National News

Consultation on the proposed Cockle Fisheries Management Plan

NW Coastal Forum

Closes 19 Jan 2025 Defra is seeking views on the proposed cockle Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), its policies and proposed actions. They are also seeking views on the likely environmental effects of the FMP, as set out in the environmental report.  The cockle FMP sets out a pathway to the long-term sustainable management of the cockle fisheries […]

Consultation on Wrasses Complex FMP and Black Seabreams FMP

NW Coastal Forum

Closing date 31 January 2025 The Marine Management Organisation is inviting stakeholders to take part in an online survey to help inform two Fisheries Management Plans (FMP) being developed for English waters. The survey covers: Wrasses complex FMP– which includes ballan wrasse, corkwing wrasse, cuckoo wrasse, goldsinny wrasse and rock cook wrasse. Black seabream FMP – which […]

Consultation on the proposed Queen Scallop Fisheries Management Plan

NW Coastal Forum

Closes 19 Jan 2025 Defra is seeking views on the proposed queen scallop Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) in English waters, its policies and proposed measures. They are also seeking your views on the likely environmental effects of the FMP, as set out in the environmental report.  The queen scallop FMP sets out a pathway to the […]

Marine Delivery Routemap and the Future of Offshore Wind Reports

NW Coastal Forum

The Crown Estate has been working with stakeholders to develop initial plans for a Marine Delivery Routemap. The Marine Delivery Routemap report outlines how The Crown Estate is collaborating with partners to create a Routemap that provides a coordinated, long-term view for meeting future demands on the UK seabed – enabling the growth of offshore […]

Closed – Consultation on Introducing Highly Protected Marine Areas in Scotland

NW Coastal Forum

Consultation closes 20 March 2023 The Scottish Government is consulting on the introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in Scottish waters. Through the Bute House Agreement the Scottish Government has to designate at least 10% of Scotland’s seas as HPMAs by 2026. The intention is that the HPMAs will provide high levels of protection for conservation […]

Closed – Review of consents for major energy infrastructure projects and Special Protection Areas, 2022

NW Coastal Forum

Consultation close 11:45 pm, 31 January 2023 The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is carrying out a 4 week consultation seeking views on a draft report ‘Review of Consents for Major Infrastructure Projects and Special Protection Areas’. The review is required as a result of new or updated Special Protection Area designations. […]

3 New Offshore Wind Energy Schemes in the Irish Sea Announced

NW Coastal Forum

The Crown Estate has announced that Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 Agreements for Lease signing concluded in January 2023. Three of the six leases agreed are in the Irish Sea (the others being in the North Sea). The combined capacity of the 6 is around 8 GW being produced by the end of the decade. […]

Research report on marine debris pathways for non-native species into UK waters

NW Coastal Forum

Scientists from CEFAS – the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science – have published pioneering research modelling how non-native species can be transported across the ocean on floating marine debris. They used a novel modelling approach, adapting a computer model originally designed to predict the distribution of oil following an oil spill, to uncover […]

Government to ban the supply of unnecessary single-use plastic items

NW Coastal Forum

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 […]

2022 Bathing Water Results

NW Coastal Forum

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 […]