29 Sep 2026
Photo by Ludovic Gauthier The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has published new guidance setting out how it assesses and manages activities in marine protected areas (MPAs) within 12 nautical miles of the English coast. It has found that more than half of England’s inshore MPAs may be vulnerable to recreational and other non-licensable activities. The guidance, […]
29 Sep 2026
Photo by Barna Bozsanyi The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has responded to a Northern Ireland government consultation on how compensation for harm to the marine environment from offshore wind farms should be managed. The watchdog welcomes the intention of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to tackle the nature and climate crises […]
29 Sep 2026
Photo by Annie Spratt Scientists have carried out an unprecedented assessment of the seabed around the Isles of Scilly, revealing complex mosaics of sediments that support a wide range of habitat-building species. The research, led by the University of Plymouth, suggests that the frameworks used to classify and protect sediment habitats around the UK may […]
15 Sep 2026
Photo by Mapping what Matters Active and retired skippers and crew across England are being invited to take part in Mapping What Matters, a Defra-led project capturing the cultural and social importance of fishing grounds. Following pilot sessions earlier this year, the project’s national rollout begins with a series of drop-in sessions across the East […]
08 Sep 2026
Photo by Arnaud Mariat First Minister John Swinney used the Programme for Government 2026 to 2031, published on 1 September, to confirm plans to fold several of Scotland’s environmental regulators into a single body, prompting swift but carefully worded responses from the organisations affected, and sharper questions from MSPs and unions in the days since. […]
08 Sep 2026
Photo by Tania la Vaullee The Government of Jersey has significantly expanded its Marine Protected Area (MPA) network, increasing the proportion of territorial waters protected from dredging and trawling from 6.5% to 21.7%, The Fishing Daily reported. The new rules, which took effect on 1 September, mean the area of sea protected from trawling and […]
08 Sep 2026
Photo by Martin Bennie New research from the University of St Andrews has found that disturbing seabed sediments through trawling could cause significant losses of carbon stored in Scotland’s sea lochs, adding fresh evidence to calls for the Scottish Government to introduce protective measures before its forthcoming consultation on marine protected areas. A vulnerable carbon store […]
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 […]
