Latest News

Heysham Flat Seed Mussel Fishery Opens

The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has announced that, commencing the 26th of August 2014, the Heysham Flat Seed Mussel Fishery is open for all current Byelaw 3 Permit Holders. A new Byelaw 3 permit for 2014/2015 will be required from the 1st of September 2014 and more information and application forms can be found

Read more

New Requirement to Submit Monthly Catch Return Records – Cockles and Mussels

The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NW IFCA) has announced that, from the 1st of July 2014, it is a requirement under Section 21 of the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Athority Byelaw no. 3 that all permit holders must record and submit monthly returns relating to catches and fishing efforts. This follows

Read more

Marine Scotland publishes its first Marine Litter Strategy

Marine Scotland has published its first Marine Litter Strategy. Its main purpose is to develop methods to ensure clean, safe, tidy, diverse and productive coastal and marine environments in the future. The strategy underpins developments in marine legislation through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 in promoting sustainable use of the environment to enhance ecological, economic and

Read more

Severn Estuary Partnership – August 2014 Newsletter

The Severn Estuary Partnership has issued its August 2014 e-newletter. The contents of the e-newletter includes Partnership news –  highlighting the work carried out in August- and Estuary News, including articles on assessing noise impacts on marine mammals, the Wales Coastal Footpath, the arrival of tall ships in Gloucester for Hollywood filming, dredging of the Rivers Parrett and

Read more

Announcement of 30 Marine Protected Areas in Scotland

On the 24th July 2014 30 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were designated in accordance with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (for the Scottish inshore MPAs) and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (for the offshore MPAs). 17 of the MPAs, recommended by Scottish Natural Heritage, have been designated in Scotland’s territorial (inshore) waters, and a further 13, recommended

Read more

National Infrastructure Projects – North West Update

The National Infrastructure Planning website has details of the following major infrastructure projects in the coastal or marine area of North West England. Click on the project names below to go the the National Infrastructure Planning website page for each project. Projects go through a range of stages and these are explained in brief below:

Read more

Two Consultations on Implementing The Offshore Safety Directive

Two consultations are currently open on aspects of bringing the Offshore Safety Directive (OSD) 2013/30/EU into UK law. Both consultations close on 21st September 2014.  The OSD, which applies to offshore waters out to the limit of UK jurisdiction, aims to reduce the potential for major accidents offshore and improve safety standards. When an incident

Read more

Consultation: Welsh National Marine Plan

The Welsh Government is currently seeking views on the draft Vision and Objectives for the Welsh National Marine Plan and its proposed structure. A full formal consultation on the completed draft  Welsh National Marine Plan will be held in early 2015. Further information on the consultation and how to respond to it can be found

Read more

Marine Strategy Framework Directive – Government publishes response to the monitoring consultation and the finalised UK marine monitoring programmes

A consultation on monitoring proposals for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive took place earlier this year. The Government has now published a summary of the comments with their responses. In addition the ‘UK Marine Strategy Part Two: UK Marine Monitoring Programmes’ has now been finalised and published. There will be a further consultation covering proposals for the UK Programme of Measures

Read more

NW Regional Monitoring Programme Newsletter Summer 2014

The latest edition of the North West Regional Monitoring Programme’s newsletter – North West Coast News – has been published. It aims to provide news on progress of the programme, spotlight specific issues and provide an outline programme of upcoming monitoring, reporting and events across the region. This issue reflects the impacts of the winter storms and

Read more