Category: Featured News

Stranraer Harbourmaster’s Building Heritage Interpretation Commission   The Harbourmaster’s building on Stranraer waterfront has been the subject of a significant restoration and extension project as part of the CARS project enabled by funding from Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund and Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC). The building is a prominent… Read more »

The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2023 The Great Global Nurdle Hunt 2023 will be taking place this year from 1 – 31 October. Why are we still talking about nurdles? A special report by the Sunday Post has once again highlighted the nurdle pollution crisis along the Scottish coastline. It also highlights the impact this… Read more »

UK Proposes Measures to Protect Seabirds in English Waters in the North Sea Defra has today launched a consultation on proposed management measures for sandeel fishing within English waters, with the aim to reduce further negative impacts on important marine biodiversity. Sandeels are small, eel like fish that are a vital food source to vulnerable seabirds, commercially… Read more »

High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN After almost 20 years of talks, United Nations member states agree on legal framework for parts of the ocean outside national boundaries The historic treaty is crucial for enforcing the 30×30 pledge made by countries at the UN biodiversity conference in December,… Read more »

Quota cap removed for 2023 Fishers on the 440 under-10m vessels subject to an annual quota cap will not face the limitation for the remainder of 2023 following a decision by Defra and Marine Management Organisation (MMO). These vessels will now be able to fish up to the monthly limits in the same way as… Read more »

More action needed to protect the world’s ocean, announced the Environment Secretary on World Wildlife Day, 3 March. The Environment Secretary called for countries to join together to halt and reverse the loss of nature and protect at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. Following the historic agreement reached at the UN Biodiversity… Read more »

Highly Protected Marine Areas Announcement Defra has announced that it intends to designate the first three Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters. Defra received over 900 responses to the consultation on candidate sites, demonstrating strong and varied views. The responses, and further evidence also provided, have been analysed. The government intends to designate the… Read more »

Join the Herring Hunt in Scottish Waters! Join the “Herring Hunt”! Become a citizen scientist and record sightings of herring and co-occurring fish, seabirds, and marine mammals in Scottish inshore waters. Lets find out when, where and how often the Silver Darlings are around! Everyone – residents, schools, fishers, tour guides, and visitors – can… Read more »

Dumfries and Galloway Coastal Benefit Fund – Now Open for Applications Following Dumfries and Galloway Council Communities Committee meeting on Friday, Members have agreed to open for Round 4 of the Coastal Benefit Fund, which will see over £760k invested to directly benefit our Coastal Communities. The deadline for applications is mid-day on 27th March… Read more »

Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas(HPMA): consultation Scotland has an existing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network which covers 37% of our seas and includes sites of various designations: Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Marine Protected Areas (including MPAs for Nature Conservation as well as Historic MPAs and Demonstration and Research MPAs)…. Read more »