From October 1st 2020 a ban on the supply of plastic straws and stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds, has come into force in England. It has been estimated that 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used each year and many of these end up in the […]
Natural England has published its priorities for nature recovery for the period 2020 to 2025. They will achieve the aims outlined in the document through 4 strategic programmes: • Resilient Landscapes and Seas • Sustainable Development • Greener Farming and Fisheries • Connecting People with Nature The document explains how Natural England will work with […]
Closed 15th December 2020 The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is asking stakeholders in the north west of England to take part in the annual monitoring survey to gather baseline information on the draft North West Marine Plan. This is the first time the MMO has run the survey in the north west and they will […]
Closed 23:45, 17th November 2020 Defra, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are seeking views on the updated marine monitoring programmes for the state of the UK’s seas. The proposed monitoring programmes will be used to gather evidence on the status of different parts of the UK marine environment to […]
Closed 1st November 2020 The Welsh Government is consulting on proposals to introduce: an authorisation scheme for licenced and registered UK vessels fishing for whelks (Buccinum undatum) with pots in the Welsh zone an annual limit on the total amount of whelk that can be taken from the Welsh zone a flexible monthly landing cap […]
The Environment Agency has published a strategy setting out a vision of a nation ready for, and resilient to, flooding and coastal change – today, tomorrow and to the year 2100. It sits alongside the Government’s policy statement on flood and coastal erosion risk management (see separate news item). The National FCERM Strategy sets out […]
This policy statement sets out the Government’s policy on flood and coastal erosion risk management and their long-term ambition to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. It forms part of their wider commitment to tackle climate change. It has been informed by the Environment Agency’s consultation exercise on the […]
Closed 22nd October 2020 The Welsh Government is seeking views on proposals to ban nine single use plastic products. The aim is to help address the environmental damage caused by inappropriate disposal of these products. Under the proposals businesses would be banned from providing these products to end users (consumers) in Wales. The items are […]
Closed 19th August, 5 p.m. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism has launched an inquiry into ‘Coasts and Waters.’ Responses will inform a report from the APPG making recommendations to Government. The consultation covers: What, if any, distinct concerns do costal or lakeside businesses have from other hospitality businesses? How can demand be […]
Consultation closed 23:45 on 2 October 2020 The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is seeking views on proposed Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration, Production, Unloading and Storage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2020 which would replace the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999. The proposed regulations amend the offshore […]