The UK Government has published a report on the impact of their Blue Belt programme over the last decade. It shows how the Government’s £20 million Blue Belt Programme, and collaboration with the UK Overseas Territories, has improved protection and management of key marine ecosystems. n 2016, only 5% of the world’s ocean was formally […]
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 […]
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. […]
A historic resolution was reached at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi on 2nd March. Representatives from 175 nations endorsed a resolution to end plastic pollution and create an international legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including production, design and disposal. As well as climate change implications and […]
Over the summer of 2020 the Irish Sea Maritime Forum, supported by the University of Liverpool, conducted an online survey to develop a comprehensive picture of the future for the Irish Sea and its communities on a whole Irish Sea scale. The aim of the survey was to discover and extend understanding of what makes […]
The Pew Charitable Trusts have published a report which presents a global analysis of plastic flows into the ocean now and in the future and a pathway towards collectively solving plastic pollution. The report was prepared by The Pew Charitable Trusts and SYSTEMIQ, working with a panel of 17 global experts, the University of Oxford, […]
OSPAR has published a scoping study on best practices for the design and recycling of fishing gear as a means to reduce quantities of fishing gear found as marine litter in the North East Atlantic. Both unintentional and intentional loss of fishing gear at sea result in marine litter and negative environmental impacts. The study […]
This survey is now closed. The Irish Sea Maritime Forum, supported by the University of Liverpool, is conducting an Irish-sea wide survey to look to the future and the changing context of the Irish Sea in the 2020s. The aim is to develop a comprehensive picture of the future for the Irish Sea and […]
Book by Friday 11th January – some places still available at this free conference which considers marine planning, marine protected areas and climate change at an Irish Sea-wide scale. The aim of the event is to bring together stakeholders from across the Irish Seas to to learn about issues of current and shared interest and […]
The Irish Sea Maritime Forum has published a newsletter for Summer 2018. This includes updates on: The continuing role of Senator Gerry Horkan as ISMF Chairman The Future Celtic Seas Collaboration workshop which took place last year and follow-up activities, such as the ISMF Key Stakeholder Review European Maritime and Fisheries Funding (EMFF) applications The […]