a marked rise in sightings […]

25 Aug 2026

Photo by Annie Spratt   The Environment Agency issued bathing warnings for three Isle of Wight beaches this week after storm overflows released sewage-contaminated water following heavy rain, reviving long-running concerns about the resilience of the island’s sewer network. The agency advised against swimming at Gurnard, Shanklin and Bembridge on Wednesday 19 August, with Southern Water’s own Rivers and Sea Watch service listing around 15 further locations where an “outfall release within the last 24 hours” may have affected water quality. Multiple […]

25 Aug 2026

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde   The Dutch Fishermen’s Association has called for greater research and monitoring of electromagnetic fields generated by offshore wind farm cables, warning that significant knowledge gaps remain even as cable networks expand rapidly across the North Sea. The concerns, reported by The Fishing Daily, follow new research carried out under […]

25 Aug 2026

Photo by Rod Long   The Falkland Islands’ Planning and Building Committee has approved two developments tied to the sectors underpinning the territory’s economy: fishing and offshore hydrocarbons, MercoPress reports. A local construction company was granted permission to build 160 modular housing units in a two-storey complex with capacity for 320 beds, intended to house personnel […]

18 Aug 2026

Photo by Michael Grant   Scotland’s marine minister has confirmed that a consultation on new fishing restrictions across more than 160 inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and sensitive habitats will launch “in the coming weeks”, with the consultation period extended to 16 weeks to allow fishing communities more time to respond. Jim Fairlie MSP, minister […]

18 Aug 2026

Photo by Bob Brewer   Scotland’s seabirds remain in long-term decline, with average numbers now around half what they were in the 1980s, according to new statistics published by NatureScot on 13 August. A steep long-term fall The Scottish Biodiversity Indicator for Seabirds, which draws on data from the UK Seabird Monitoring Programme, assessed 19 of the 24 […]