In November 2021, Defra launched a consultation on proposals to ban the supply of single-use plastic plates, cutlery, and balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers. The consultation took place as part of the 25 Year Environment Plan ambition to eliminate avoidable plastic waste by 2042. The responses have now been […]
Defra has announced the 2022 bathing water results. The results summarise the compliance of coastal and inland designated bathing waters for England in 2022. In summary 97.1% met at least the minimum Bathing Water standard, and 72.1% met the ‘excellent’ standard, however 2.9% did not meet the minimum standard for bathing and are classed as […]
The Government has published the Marine Strategy Part Two: Updated Monitoring Progammes. The strategy sets out how the UK will move towards Good Environmental Status (GES) in our seas over the next 6 years and covers, as well as the updated monitoring programmes, the progress made since 2014 when the last monitoring programme was published. […]
We are pleased to announce that booking is now open. The North West Coastal Forum is working with the North West and North Wales Coastal Group and Our Future Coast to deliver a conference on climate change exploring the challenges facing the North West’s coastal communities and working with nature to adapt to coastal […]
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Defra has published a policy paper setting out its ambitions and a series of actions to reduce and, where possible, eliminate accidental capture and entanglement of sensitive marine species in fishing gear in UK waters. Sensitive marine species include seabirds, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), and sharks, skates and rays. Bycatch monitoring programmes in the […]
Closed 6th October 2022 The Department for Transport is seeking views and evidence for the optimal pathway to achieve net zero emissions in 2050 for the domestic maritime sector, and barriers to maritime decarbonisation and the technological, operational and policy options that could be employed to address these barriers. The consultation also provides a space for […]
IMPORTANT UPDATE: In light of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and as a mark of respect to the National Mourning period of the UK, it has been decided by the ISMF Committee to postpone the virtual conference, which was due to take place on 15th September, until Friday 7th October 10.00 – 13.00. […]
Closes 28th September 2022 Defra has launched a consultation on proposals to designate pilot Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs), including a candidate site of Allonby Bay, Cumbria. In 2019 the UK Government commissioned an independent review, the Benyon Review, to explore the concept of HPMAs. The Review concluded that they are an essential component of […]
Closes 30th August 2022 Defra is consulting on the proposed principles of marine net gain. They are seeking views, in particular, from marine industries, recreational marine users, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), conservationists, academics, and coastal communities. In their response to the 2018 terrestrial Biodiversity Net Gain consultation, the government stated their intention to develop and consult […]