06 Aug 2024
A Private Members Bill to regulate and limit bottom trawling in MPAs, introduced by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, has had its first reading in the House of Lords. As currently drafted it states that the regulations must prohibit bottom trawling in MPAs. These are defined as including Marine Conservation Zones, Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, […]
06 Aug 2024
Hopes for closure on a fair deal to stop governments bankrolling overfishing flopped yet again at the recent General Council meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva. Scheduled decision-making sessions aimed at closing the second half of a legally binding treaty to curb harmful fisheries subsidies were downgraded to a discussion at the […]
06 Aug 2024
Legislation came into force in June 2024 enabling UK fisheries administrations to launch permitting regimes for the recreational angling of Bluefin Tuna in their waters. Permits have now been issued to 89 vessels to recreationally target Bluefin Tuna using rod and line, on a catch and release basis, following a resurgence of the species in […]
06 Aug 2024
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust has launched a rewilding project at Helman Tor. The aim is to create a thriving landscape rich in wildlife, from the large granite boulders and heights of Helman Tor in central Cornwall, through the Par River and surrounding farmland, to Cornwall’s south […]
06 Aug 2024
The ancient maerl beds of the Fal and Helford Estuaries in Cornwall have long been known about and were designated within a Marine Protected Area in 2005, however, far less is known about the maerl that exists outside the estuaries in the bays along Cornwall’s south coast. New sites discovered In July, Natural England set […]
06 Aug 2024
A study combining 30 years of benthic monitoring data with dietary information on more than 1400 taxa to quantity the effects of active oil and gas platforms on benthic food webs reveals fewer trophic interactions with communities becoming dominated by generalists. Decreased mean body mass, shorter food chains, and the dominance of small detritivores such […]
30 Jul 2024
New analysis of observations shows that extremes of temperature in the UK are most affected by human induced climate change. This means the UK is seeing, on average, more frequent periods of hot weather, bringing challenges for infrastructure, health and wellbeing. The observations also suggest an increase in rainfall extremes. The State of the UK […]
30 Jul 2024
The Blue Marine Foundation, alongside partners at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Portsmouth, University of Essex and Zoological Society of London have published a report highlighting the intrinsic value of UK coastal habitats, and how to ensure their long-term protection and restoration. The report, titled ‘Restoring Our Seascapes: Evidence and Actions For […]
Prev