New statistics released by DEFRA on the quality of bathing water around England have shown that swimming waters are the cleanest since records began. 413 beaches and lakes were tested around the country of which 98.5% of those passed standards with 93.2% of those being rated ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, an increase of over 5% since […]
UK water companies have recently complained to Trading Standards regarding branding on items such as flushable wet wipes stating that they are contributing towards blockages in sewer systems. It is estimated that it costs £88 million per year to unblock sewers mainly caused by wet wipes and other hygiene products. Those companies who acted recently […]
Closes 3rd January 2017 This consultation is being conducted on behalf of the five UK and Isle of Man Fisheries Administrations. It seeks views on the introduction of new management measures in the queen scallop fishery in ICES divisions VIa (north coast of Northern Ireland and western Scotland) and VIIa (Irish Sea). The purpose of […]
Natural Resources Wales has recently produced their firth Water Framework Directive update. The newsletter is filled with examples of projects which are delivering a better water environment for the people, environment and businesses of Wales. The newsletter includes: River Basin Management Plan Update Water Watch Wales The restoration of afforested deep peat on the Welsh Government Woodland […]
‘The Crown Estate has recently supported work which improves general knowledge of the physical processes off the Suffolk coast. The objective of the most recent study, carried out for The Crown Estate by HR Wallingford, was to provide a new baseline of information for the stretch of coastline from the mouth of the river Deben, […]
The Environmental Audit Committee has launched an inquiry into the Future of the Natural Environment after the EU Referendum. Issues include the future of funding for biodiversity and agri-environment schemes, the likely changes in the devolved administration, and the role that managed rewilding can play in conservation and restoration. The inquiry is still currently open and […]
The updated State of Nature Report has been published with the RSPB as a key partner in the report. 50 wildlife organisations have worked together to produce the report which provides a progress report for the UKs native wildlife. Key findings from the report are summarised here: Between 1970 and 2013, 56% of species declined, […]
The Capturing Our Coast (CoCoast) team have launched a national survey to look at sperm puddles on the shore produced by lugworms. This is what CoCoast are asking citizen scientists to do: “The lugworm Arenicola marina is an important food source for birds and valuable for intertidal fisheries as they are used for fishing bait. […]
City to Sea have recently launched a campaign called #SwitchTheStick which is currently petitioning against using plastic in cotton buds. Cotton buds are increasingly being washed up on beaches around the world as it is thought that people flush them down the toilet which then make their way through our sewers and eventually into the sea. These […]
Sea Changers are welcoming applications for grants for marine conservation projects to be started in 2017. Allocated grants can be up to £1,000 and will aim to supporting grass roots and community based projects and must fall within the following categories: Marine Reserves/Protected Marine Areas Direct Marine Clean-up Action Education, Campaigning and Raising Awareness Species Protection […]