04 Feb 2025

Defra Minister, Emma Hardy MP, made a string of announcements at the recent Coastal Futures conference. The Minister for Water and Flooding confirmed the Government’s position on accelerating offshore wind growth while announcing new proposals to protect and enhance the marine environment alongside energy development. She reiterated the point that the nature and climate change […]

04 Feb 2025

Significant economic and environmental benefits of seabed mapping within the UK Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) revealed in new report. The value of the seabed has been poorly understood, with just 27% of the UK EEZ mapped with high confidence, despite seabed mapping holding the potential to drive growth and innovation across a range of maritime […]

04 Feb 2025

A court has ruled that consent for two new Scottish oil and gas fields was granted unlawfully and their owners must seek fresh approval from the UK government before production can begin. The written judgement on the Rosebank and Jackdaw fields came after a case brought by environmental campaigners, Uplift and Greenpeace, at the Court […]

04 Feb 2025

The European Commission has opened a public consultation to gather evidence, insights, concerns, ideas, and feedback on the effectiveness of the common fisheries policy (CFP) regulation from a range of stakeholders, including individuals, the fisheries and maritime sectors, scientists, non-governmental and other organisations, and national administrations from EU Member States. This consultation is the next […]

04 Feb 2025

Spending on certified sustainable seafood hit a record-breaking £1.5 billion in the UK and Ireland last year (2023/24), despite the ongoing impacts of the cost of living crisis. This growth in purchasing marks a 12% increase from the previous year, according to a new report.     The major milestone signifies the largest annual growth […]

25 Jan 2025

A new report from NatureScot and SAMS sheds light on the significant changes occurring in Scotland’s rocky intertidal zones. The study, which surveyed 167 sites around Scotland’s coast, reveals how seaweed populations are being affected by climate change.   Here are some key findings: 1. Overall Shift Towards Warmer Water Species: The study observed a […]

25 Jan 2025

The government has ordered offshore energy firms to avoid “noisy” detonations when disposing of unexploded bombs on the seabed. Over 300,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the First and Second World Wars sit on the UK seabed and, if encountered, must be cleared during the construction of offshore wind projects. Marine minister Emma Hardy said […]

25 Jan 2025

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of the UK Parliament has launched the next of its thematic inquiries, on fisheries and the marine environment. MPs will delve into the challenges facing the fishing sector, including access to labour and competing spatial pressures on the marine environment.     The inquiry will see the Committee scrutinise the […]