23 Jun 2026
Photo by Denys Nevozhai The UK has committed £13.9 million to international programmes tackling ocean protection, coastal resilience and plastic pollution, with Marine Minister Emma Hardy announcing the funding at the eleventh Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya. The money is channelled through the Blue Planet Fund, the UK’s flagship ocean financing vehicle, which marks its fifth anniversary this […]
16 Jun 2026
Photo credit: Nicola / Adobe Stock The Caribbean island of Montserrat has joined the Blue Belt Programme, the UK Government’s flagship international marine conservation initiative, making it the eleventh UK Overseas Territory to enter the scheme and the fourth from the Caribbean. The announcement was made on 8 June, World Ocean Day, as the programme also marked its tenth anniversary. Known as the “Emerald Isle […]
02 Sep 2025
Photo by Ben Wicks Marine Protected Areas significantly enhance kelp forest recovery following severe marine heatwaves, according to new research that provides evidence for ocean protection as a climate adaptation strategy. Satellite analysis reveals protection benefits UCLA researchers analysed four decades of satellite imagery comparing kelp forests inside and outside 54 Marine Protected Areas along California’s […]
29 Jul 2025
Photo by Yohantha Gunawarna The Environment Agency has opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the 2025/2026 Championing Coastal Coordination (3C’s) funding round. This year’s process is running on a reduced scale due to a smaller budget and shortened timescale. For this funding year, only one thematic focus will be supported, allowing the […]
08 Jun 2020
There have been many reports, reviews, inquiries and calls for HPMAs in UK waters. The latest in this long line was a review commissioned in 2019 by the then Environment Secretary, Michael Gove. Published on World Oceans Day, the review recommends the introduction of HPMAs as essential for marine protection and recovery, total protection for […]