Defra has announced the designation of the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). The latest designations of 41 new MCZs brings the overall total of MCZs in English waters to 91. In addition, new features have been added to 12 existing MCZs. The Government has announced that this essentially completes the UK ‘Blue Belt’
National News
Consultation: Marine and fisheries policies for Wales after Brexit
by NW Coastal Forum on May 3, 2019
Closes 19th August 2019 The Welsh Government is seeking views on future fisheries policy. The consultation is on the first stage in creating a new policy, a management regime and associated legislation. Views are sought on: fisheries management sustainable fisheries and fleet sustainability fishing opportunities shellfish and aquaculture trade, growth and innovation evidence funding For
Consultation – Managing the Marine Historic Environment of Wales
by NW Coastal Forum on March 23, 2019
Closes 3rd June 2019 The Welsh Government is consulting on updated guidance on managing and protecting the marine historic environment, which includes wrecks, submerged prehistory and coastal and intertidal archaeology. The guidance document – ‘Managing the marine historic environment of Wales’ – sets out the Welsh Government’s approach to underwater heritage and offers best practice guidance
River Basin Planning 2021 – Working Together Consultation Response Report England
by NW Coastal Forum on March 23, 2019
The Environment Agency has published the consultation response report from the ‘Working Together’ consultation on reviewing and updating river basin management plans which took place from June to December 2018. It set out the steps and consultation measures that the Environment Agency is required to take to update the plans. The report on the consultation
Closed 29th March – Still time to comment on North West Marine Plan policies
by NW Coastal Forum on March 23, 2019
Closes 29th March The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently holding on-line engagement on draft policies and supporting text for marine planning in the north east, north west, south east and south west marine plan areas. The engagement period started in January and has included a range of workshops, including 2 here in the North
Closed -consultation on improving our management of water quality in the environment
by NW Coastal Forum on February 8, 2019
Closed 11:45 p.m.12th March 2019 Defra is consulting on proposals for improving the long-term planning of water resources and drainage, and proposals to modernise water regulation. The proposals include: reforming abstraction licensing to clarify when the Environment Agency can amend licences amending laws to allow a new charging methodology for Internal Drainage Boards making the
Closed – Consultation on proposals for new and amended standard rules for flood risk activities
by NW Coastal Forum on December 24, 2018
Closes 8 p.m. 11th January 2019 The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 allow the Environment Agency to offer standard rules for specific activities. This consultation proposes amendments to the existing standard rules and the creation of three new standard rules. The overall aim is to increase the uptake of flood risk activity standard
Marine Planning Iteration 3 On-line Engagement and Workshops
by NW Coastal Forum on December 21, 2018
The next round of formal marine planning engagement by the Marine Management Organisation on the developing North West Marine Plan (and others) starts in January 2019. The on-line engagement opens on 21st January and runs until 29th March. It will be supplemented by a series of regional workshops and you are urged to book your
Bathing water results for 2018
by NW Coastal Forum on November 23, 2018
The 2018 bathing water results are out and classifications for the North West’s 30 designated bathing waters (including 4 inland) are given below. A new classification for bathing water quality was brought in 4 years ago. The new classifications are much tougher than the previous system of classification but 97.9% of bathing waters in England
WireWall Update – October 2018
by NW Coastal Forum on November 17, 2018
An October update below from the National Oceanography Centre re their WireWall research project on measuring wave overtopping (see earlier news article): Week commencing the 22nd Oct the tides were turning to springs. With a persistent West/North West wind on the forecast from Monday afternoon, the end of the week looked like a good opportunity to