Category: Featured News

First Three-year Progress Report on NW Inshore and Offshore Marine Plans Published. This report reviews the progress made in meeting the aims of the North West Inshore and North West Offshore Marine Plan and the UK Marine Policy Statement. The north west inshore marine plan area stretches from the Solway Firth border with Scotland to… Read more »

Herring Knowledge Wanted! Bangor University FisHistory Project is investigating the history of the Irish Sea herring fishery and where they spawn using centuries of historical records (e.g., nautical charts, old newspaper records, parliamentary reports) with modern scientific data and local ecological knowledge. Their area of interest is the Irish Sea, in particular the Solway and… Read more »

Consultation Now Open on Part 1 of the UK Marine Strategy. This consultation seeks input on the third update of the UK Marine Strategy Part 1, which outlines the UK Government and Devolved Administrations’ approach to achieving Good Environmental Status (GES) in UK marine waters. The update provides an assessment of the state of UK… Read more »

Help Shape Nature Recovery in Cumbria. The LNRS has been produced collaboratively by those who live in, work in, or visit Cumbria, and will help us all to take action to create more places where wildlife and people can thrive. To take part in the consultation scan the QR code below or click here.  

Government to Introduce Legislation on High Seas Treaty by end of year. The Government will introduce a bill by the end of the year, to enable ratification of the BBNJ Agreement (sometimes referred to as the High Seas Treaty), the Marine Minister has announced today (Tuesday 10th June 2025). Reinvigorating the UK’s international leadership on… Read more »

Fisheries and Seafood Scheme Reopens in England. The latest round of the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) in now open, supporting projects that strengthen England’s seafood sector and support economic growth while enhancing nature recovery. Administered by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of Defra, around £6 million in funding is open to seafood… Read more »

Consultation on New Measures to Protect Sensitive Habitats and Species in 30,000 km² of English Seas. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is consulting on proposed fisheries management measures to protect some of England’s most sensitive marine ecosystems, habitats and species. On 9 June 2025, the government announced plans to extend bans on the use of bottom towed… Read more »

Government Proposes to Extend Ban on Destructive Bottom Trawling. The government is committed to protecting our oceans and today (Monday 9th June) has outlined plans to ban the destructive practice in more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The measures would help protect rare marine animals, as well as the delicate seabeds on which they rely, from… Read more »

A Great Opportunity to Work for Solway Firth Partnership. A rarely available opportunity to manage the Solway Firth Partnership (SFP) during exciting expansion! SFP is seeking a replacement Partnership Manager at a time of significant increase to its budget, personnel numbers and projects. Due to the current Manager’s planned retirement in December 2025, we are… Read more »

Consultation on Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy. Sectoral Marine Planning provides a framework for the sustainable development of offshore wind energy in Scotland’s marine environment. The draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) sets out an integrated planning framework for both the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds alongside… Read more »