Running from 25th July until 9th August (to ensure everyone in the country gets to explore at the best low tides) National Marine Week 2026 is starting shortly! In order to celebrate the best our fabulous North West Coast has to offer there are a number of exciting events for you to get involved with. […]
NWME 2026 took place on a very hot day in Liverpool on 24th June and was a great success. The conference brought together over 50 experts, practitioners, and organisations working across the Irish Sea region to share knowledge, ideas, and enthusiasm for our marine ecosystems. The aim was to showcase what has been happening in […]
Closes 11 September 2026 The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has aunched the latest monitoring survey for all marine plan areas in England, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to feedback on marine plan application and effectiveness. If you are a decision-maker, or have experience of using marine plans or even just an interest in them they […]
The University of Exeter has been awarded £939,434 by Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme to lead a major new 3 year project investigating the movement, breeding grounds and conservation status of three of England’s most vulnerable shark species: blue shark, porbeagle and tope. These species are all found in English waters and tope and porbeagle are […]
Consultation close: 14th October 2026 The Scottish Government is currently consulting on 5 Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) for pelagic fish stocks. This is a joint consultation between the Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish and UK governments and covers: North Sea herring West Coast of Scotland and Clyde herring Atlanto-Scandian herring Northern Shelf mackerel Northern Shelf blue […]
New coastal access rights have come into force on 23rd July between Foxfield and Greenodd in Westmorland and Furness. These rights are brought into force by an Order made under section 3A of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Some restrictions or exclusions were proposed in Natural England’s reports and approved in 2022. These […]
On 10th July 2026 the UK Government formally ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement (also referred to as the High Seas Treaty), which was adopted by UN member states in 2023. In doing so the UK joined a growing number of countries that have ratified this key international Agreement to help to protect […]
A Marine Management Organisation (MMO) byelaw prohibiting anchoring within the Allonby Bay Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) in Cumbria comes into force on 30th July 2026. The byelaw’s purpose is to protect and allow full recovery of all species and habitats and associated ecosystem processes within the Allonby Bay HPMA, from the shore to seabed, […]
This paper explains how the government will deliver its commitment to protect 30% of land for nature in England by 2030. It sets out how the Government will work with and support stakeholders and landowners to manage and protect their land for nature for the long term and contribute towards the Government’s 30by30 commitment. It complements […]
This report builds on the work of a Rural Taskforce established in 2025 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), comprising external partners and departments across Whitehall to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by rural communities and how government can support rural businesses and communities, tackle rural disadvantage, and […]