National News

Potential for Tidal Lagoon Power in the UK

CEBR (Centre for Economics and Business Research) has published a new report which documents the economic potential for tidal lagoon power. Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd has proposed the development of six tidal lagoons throughout the UK which could ultimately contribute £27 billion to the economy. The development would create new employment opportunities, produce cleaner energy and

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Coastal Concordat Update 2014

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has updated the “Coastal Concordat” for England for 2014. The Coastal Concordat comprises of an agreement between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Transport, the Marine Management Organisation, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Local

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Scottish Government consents the development of 4 offshore wind farms (North Sea)

The Scottish Government has permitted the development of four offshore wind farms within the Scottish territory of the North Sea. Offshore wind farms will include Seagreen Alpha and Bravo, Inch Cape, and Neart na Goaithe which will collectively generate 2,284 megawatts and power up to 1.4 million homes. The Scottish Government is aiming to generate

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Chinese Mitten Crab invaders – Please report sightings!

The Welsh Wildlife Trust needs your help to report sightings of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis). The Chinese Mitten Crab is classified within the 100 world’s invasive species which pose an array of problems ecologically and economically. They are invasive pests within the River Dee and its banks, they damage fishing gear and they

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UK MARLISCO Forum 10th December 2014, London

The UK MARLISCO Forum is scheduled for the 10th December. MARLISCO (MARine LItter in European Seas: Social AwarenesS and CO-resposibility) is a European Seas project seeking to raise public awareness of litter problems within the marine environment, and to promote sustainable management to reduce marine litter originating from land and sea based sources. The marine environmental

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LGA Coastal SIG Newsletter – Autumn 2014 Edition

The Local Government Association (LGA) Coastal Special Interest Group (SIG) has issued their newsletter for Autumn 2014. The content of the newsletter includes an update of new members to the Coastal SIG, outcomes of the meeting with the Secretary of State for the Environment regarding flooding recovery initiatives, details of the 2014 AGM hosted by

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16th Annual ‘Area Involved’ Report Published – The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) and The Crown Estate

The British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) and The Crown Estate have come together to produce their 16th Annual ‘Area Involved’ Report providing updates to changes in dredging activity and associated licensing within seabed environments of the UK during 2013. BMAPA and The Crown Estate’s alliance began in 1999 to form the ‘Area Involved’ initiative, aiming to

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Consultation Report on the Management of Inshore Special Areas of Conservation and Marine Protected Areas Approaches – Marine Scotland Report

The Scottish Government has published a report called ‘2014 Consultation on the Management of Inshore Special Areas of Conservation and Marine Protected Areas Approaches’. The report reviews an array of management practices proposed for 16 protected areas in Scotland (8 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and 10 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with 2 having both designations).

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Consultation input to the South Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) are currently developing marine plans for the southern inshore and offshore areas of the UK. The plans occupy the marine environment from Folkestone to the River Dart in Devon. Consultation on the “Vision and Objectives” has been completed and a Consultation Summary Report has been produced explaining how the consultation

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Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) produces new Marine Litter Report (2014-2020)

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) have a produced a new Marine Litter Report evaluating extensive marine and coastal litter problems within the UK. The report presents a vision (2014-2020) to reduce litter by 50% through effective and integrated anti-marine litter practices from all maritime, coastal and land-based sectors. The report aims to reinforce “good environmental status”

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