17 Feb 2026

Photo by Kat   The UK government has opened consultations on the final four fisheries management plans (FMPs) required under the 2020 Fisheries Act, completing Defra’s programme to establish management frameworks for England’s key commercial stocks. The four proposed FMPs cover Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal fisheries, Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic stocks, the wrasses complex, and seabream. All […]

17 Feb 2026

Photo by Towfiqu Barbhuiya   Scotland will become the last of the four UK nations to ban the sale and supply of wet wipes containing plastic, with new regulations published by the Scottish Government setting an enforcement date of 11 August 2027. The move follows a UK-wide consultation in 2023, in which over 93% of respondents supported […]

17 Feb 2026

Photo by Chris Pagan   Commercial shipping in the Baltic Sea is causing significantly greater physical disturbance to the seabed than previously recognised, according to new research published in Nature Communications. The study reveals that wake turbulence from large vessels is disrupting water stratification and causing seabed erosion of up to 1.5 metres over a decade in […]

17 Feb 2026

Photo by Silas Baisch   The UK has moved a significant step closer to ratifying the landmark High Seas Treaty after the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill received royal assent on 12 February, becoming an Act of Parliament. However, the government confirmed that additional secondary legislation is still required before full ratification can be achieved. The […]

17 Feb 2026

Photo by Krzysztof Kowalik   Marine protected areas can only achieve long-term effectiveness if climate considerations are deeply embedded in their design, management and governance, according to new research published in npj Ocean Sustainability. The study identifies critical scientific, governance and socio-economic dimensions required for making MPAs “climate-ready” as ocean warming and other climate impacts intensify. Drawing […]

12 Feb 2026

 Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-working-on-documents-7821540/    The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (Chartered IIA) has urged the UK Government to address what it sees as a significant governance gap in the water sector, warning that the lack of any regulatory requirement for internal audit in England and Wales is contributing to ongoing operational failures.  In a letter to […]

12 Feb 2026

Photo by Matej Bizjak / Pexels   Natural England has approved England’s first unrestricted wild beaver releases, with four Eurasian beavers introduced to Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Helman Tor reserve and additional releases planned across the UK – marking a watershed moment for nature recovery 400 years after the species’ extinction in the UK. The Helman […]

12 Feb 2026

Image description: Overlapping pound notes. Image by Pixabay   A Guardian exclusive has reported ministers are planning to close legal loopholes surrounding bans on water boss bonuses, after legislation brought in last year was reportedly ‘outwitted’ and failing firms continue to pay millions to executives. Attempted ban The previous environment secretary Steve Reed attempted to […]