09 Jan 2017

Two articles on the EAC and International targets Marine protected Areas examined by EAC with stakeholders & NGOs Environmental Audit Committee explore how effectively stakeholders have been engaged in the designation and implementation of the first two tranches of Marine Protected Areas. It will also explore what progress the Government has made towards achieving its […]

03 Jan 2017

Welsh MPA inquiry The Climate change, environment and rural affairs Committee launched an inquiry into the management of marine protected areas in Wales last week.  We are carrying out a call for evidence and a public survey via our website:   Could replace with: Written evidence can be submitted using the proforma on the website […]

13 Dec 2016

Christmas reading and watching. The Environmental Audit Committee get its MPA review underway. JNCC’s advice on offshore Marine Conservation Zones 2015-2017 Assessing progress towards an ecologically coherent network of MPAs in Secretary of State Waters In 2014 Defra commissioned JNCC to undertake a piece of work on ‘Assessing progress towards an ecologically coherent network of […]

29 Nov 2016

Evidence and Management for Marine Recreational Activities – Call for Information Do you have information on the impact (or lack of impact) of recreational activities on the marine environment? Do you have information on the effectiveness of management measures to reduce the impact of recreational activities on the marine environment? If so, we would like […]

14 Nov 2016

Fishing Focus The last Fishing Focus came out in May before the EU referendum. Reading this you might be forgiven for wondering whether it took place at all. It is well worth going through this Fishing Focus in detail because it highlights a range of items from the UK’s position on deep sea fishing to […]

31 Oct 2016

The last two months has produce a flood of announcements on new and larger MPAs, however, after a 25 year campaign by the residents, the Scottish Government have declared an MPA around Fair Isle. MPA News has highlighted the remarkable nature of the last couple of months in relation to announcements. MPA News provides a […]

31 Oct 2016

Natural England commenced a public consultation regarding three potential Special Protection Areas (pSPAs) around England. These sites are: Solent & Dorset Coast pSPA which is a new site for foraging common, little and Sandwich terns on the south coast. Greater Wash which is a new site on the east coast for wintering red-throated diver, common […]

24 Oct 2016

Ecology isn’t simple. The relationship between species in the environment is dynamic and complex. Evidence building in the UK from Lundy and Arran are showing how crustacean populations develop once no take zones are introduced. It has taken years for such experiments to be allowed in UK and now we should be using this evidence […]