The Marine Management Organisation is launching a new round of engagement (iteration 2) on the draft visions and options for marine planning in each of the new Marine Plan areas – north west, north east, south west and south east. There will be full day workshops in each marine plan area supported by online engagement, […]

The North West Coastal Forum would like to wish all our web visitors and subscribers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

The Marine Management Organisation has published its latest Marine Planning Newsletter. It contains updates on the South and East Marine Plan areas, details of meetings with Jersey and French marine planners and news about what the MMO Marine Officers (Planning) have been up to in each of the remaining 4 marine plan regions, including the […]

The Marine Management Organisation has published new statutory guidance on berried lobsters and crawfish – i.e. those carrying eggs. The guidance states that from 1 October 2017 vessels registered in the UK must not fish for berried lobsters (Homarus gammarus) or crawfish (Palinurus elephas and Palinurus mauritanicus) within English waters and must not land lobsters or crawfish at English ports regardless […]

The Marine Management Organisation is advertising for new voluntary members for the North Western, North Eastern, Sussex, Southern and Cornwall Fisheries and Inshore Conservation Authorities (IFCA). The North Western IFCA is looking for three new members, particularly those with experience and interest in commercial or recreational fishing, the marine environment or other relevant interest and experience. […]

The Marine Management Organisation has published an engagement summary highlighting feedback for the marine plans iteration 1 following the spring workshops and other engagement during the development of marine plans for the North West, North East, South West and South East areas. It analyses the engagement in each of the 4 areas and summarises  stakeholder […]

SIMCelt – Supporting Implementation of Maritime Spatial Planning in the Celtic Seas – is a 2 year project running to December 2017 co-funded by the EU Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. It aims to promote practical cross-border cooperation between Member States on the implementation of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive in OSPSAR Region III: […]

Natural England has published an update on progress on the England Coast Path in the North West. Importantly the Gretna to Allonby stretch is at ‘determination stage’ with a decision by the Secretary of State expected in late 2017. Currently the independent planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State is inviting comments  by  midnight on 17th July on […]

Updated post-event: Following on from the successful Celtic Seas Partnership project and ongoing work through the SIMCelt project and Irish Sea Maritime Forum, the Irish Sea Maritime Forum held a discussion on future work on Thursday 13th July at the University of Liverpool. This discussion brought at range of stakeholders together to develop mechanisms for future […]

OK – so this is not a week – as usual it’s a whole fortnight of marine goodness to enjoy! The theme this year is ‘The Sea and Me’ and we are all encouraged to explore our relationship with the sea. National Marine Week is organised by the Wildlife Trusts across England. For news and […]