INDEX
CONSULTATIONS
CONSULTATION OUTCOMES
UK NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PROJECTS AND RESEARCH
PUBLICATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
CONSULTATIONS
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The Environmental Audit Committee will consider the nature, scale and impacts of nitrate pollution on the environment and human life, and review the government’s approach to the regulation of the chemicals concerned and its approach to reducing them.
The Committee has recently invited written submissions on the following key questions:
Access the inquiry here
Environment Secretary announces plans to consult on a new, independent body for environmental standards
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Plans to consult on a new, independent body that would hold government to account for upholding environmental standards in England after we leave the European Union have now been set out.
Leaving the EU gives us the opportunity to put the environment at the heart of policy making, while ensuring vital protections for our landscapes, wildlife and natural assets are not only maintained but enhanced. To help deliver a Green Brexit, ministers will consult on a new independent, statutory body to advise and challenge government and potentially other public bodies on environmental legislation – stepping in when needed to hold these bodies to account and enforce standards.
A consultation on the specific powers and scope of the new body will be launched early next year.
One of the key questions, which will be explored with the devolved administrations, is whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wish to take a different or similar approach.
Read more here
CONSULTATIONS OUTCOMES
New rules to tackle diffuse water pollution from agriculture in England
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Defra received 183 responses to this consultation. They have now revised the rules to make them more practical and easier to follow, and expect the new rules for all farmers in England to come into force on 2 April 2018. Defra have published a simple overview factsheet, together with full details of the rules.
[The consultation ran from 30 September 2015 to 23 November 2015. Defra wanted to know what you thought about some proposed new rules for all farmers to help reduce water pollution from agriculture.]
Read more here
Banning the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Defra received 431 responses to this consultation.
September 2017 update: Defra have now drafted the law which they intend to use to bring this ban into force in England by the end of the year. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will introduce separate laws according to their own timescales to make sure that the ban will apply across the whole of the UK.
UK NEWS
(Posted 18 January 2018)
A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment sets out what Defra will do to improve the environment, within a generation.
The environment plan sets out Defra’s goals for improving the environment, leaving it in a better state than they found it. It details how the government will work with communities and businesses to do this. It sets out what they will be doing over the next 25 years. Alongside the plan, Defra have also published three detailed, technical annexes. If you want to receive updates on the 25 Year Plan, you can register as a stakeholder. The Plan sits alongside two other important government strategies: the Industrial Strategy and the Clean Growth strategy.
See the plan here.
See At a glance: summary of targets in our 25 year environment plan here
Source of information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan
(Posted 18 January 2018)
From 2 April 2018 new rules for all farmers in England will be introduced to help protect water quality, by standardising good farm practices that many are already performing and offering a new approach to regulation.
In essence the rules require farmers to:
Farmers and land managers will be able to determine what approach is best for their land, through methods such as deciding when it is safe to spread fertilisers.
The farming rules for water were drawn up with farming and environment stakeholders to recognise and build on the good progress that a great many farmers have made in trying to tackle pollution. There are eight rules, five about managing fertilisers and manures and three on managing soils. The Environment Agency will roll out the rules through an advice led approach, working with farmers to meet the requirements before enforcement action is taken.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-farming-rules-for-water
(Posted 18 January 2018)
This plan sets out how the government will reform the way they manage water abstraction, to protect the environment and improve access to water. The plan summarises how they will work with abstractors to make these changes.
The main document summarises all the planned changes. More detailed information, covering specific sectors, is also provided in the documents.
If you want to share your views on the approach set out in the plan please contact abstraction@defra.gsi.gov.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/water-abstraction-plan-2017
Penzance wins first plastic-free status award to help clean up beaches
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Penzance has become the first community in the UK to be awarded ‘plastic-free’ status after dozens of residents and business people backed a grassroots scheme aimed at helping clean up oceans and beaches.
As part of a campaign being run by the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), the town has been given ‘plastic-free coastlines approved’ status. Shops, cafes and visitor attractions have reduced single-use plastics and children and adults have taken part in beach cleans. The town’s status was confirmed after the town council voted to support the initiative.
Another 100 communities across the UK are taking part in SAS’s plastic-free coastlines scheme and working towards the status, which has been inspired by the fair trade and transition town schemes.
Read more here
Blue Belt extended to protect rare seabirds
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Government announces two new marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and extensions to four other sites to safeguard rare seabirds. Nearly 150,000 rare seabirds – including the iconic little tern and black-throated diver – will be better protected as the UK’s ‘Blue Belt’ of marine protected areas extends by over 650 square miles.
A newly classified marine SPA will come into force along a 24 mile stretch of coast from Falmouth Bay to St Austell Bay in Cornwall. The area is the UK’s most important site for the wintering black throated diver. This new protection will help to minimise disturbance to the feeding areas and marine habitats the birds rely on, providing a safe haven where they can spend the winter. A further marine SPA has been announced in the Irish Sea between the Isle of Man and Anglesey – home to over 12,000 Manx shearwaters – while four other sites have been extended around the UK, ranging from Liverpool Bay in the north-west of England, Poole Harbour on the south coast, and the Outer Thames Estuary near London.
These latest designations will help to safeguard the feeding grounds of over one quarter of the UK’s breeding population of little terns and bring the UK’s total number of marine SPAs to 106. The sites form part of the government’s ongoing commitment to create a ‘Blue Belt’ of protected areas around the UK’s coast – with over 23 per cent of UK waters already protected and with more than 300 sites across the UK.
Read more at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/blue-belt-extended-to-protect-rare-seabirds
Background: The Blue Belt programme supports delivery of the UK government’s commitment to provide long term protection of over four million square kilometres of marine environment across the UK Overseas Territories.
It provides £20 million of funding over 4 years (2016 to 2020) to:
Access the Blue Belt programme here
Scotland’s new environment website goes live
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Scotland’s environment web team has been working hard over the past year to find out what you – the user – would like from Scotland’s leading environmental information and data portal. Following lots of discussions, testing, redesign and further testing, the new website is now live.
So what’s new on the website?
https://www.environment.gov.scot/
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The network was initiated at the beginning of November 2017 and is funded by a NERC Fellowship, in response to the growing need for wider stakeholder understanding and involvement in the field of microplastics research. The aim for the network is to gather and distribute information and connect stakeholders, to more efficiently advance understanding of microplastics as a pollutant and develop strategies for tackling the issue through integrated working. The network is fully inclusive and open to any interested parties, including academia, government, industry, charities, consultancies and more.
Microplastic-relevant updates including published reports, conference announcements, funding opportunities, policy updates and more will be sent to those on the network list. For additional updates and items of interest you can follow the @UK_Microplastic Twitter account.
Alice Horton, Ecotoxicologist and NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow at CEH, is managing the network – contact her if you would like to join.
New centre for sustainable aquaculture aims to unlock solutions to global food security
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures has been launched today with an ambition of bringing together world-leading scientists to ensure the key challenges facing sustainable growth of the aquaculture industry are better understood, both at home and internationally. The centre (a collaboration between Cefas and the University of Exeter) will focus on aquatic animal health, food safety and protection of the aquatic environment – in support of international food security and sustainable ‘blue’ growth.
Read more here
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The Catchment Data Explorer helps you explore and download information about the water environment. It supports and builds upon the data in the river basin management plans. You can find catchments and water bodies of interest using a map or searching by name. You can also view summary information about catchments, and follow links to other useful sites.
The Explorer was updated in September 2017. This version supports a new API for access to the data together with a beta data downloader tool. The downloader allows you to select water bodies on a map or using your own GIS file, and download filtered data for your selection.
http://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/
Natural Course – progress so far…
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Over two years ago the Natural Course project began its 10-year journey on the EU LIFE funded project. Since starting the project in October 2015, highlights include hosting a Water Platform event and supporting the GM Natural Capital Group Annual Conference, planting 12,000 trees, surveying 40 km of urban river for bird life in the Irwell Catchment, facilitating 7 farmer groups to look at water quality, as well as mapping Natural Flood Management opportunities for three Cumbrian catchments, the Irwell catchment and the Mersey catchment.
Moving forward into phase two, the locations of two of the Defra Pioneers have been identified within the footprint of the project and will offer great opportunities for shared learning in the future of the project.
http://naturalcourse.co.uk/2017/10/23/natural-course-2-years-on/
£28,220 penalty for release of non-native species
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The fine was imposed because of a breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The court heard how, in June 2015, 361 live American lobsters and 35 Dungeness crabs were released off Brighton on the Sussex coast by a party of over 100 Buddhists as part of a religious ceremony. The lobsters were procured from a specialist fish merchant in London. The action was contrary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which is in place to protect indigenous species from invasion by non-native species.
When the release was discovered, swift action by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) working with the local fishing industry led to a significant number of the non-native animals being recovered. Compensation was awarded to the MMO to pay for the action to recover the non-native species. Commenting on the prosecution a spokesman for the MMO said: ‘The size of the fines in this case recognises the significant risk to the marine environment posed by offences of this nature. The MMO would like to thank both the local fishing industry for their significant assistance in the recovery of the animals from our seas and the Buddhist community for their help in communicating and educating people on the risks posed by the release of non-native species into our waters’.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/28220-penalty-for-release-of-non-native-species
Salmon in Derbyshire river is a first since the Industrial Revolution
(Posted 18 January 2018)
A salmon population is spreading in Derbyshire due to improved water quality and removal of barriers. Atlantic salmon have been discovered on the River Ecclesbourne, a tributary of the River Derwent in Derbyshire, for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, following work carried out by the Environment Agency and its partners.
The discovery comes following the installation of fish passes on the River Derwent by the EA and the Trent Rivers Trust which have helped to improve fish migration and allow the salmon to move upstream through the river. The installation of fish passes is just one of a programme of actions carried out by the EA and its partners to remove barriers to migration and help restore salmon stocks throughout England.
Poor water quality and weirs on the River Derwent constructed during the Industrial Revolution acted as a barrier to fish migration and left them stuck in unsuitable water. Weirs not only stop fish migrating, but trap fish spawning gravels and create ponded areas upstream which are not suitable for riverine fish species.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/salmon-in-derbyshire-river-a-first-since-industrial-revolution
Predicting the future location and potential value of sites of aquaculture development
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Aquaculture has the potential to be one of the fastest growing English maritime sectors. The Marine Management Organisation has developed initial approaches to predicting where aquaculture may occur and applied these within the East and South marine plan areas. There is the potential to enhance approaches to improve predictions for the potential for aquaculture development nationally.
The consideration should include an estimate of the economic values of aquaculture at each site. Valuation techniques should incorporate emerging aquaculture products eg seaweed, pharmaceuticals and techniques such as multi-trophic aquaculture or offshore cages.
Read more here
United Utilities fined £666,000 for polluting river with raw sewage
(Posted 18 January 2018)
United Utilities has been ordered to pay a fine of £666,000 in after pleading guilty to polluting a river with untreated sewage effluent in Greater Manchester. The Environment Agency took the prosecution against the water company after sewage polluted the River Medlock having a significant impact on fish population and water quality over a distance of four kilometres.
It was a member of the public who initially reported the pollution in the River Medlock at Park Bridge, Ashton-Under-Lyne on 14 October 2014 to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline. In total United Utilities estimated that 21,700 cubic metres of sewage discharged into the water.
A report commissioned by United Utilities found that the incident had a detrimental impact on brown trout and had the potential to reduce the fish population the following year. United Utilities admitted that their control centre had received an alarm about the discharge three days before, but the fault had not been recognised.
In mitigation United Utilities told the court of the steps they had taken to prevent a reoccurrence of this incident.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/united-utilities-fined-666000-for-polluting-river-with-raw-sewage
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
UN commits to stop ocean plastic waste
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Nations have agreed that the world needs to completely stop plastic waste from entering the oceans. The UN resolution, although sealed, has no timetable and is not legally binding. But ministers at an environment summit in Kenya believe it will set the course for much tougher policies and send a clear signal to business. A stronger motion was rejected after the US would not agree to any specific, internationally agreed goals.
Under the proposal, governments would establish an international taskforce to advise on combating what the UN's oceans chief has described as a planetary crisis.
One contentious issue is the wish of delegates to include businesses on the global taskforce. Ministers say the problem will not be solved without business, but green groups point out that some firms in the plastics industry have been lobbying against restrictions for decades. Certainly, there has been a flurry of resistance from plastics firms to the bans occurring across Africa.
South Africa and Cameroon are the latest to declare a tax on the thin bags which strew Africa's fields and cities. Nations with a near total ban include Mauretania, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritius, Zanzibar and Uganda. Bangladesh imposed a ban in 2002 after plastic bags blocked drains and contributed to major floods. Sri Lanka and others adopted a ban for similar reasons.
Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-42239895
Creating a Blue Belt around Tristan da Cunha
(Posted 18 January 2018)
As part of the Blue Belt programme the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) are working in partnership with the Tristan da Cunha Overseas Territory to ensure their waters are effectively protected, managed and monitored.
One of the challenges facing maritime administrations across the world is the problem of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing (IUU). One of the biggest issues the Tristan da Cuhna administration have identified is the problem of IUU. This is estimated to cost the global economy $20bn annually, and is a cover for other illegal activities such as slavery and smuggling. It robs legitimate fishermen and governments of revenue; undermines the accuracy of fisheries’ stock assessments and thwarts efforts to manage marine fisheries responsibly. It is also damaging to the legitimate, local fishing industry, undermining productivity and in some cases precipitating the collapse of vital local industries. Ultimately, IUU threatens the stability of coastal communities that rely on the sustainable, legal trade.
The Blue Belt project is developing a number of projects across all our overseas territories which aim to:
There are a number of innovative projects currently taking place on the island of Tristan da Cuhna. In connection with IUU, a project is being undertaken that reviews how we can work with local fisheries officers to best utilise data from a satellite based vessel-tracking system called the Automatic Identification System (AIS). We are also working with the Tristan da Cunha government to incorporate data from AIS with other intelligence to better target monitoring and enforcement activities.
Read more here
PROJECTS & RESEARCH
Insights for urban planning – constructed wetlands sited near industry are exposed to high levels of pollution
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Constructed wetlands serve as a cost-effective and multi-purpose option for storm-water treatment in urban landscapes, offering flood protection as well as wildlife habitat. However, a new study shows that when nearby land-use includes industry, wetlands can accumulate high levels of pollution and potentially become toxic to wildlife. This new piece of research offers important insights for the planning and management of wetlands.
Read more here
Tackling mercury pollution in the EU and worldwide
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Mercury is a heavy metal occurring on earth in various forms. It can be converted from one form to another by natural processes, and, once released, actively cycles in the environment for hundreds to thousands of years before being buried in sediment. It is well known for being the only metal that is liquid at room temperature and normal pressure. Mercury is also a potent neurotoxin with severe global human health impacts.
This In-Depth Report from Science for Environment Policy summarises the latest scientific studies and research results on mercury pollution in the global environment. Five main topics are addressed:
Access the report here
Warming in the Channel leads to a decline in cold-water fish
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Results from a long-term study of fish communities in the Bay of Somme in the English Channel show that numbers of cold-water fish, such as dab and plaice, have been dropping since 1998, as sea temperatures have risen. The researchers say this is evidence of ‘tropicalisation’ in an English Channel ecosystem. The findings may have implications for conservation policies in the Bay, which is a Marine Protected Area designated under the Natura 2000 programme, as well as other marine sites affected by warming.
Read more here
‘Marine noise budgets’ – a new method to manage the impact of underwater noise
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Cefas scientists have published a study which proposes a new methodology to manage the impact of underwater noise on marine life. The work ‘Marine Noise Budgets in Practice’, published in the journal Conservation Letters, allows policy makers to measure how much noise pollution a particular marine species or protected area is exposed to, and to set targets to manage pollution levels.
Underwater noise pollution can disturb or injure many marine animals, from the largest whales down to microscopic zooplankton. The study will assist ongoing efforts in the UK to better manage underwater noise. Noise can be produced by activities such as shipping, sonar, explosions, pile driving (eg to construct offshore wind farms) and geophysical surveys (eg to look for oil and gas beneath the seabed).
Read more here
Research at the Environment Agency
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Evidence underpins the work of the EA. This includes improving the quality of the environment and reducing the impact of hazards such as pollution, floods, droughts and climate change. The EA’s research provides the understanding, tools and techniques needed to achieve these outcomes.
Included here are links to:
The research team’s work includes:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about/research
Developing DNA techniques to identify freshwater invertebrates for environmental monitoring
(Posted 18 January 2018)
A PhD student at Bangor University, co-funded by the Environment Agency, has taken us closer to using DNA analysis for routine monitoring of freshwater macroinvertebrates. The project successfully used new techniques to analyse environmental DNA (eDNA) released by organisms into water, for example in skin or faeces, to identify invertebrate species that are used as indicators of water quality.
With further developments this approach should offer a quicker, cheaper and more effective way to carry out this important part of the EA’s environmental monitoring work. The project was part of a wider programme of research by UK agencies to develop DNA-based methods for environmental monitoring.
Read more here
Small water-bodies, freshwater biodiversity and catchment management
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Small water-bodies are now recognized as a vital habitat for freshwater plants and animals and recent evidence shows that they are also critical for successful catchment management.
Small water-bodies include headwater streams, springs, flushes, ditches, small lakes and ponds. These can be found in all landscapes, often in abundance, and tend to be very varied in their characteristics and the species they support. For small waters, it really is the landscape scale that matters. Take ponds, for example: at the catchment scale they collectively support more plant and invertebrate species than other, larger types of water bodies like rivers. This pattern holds true everywhere that water body types have been compared, including Spain, France, Denmark and various parts of the UK. This is because of the variety of conditions they offer compared to the more homogenous habitats of larger waters, which drain much larger catchment areas.
Read more here
New nanomaterials could purify water contaminated with heavy metals
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Researchers have analysed the ability of two organic nanomaterials to remove the heavy metal chromium from water. In the laboratory, the nanomaterials successfully took up around 95% of the chromium. Further work is needed to confirm the feasibility of using these nanomaterials to purify water in real-world conditions.
Read more here
Tall sedge in biofiltration systems removes the majority of dissolved phosphorus from greywater
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The pathways for removal of dissolved phosphorus within biofiltration systems were examined in a new study. Over 95% of phosphorus was removed over the study period, with the majority of phosphorus stored within plants. The researchers say the findings demonstrate the value of using suitable plant species within biofiltration systems to treat polluted water.
The majority of the phosphorus recovered within plants was stored in the sedge shoots, making up 50% of the phosphorus added to the system. Harvesting the sedge shoots is, therefore, a means of sustainably removing a large proportion of the pollutant phosphorus from the system. Following removal, the sedge shoots could be used as compost.
Read more here
Iron-coated brown seaweed used to remove arsenic from water
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The removal of arsenic from water using a brown seaweed (Sargassum muticum), coated with iron hydroxide, has been tested in a recent study. Under optimal pH conditions, the method removed 100% of the arsenic, indicating the viability of this method for treating contaminated water.
The researchers say this is probably the first test using iron treatment of seaweeds to remove arsenic. They say the main disadvantage of the new method was the leaching of iron from the seaweed into the water. However, this problem is mitigated by using a pH above 6, which also makes the treated water more suitable for uses such as irrigation.
Read more here
Additives used in alternative road salts may affect aquatic ecosystems
(Posted 18 January 2018)
A new study shows that run-off from de-icing road salts can affect freshwater aquatic ecosystems by increasing certain types of plankton. The study is the first to compare effects of the most popular road salt, sodium chloride, with the effects of alternative salts and additives used to increase de-icing efficiency. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that magnesium chloride and salt additives are used cautiously near water bodies.
Read more here
PUBLICATIONS
Heavy neonicotinoid insecticide contamination damaging British rivers
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The first analysis of new monitoring data reveals that British freshwaters are heavily contaminated with neonicotinoids. Half of the sites monitored in England exceed chronic pollution limits and two rivers are acutely polluted.
Aquatic insects are just as vulnerable to neonicotinoid insecticides as bees and flying insects, yet have not received the same attention because the UK government has not responded to calls to introduce systematic monitoring. However, under the EU Water Framework Directive ‘Watch List’ initiative, the UK was required to introduce a pilot monitoring scheme for all five commonly used neonicotinoids – Imidacloprid, Clothianidin, Thiamethoxam, Acetamiprid and Thiacloprid. Twenty-three sites were sampled in 2016, 16 in England, four in Scotland, three in Wales and three in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland data has yet to be released to the public.
88% of sites in Britain were contaminated with neonicotinoids, eight rivers in England exceeded recommended chronic pollution limits, and two were acutely polluted. Populations of mayflies and other insects in these rivers are likely to be heavily impacted, with implications for fish and bird populations.
Read the full report here
Source of article here
Persistent Organic Pollutants – Towards a POPs-free future
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The majority of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) identified until now are banned or restricted around the world owing to concerns about their harm to ecosystems and human health. However, this is not the end of the story: even long-banned POPs still linger in the environment; others are still in use and are being directly emitted; and new POPs may be identified for which we have limited information. This EU Future Brief from Science for Environment Policy presents recent research into POPs' potential impacts, the levels and future outlook for POPs in the environment and humans, and how we can reduce our use of POPs.
Read the report here
WWF publication: Flushed Away – How sewage is still polluting the rivers of England and Wales
(Posted 18 January 2018)
From the Executive Summary: Four out of five rivers in England and Wales fail to achieve ‘good ecological status’. The situation is poor and getting worse, and yet the EU Water Framework Directive – which the UK has signed up to – mandates that all waterbodies should achieve ‘good’ status by 2027 (except where costs outweigh the benefits). According to the Environment Agency that would equate to 75% of rivers in England. Clearly there is a long way to go. The pressures vary across the country but the water industry along with agriculture are the main sectors responsible for failing river health. Although the water industry has recently made great strides in cleaning up pollution from beaches, sewage remains one of the main pollutants in English and Welsh rivers. To find out why sewage is still a problem in our rivers, WWF launched a nine-month investigation into the entire sewerage system, how it works, its capacity, infrastructure and governance.
Access the report here
Water UK responded to the report: ‘There’s a genuine debate to be had about how we as a country are going to deal with sewage and drainage issues in future in a way which protects our environment, but WWF have muddied the waters with an inaccurate picture of what is going on. The report over-states the link between the health of our rivers and how water companies treat and dispose of sewage. For example, it makes no distinction between serious pollution incidents and those which the Environment Agency says have ‘minimal impact’, giving a false impression of the extent of the problem’. Read more here
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Nine new reports have been published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. They include work on monitoring guidance for marine benthic habitats, foraging areas for harbour seals, and population models used in marine mammal impact assessment.
Access the reports here
A vision for land and water management in the government’s 25 year environment plan
(Posted 18 January 2018)
This is a publication produced by CIWEM. In the introduction they state:
The government’s 25 year environment plan and subsequent reform of our agricultural system is an opportunity to bring together water, land and food into one overarching management framework with climate resilient environments, infrastructure and places to live and work.
To achieve the government’s ambitious target to leave the environment in a better state than was inherited, the plan should be genuinely cross-government with prime ministerial support and owned collectively by appropriate departments. This is vital so that policies across government are integrated to reach this common goal. In the past many of the environmental failures and declines have been, at least in part, because different functions within government have operated in isolation, failing to consider wider impacts of policies or decisions. The plan must also make the most of its 25 year time horizon, setting out a strong vision for the environment in the 2040s, as well as milestones so progress can be assessed, and plans and policies adjusted accordingly.
Access the report here
Seafood 2040 – A Strategic Framework for England
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Seafood 2040 has brought together stakeholders from across the seafood supply chain in pursuit of a single, compelling goal. This document is the result of that shared enterprise and sets out a vision for an industry that is sustainable and truly thriving in every sense of the word; a success story built on collaboration, innovation and best practice.
The vision of a thriving seafood industry with verifiably sustainable sourcing and recommended levels of consumption can only be achieved by a wide range of organisations working together. Whilst different sectors along the seafood supply chain can make a difference, others such as government policy makers and regulators, NGOs and campaigning groups also have a key role to play. The next step is to turn this vision into reality and with that in mind, the lead recommendation is the establishment of an all-sector Seafood Industry Leadership Group to drive forward this work, which will be established as quickly as possible to build on the momentum of this Strategic Framework.
‘Seafish’ is a Non-Departmental Public Body set up by the Fisheries Act 1981 to improve efficiency and raise standards across the seafood industry.
Access the report here
Future of the sea: the future of marine biodiversity
(Posted 18 January 2018)
This report summarises the evidence for trends in marine biodiversity and the implications for the UK and the Overseas Territories. It explores:
It was commissioned as part of the Foresight Future of the Sea project.
Access the report here
Future of the sea: hazardous chemicals and physical contaminants
(Posted 18 January 2018)
This report summarises what is known about the presence of pollution in the UK and its Overseas Territories, and its impacts. It explores:
It was commissioned as part of the Foresight Future of the Sea project.
Access the report here
Bathing waters in England – compliance reports
(Posted 18 January 2018)
These reports set out the annual classifications for bathing waters in England based on monitoring.
Access the report here
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The Blue Belt programme supports delivery of the UK government’s commitment to provide long term protection for the marine environment. This covers over four million square kilometres across the UK Overseas Territories.
It provides £20 million of funding over 4 years (2016 to 2020) to:
See the Blue Belt Programme here
Eel and elver passes: design and build
(Posted 18 January 2018)
Guidance for fish passes where existing obstructions prevent the safe passage of eel and elver travelling up stream. The manual includes criteria for prioritising sites and information on climbing substrates. It considers eel passage solutions at weirs, tidal flap gates and sluices.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eel-and-elver-passes-design-and-build
River habitat survey guidance manual
(Posted 18 January 2018)
River habitat surveys characterise and assess the features of freshwater rivers and streams. The manual was first published in 2013 and was last updated just recently (October 2017).
This document shows you how to do the survey:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-habitat-survey-guidance-manual
Finding funds for urban projects: A guide for catchment partnerships
(Posted 18 January 2018)
This guide, aimed at catchment partnership organisations working in urban areas, provides advice and new ideas to help secure more funding for catchment projects. It is based on research commissioned by the Environment Agency in 2017.
Raising money for any endeavour takes time and effort, but with planning, research, networking, and persuasive communication, you can increase your chances of success. The aim of this guide is to provide advice that will help you secure more funding for urban catchment projects. It covers the core areas required to prepare an effective funding plan: how to find funds; how to win funds; ideas for innovative approaches to funding. The document covers the following sections:
Big data provides new insights into life on the seabed
(Posted 18 January 2018)
The study ‘A big data approach to macrofaunal baseline assessment, monitoring and sustainable exploitation of the seabed’ has been published, providing a new insight into the distribution of seabed animal communities throughout UK, which will facilitate a new approach to monitoring the environmental effects of offshore industries.
The study collates and standardises nearly half a century of UK seabed grab survey data from multiple sources in industry and government, demonstrating the benefits of joined-up working between government and industry. The new approach uses this big dataset to better understand natural variability, which in turn will help to identify which impacts are likely to be ecologically significant. This will then allow developers to adapt their activity to make it more environmentally sustainable.
Details of the Regional Seabed Monitoring Plan are also provided; this is a new cost-effective approach for monitoring the impacts of marine aggregate dredging on the seabed. This plan aims to ensure that the seabed is left in a condition which will allow for recolonisation after dredging, thereby improving the environmental sustainability of this activity, whilst also reducing the survey effort for industry.
Read more here