The Marine Management Organisation’s West of Walney Marine Conservation Zone (Specified Area) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2018 was signed off by Defra on 4th June 2019. The Byelaw came into force on 4th July 2019. The purpose of this byelaw is to protect habitats and communities in the specified area, as stated in the […]
Defra has announced the designation of the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). The latest designations of 41 new MCZs brings the overall total of MCZs in English waters to 91. In addition, new features have been added to 12 existing MCZs. The Government has announced that this essentially completes the UK ‘Blue Belt’ […]
Environment Minister, Thérèse Coffey, announced on the 9th April that the UK has joined 12 other signatories to the Coral Reef Life Declaration. The Coral Reef Life Declaration was launched by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Our Ocean conference in Malta in October 2017 with the aim of encouraging countries to come together to protect coral […]
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) have released guidance on seal watching which outlines precautions to take into consideration when watching or swimming with seals. Getting close to the seals is discouraged and the MMO detail the legislation that both grey seals and common/ harbour seals are protected in the form of Marine Protected Areas. With the […]
Deadline for written submissions: 7th October 2016, 5 p.m. (no longer than 3000 words, must be submitted via the online portal) The Environmental Audit Committee is calling for evidence on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the UK and the Overseas Territories. This inquiry follows on from two previous inquiries: Marine Protected Areas and Sustainability in […]
Twenty three new Marine Conservation Zones were announced on Sunday 17th January, including two for the North West: Allonby Bay and West of Walney, both in Cumbria. Allonby Bay has been designated for blue mussel beds, honeycomb worm reef peat and a range of habitats such as peat and clay exposures. It is an inshore […]
The Welsh Government has designated its first Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in the waters around Skomer Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. Skomer Island was originally designated as a Marine Nature Reserve in 1990 but this designation is automatically altered to an MCZ due to the commencement of provisions in the Marine and Coastal Access Act […]
The winter 2014 edition of the Solway Firth Newsletter: Tidelines is now available to download from the Solway Firth Partnership website. The newsletter provides information on the following topics – Making the Most of the Coast Project, Solway’s AONB, plastic debris in the coastal and marine environment, Cumbria’s Marine Conservation Zones, Manx Wildlife Trust, Cally […]
The Solent Forum has issued its newsletter for winter 2013/14. The newsletter provides news items relating to the Solent Disturbance and Mitigation (SDMP) project, DEFRA’s newly published Concordat, the Coastal Communities Adapting to Change (CCATCH) project, The Green Blue Guide to Pump Out Systems, consent changes for navigational dredging activities, the Marine Navigation Act, Maritime […]
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for farming, food and marine environment, George Eustice, MP, has recently declared the designation of 27 new Marine Protected Zones, adding to the 500 already existing in UK seas. Plans are being developed to designate two more tranches of Marine Conservation Zones over the next three years to enhance the […]