31 May 2022

Following the announcement of Byelaws to prohibit damaging fishing activity in four MPAs last month, including Dogger Bank and the Canyons, which will come into force on 13 June 2022, the MMO are now seeking views on the impacts of bottom towed gear fishing in 13 more MPAs which contain some of the most sensitive […]

17 May 2022

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has launched a Call for Evidence on the impacts of fishing activity in 13 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It follows the announcement of Byelaws to prohibit damaging fishing activity in four MPAs last month, including Dogger Bank and the Canyons, which will come into force on 13 June 2022. The MMO are […]

05 Apr 2022

Press release from Ireland’s Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage: ‘Public consultation demonstrates strong support for expansion of Marine Protected Areas The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has today published the results of an independent review and analysis of its extensive public consultation undertaken on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The government aims […]

15 Mar 2022

We previously covered the news that Chris Grayling, MP, was introducing a Ten Minute Rule Motion entitled ‘Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling)’. The Hansard record can be found here and a second reading of the Bill is due on 18 March. As reported in Fishing News: introducing the private members’ bill, which will ‘regulate and […]

01 Mar 2022

Chris Grayling, MP, is introducing a Ten Minute Rule Motion entitled ‘Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling)’. We covered previously that a study noted that Brexit may bring some benefits to the environment as it has enabled the UK to reclaim the autonomy to designate offshore marine protected areas. For example, this has enabled a proposal to […]

01 Mar 2022

Marine Nature Recovery (MNR) – First steps towards MNR within Cornwall’s inshore seas Marine nature recovery is needed to reverse past declines in wildlife and habitats and bring our seas back to life, so that they are healthy and thriving now and into the future for people, climate and nature. To rebuild the marine life-support systems […]

01 Mar 2022

Wildlife and Countryside Link has produced a briefing, ‘The road to success for new Highly Protected Marine Areas’. The briefing states that: The Government has committed to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in English waters by the end of this year. This hugely welcome new designation could provide much needed sanctuaries for our threatened […]

07 Feb 2022

Part of the UK Government’s ‘Benefits of Brexit’ document contains a small section entitled ‘Flourishing offshore Marine Protected Areas’. The report talks of ‘one of the biggest challenges for the UK previously was securing other countries’ endorsement for offshore Marine Protected Areas management measures through the Common Fisheries Policy process. Now that we are an […]