Prof. Callum Roberts writes in The Guardian, 15th February 2013: “Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Channel 4 TV show Fish Fight has begun a new series. In a stroke of good timing, the European parliament voted last week to phase out the wasteful discarding of fish at sea, the main target of the first series. So you could […]
» Reserves
- Prof. Callum Roberts explains why more MCZs are essential
- Better consultation on Norfolk Coast MCZs?
- Critics are less convinced by Minister’s defence of his MCZ policy
- UK Marine Minister, Richard Benyon, defends his MCZ policy
- Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall leads rally to Parliament for increased number of MCZs
- Newsletter January 2013
- 1/4 million people sign Wildlife Trust petition expressing disappointment over MCZ designations
- Public Consultation on MCZs
- East Anglian reaction to MCZ’s
- Flame shell reef in Scottish seas could be the world’s largest
- Marine Conservation Society says “UK’s MCZ plans are too limited”
- UK governments announces 31 new MCZs from of a possible list of 127 sites
- Should the UK’s Pitcairn Islands become the world’s largest no-take marine reserve?
- Coral Sea marine national park established
- Steps taken to strengthen marine reserves in Antarctica
- UK Government to take action to protect SACs from adverse effects of fishing
- Torbay council considers artificial reef scheme to promote marine wildlife
- Welsh Government calls for more time to determine its MCZs
- South Norfolk GP Meeting on MCZ
- The Clyde fishery needs more reserves and less trawling
Whilst DEFRA is already consulting on proposals for three MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone off Northumberland, two areas off Norfolk, whilst the Cromer Shoalshoal A sandbank or sandbar that makes the water shallow Beds and The Wash Approach may be taken forward for designation later. Norfolk County Council’s environment, transport and development overview and scrutiny panel […]
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The environment minister, Richard Benyon, has hit back at critics of the UK’s plans to protect England’s marine life, singling out campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as failing to understand the cost involved in creating dozens of “properly” protected marine conservation zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone). Writing in the Guardian on 8th March 2013, Benyon said the […]
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UK Marine Minister, Richard Benyon MP, writes in The Guardian, 8th March 2013: “Just off Beachy Head there is an area of the Channel where sea bream reproduce. This remarkable fish pairs with its mate and creates an area of seabed that it will defend for around six weeks until spawning has ceased. This is […]
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The TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has said it is “vital” that the government does more to protect UK seas as he led hundreds of campaigners in a march to Westminster. The presenter has urged ministers to increase the number of “marine conservation zones” (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone) after more than £8m was spent on identifying […]
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Our newsletter number 42 for January 2013 is now available here.
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The Wildlife Trusts announced, 22nd January 2013: “A huge wave of public support will shake Westminster today as a quarter of a million people call for greater protection for UK’s seas and coastline. 250,000 signatures on The Wildlife Trusts’ ‘Petition Fish’ will be presented to Natural Environment Minister, Richard Benyon at a Parliamentary reception at […]
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Environment Minister Richard Benyon announced in December the commencement of public consultation on Marine Conservation Zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone). The consultation document and annexes can be viewed at www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open You will already have seen comment and concern expressed on this under our Marine Reserves page which indicate that it will be a battle to […]
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Through DEFRA, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the government decided on Thursday 13th December 2012 which first sea areas were to be and were not to become Marine Conservation Zones (MCZsMCZ Marine Conservation Zone). In all, only 31 areas were selected as conservation zones where trawling and dredging would be prevented, a […]
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The discovery of a large shellfish reef on the west coast of the UK could be the biggest find of its kind in the world, experts believe. The reef made up of more than 100 million brightly coloured and rare flame shells, or Limaria hians, was found in Loch Alsh, a sea inlet between Skye […]
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The UK government has been accused of a “lack of ambition” to preserve the seas, ahead of an announcement about plans for a series of protected marine areas. A total of 127 potential marine conservation zones have been selected in a multimillion-pound programme involving wildlife groups, local coastal communities and marine industry representatives. The areas […]
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The UK’s sea life will be protected by 31 new conservation zones aimed at preventing trawling and dredging destroying life on the ocean floor, under plans announced by the government on Thursday. But ministers rejected advice to create 127 zones, including all the areas where no activity would have been allowed, leading campaigners to describe […]
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The Pew Environment Group and National Geographic have uncovered a spectacular underwater habitat around the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory that is home to the Bounty mutineers and their descendants. The two groups, along with the islanders, are calling on the UK government to make Pitcairn into the world’s largest no-take marine reserve. The […]
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On 16th November 2012, the Australian government proclaimed the Coral Sea Marine National Park as the second-largest fully protected marine reserve in the world and the largest in the domestic waters of any country. Spanning 502,238 square kilometers (193,915 square miles)—an area the size of Spain—these waters are home to one of the world’s last […]
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The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has held its annual meetings (2012) in Hobart, Australia, resulting in new measures strengthening marine conservation in the Southern Ocean. Main outcomes of CCAMLR’s annual meeting 2012 Research will be conducted in five Antarctic areas where little or no research has previously been carried out. […]
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Scallop dredgers and trawlers could be forced out of more than 200 protected marine sites in UK waters as a result of a new legal ruling by the government. The new interpretation of EU law on habitats and species, which has been forced on the government by environmental groups, could see scallop dredgers and trawlers […]
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A £1.2 million artificial reef financed by TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s production company could be built off the South Devon. The scheme, which has been given conditional approval by Torbay Council’s harbour committee, would see up to 1,000 concrete balls placed on the seabed off Torquay. Four areas have been earmarked as potential sites. Rick Parker, […]
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Earlier this year, the Welsh Government conducted a consultation setting out the science behind 10 potential highly protected site options. It sought to find out how proposed areas are used, how this might be affected by MCZMCZ Marine Conservation Zone designation and how any effects on communities could be minimised. Almost 7,000 responses, expressing a […]
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South Norfolk Green Party have organised a Public Meeting on Marine Conservation Zones to be held on Sunday, 18th November at 2.30 pm, at Long Stratton Methodist Church, Manor Road, Long Stratton, Norfolk NR15 2XS, at which you are welcomed to attend. The Agenda: Welcome by the Chair – Jake Ecclestone (5 mins) Model Letters […]
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At this year’s Arran Agriculture Show the mission of COAST (Community of Arran Seabed Trust) to establish an angler and creeler friendly marine protected area received support from woodcarver Marvin Elliott. He had carved a big cod out of a piece of drift beechwood. “This wooden fish is meant to be an eye-catching reminder of those days […]
