16 Jun 2020

‘Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland’s 2016 Petition to the Scottish Parliament led to the 2018 ECCLR and REC Committee inquiries into salmon farming. The REC Committee identified that “the ‘status quo’ in terms of regulation and enforcement of the fish farming industry is not acceptable”. In response, the Scottish Government tasked the Salmon Interactions Working […]

18 Jun 2018

‘Fish Legal has threatened Defra and Natural England with legal action for failing to take a precautionary approach to the regulation of the lucrative wrasse fishery which has sprung up in the inshore waters of England to supply the Scottish salmon farming industry. The wrasse are caught in pots and transported live to Scotland where […]

02 Nov 2017

Minister Michael Gove questioned on a wide range of issues – Analysis to come The Environmental Audit Committee hears from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The session is likely to be wide-ranging, focusing particularly on environmental policy areas covered by the Committee in the […]

18 Oct 2017

Two articles:  1. Omitting the Precautionary principle & the polluter pays from the European Withdrawal Bill (EUWB)   Guardian: ‘UK withdrawal bill ‘rips the heart out of environmental law’, say campaigners. New bill omits key ‘precautionary’ principle requiring developers and industry to prove actions will not harm wildlife or habitats as well as the ‘polluter pays’ […]

17 Feb 2015

Precautionary or proportionate?   NB: This image is a conceptual illustration of the relationship between ‘precaution’ and ‘proportion’ – it does not represent any numerical analysis of the relationship between the two. Explanation: Much of the discussion around ‘better’ or ‘smarter regulation’ is entrenched in a perceived conflict between those calling for a ‘proportionate’ or […]