INDEX

CONSULTATIONS

UK NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PROJECTS & RESEARCH

PUBLICATIONS

Reports from Events

 

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

CONSULTATIONS

Information from Defra:

Currently there are no open consultations.

You can see details of closed consultations on Defra’s website at:

(https://consult.defra.gov.uk/)   

 

UK NEWS

england’s waters cleanest since records began as bathing season begins

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Press release from Defra:

England’s bathing season is officially open – and its best-loved seas and lakes are cleaner than ever. Last year, the English coast was the cleanest since records began, with 99.5% of swimming spots passing water quality tests compared to just 65% in 1988. However, England’s beaches will be under the microscope this summer as much tougher new EU standards come into force. The new European standards will be twice as tough to pass in a bid by the EU to drive up standards across Europe. In response the Environment Agency is urging water companies, businesses, farmers, local authorities and householders to continue to take action, reduce pollution and improve bathing water quality further.

From now until September, the Environment Agency will carry out its annual water quality test programme at more than 400 beaches and lakes. The results will then be made available to beach-goers in close to real-time on the Environment Agency’s new Bathing Water Explorer website.

As part of the new EU standards from 2016, local councils will have to display signs at all bathing waters showing if the new measures have been passed and whether or not swimming is advised.

Read the full press release at:

(https://www.gov.uk/government/news/englands-waters-cleanest-since-records-began-as-bathing-season-begins)

 

retailers and cosmetics brands are washing their hands of microplastics in personal care products

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Thousands of pledges from members of the public to ‘Scrub it out!’ have helped the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) to convince many retailers and brands that washes, scrubs, gels and pastes made from natural products are just as effective as those with microplastics, and won't damage our seas
       
Retailers and brands that are already microplastic free include: Morrisons, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Trilogy, The Co-operative Society, and Waitrose. Those who have pledged to remove microplastics from their own-brand personal care products by, or during 2015 include Asda, Boots, M&S, PZ Cussons, Sainsbury’s and Superdrug. The following retailers and brands have pledged to remove plastics from their own-brand personal care products at a later date: Tesco by 2017; Wilko Retail Ltd by 2017. Discussions are still underway with Aldi and Lloyds Pharmacy, and MCS hope they will soon set a date for plastic free own-brand products.

MCS are now targeting luxury personal care products, and need your help once again. Please look for plastic ingredients in high-end products, and upload photos of any offending products.

For full details:

(http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do.php/Clean+seas+and+beaches/Campaigns+and+policy/Retailers+commit+to+scrub+it+out)

 

mapping the benefits of nature in scotland

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

SEPA state: The terms ‘natural capital’ and ‘ecosystem services’ are increasingly being used by conservationists, policy makers, politicians and in the media. But for many the terms are new and not necessarily understood. To help raise awareness about ecosystem services and society’s reliance on them, we are supporting the EcoServ-GIS project run by The Wildlife Trusts, which maps where ecosystem services are being delivered and we benefit, and where there are gaps in their provision.

What is the EcoServ-GIS project?

The EcoServ-GIS project is a geographic information system (GIS) toolkit that can be used to produce grid-based maps that show ‘hot spots’ of ecosystem service supply in an area. The toolkit also maps the capacity of the natural environment to produce specific ecosystem services and the societal need for these services. The maps are then overlaid to demonstrate where capacity and need coincide (benefiting areas) and where they do not (gaps).

Nine services are currently mapped by the toolkit: accessible nature, education, green travel, water purification, pollination, noise regulation, local climate regulation, carbon storage and air purification.

So far, working with the Seven Lochs Wetland Park and relevant local authorities, maps have been produced for North Lanarkshire and Glasgow.  An illustrated case study is being developed for Cumbernauld to demonstrate the mapping process and the results that can be achieved using the EcoServ-GIS toolkit.

Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network have provided support and funding for the project.

Read more at:

(http://www.sepaview.com/2015/05/mapping-the-benefits-of-nature-in-scotland/?utm_source=Update+standard+list&utm_campaign=c606eeb35d-SEPA_Update_150513_13_0515&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1d4b1dd6b0-c606eeb35d-290456769)

 

£25m marine power plant launched in wales

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Swedish company Minesto has been awarded a £9.5m EU grant to set up a marine power plant in North Wales. Minesto will use the money to establish a UK headquarters and install its 'Deep Green' turbine system off the coast of Holyhead. This operates like an underwater kite, and claims to be the only proven marine power plant to generate electricity from low velocity tidal currents; the kites can reach speeds up to ten times higher than the water current. This type of system has been producing electricity in the waters off Northern Ireland for almost two years.

The 10 MW array is expected to be operational by 2019, when it will supply enough electricity for 8,000 households. The full cost of the project is expected to be £25m, with the rest of the money to be raised privately.

Wales has 1,200 kilometres of coastline with low velocity tidal currents, with the potential to supply more than 5% of the UK's total electricity demand. According to a report commissioned by the Welsh Government, 1 GW of marine energy could boost the Welsh economy by up to £840m annually. This is the second major marine power system to get funding in Wales in recent months, following the ᆪ80m tidal lagoon project in Swansea.

(http://www.edie.net/news/4/-25m-marine-power-plant-launched-in-Wales-minesto-kite-holyhead/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewslett er)

 

government to answer legal challenge over ‘unfair’ uk fishing quota

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

A full judicial review into the government’s decision to continue to give nearly the entire UK fishing quota to domestic industrial and foreign corporations, at the expense of local, low impact fishermen, has been given the green light by the High Court today.

Mrs Justice Andrews granted permission to Greenpeace to argue that this decision by Defra is unlawful because it contravenes new European fishing law, the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Greenpeace believes that according to the CFP, local, low impact fishermen should receive more fishing quota because they fish more sustainably, have lower CO2 emissions and provide greater employment and job creation opportunities than the industrial scale fleet.

The reformed CFP requires EU Member States to set out the criteria they will use to decide how fishing quota will be allocated to fishing businesses. Defra has not changed its criteria for the way it distributes fishing quota publically since the new CFP came into force in January 2014. In correspondence to Greenpeace, Liz Truss, the Environment Secretary, was clear that the government would not be changing its allocation of fishing quota in response to the reforms in the CFP.

(http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/media/press-releases/government-answer-legal-challenge-over-%E2%80%98unfair%E2%80%99-uk-fishing-quota-20150424?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greenpeaceukoceans+%28Greenpeace+UK+-+Oceans%29%20)

 

scotland’s first ever national marine plan

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The plan sets out a single statutory planning framework for all marine activity in Scottish waters. This will include policies for the sustainable management of a wide range of marine industries, including those which are long established such as fishing and ports and those more recently emerging such as offshore wind and marine renewable energy. It also includes sectoral plans for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy in Scottish waters and removes the options for offshore wind development in the Solway Firth.

The framework covers all of Scotland’s seas out to 200 nautical miles and applies to existing and emerging activities as well as devolved and reserved functions. The plan will be reported on within three years of adoption.

The National Marine Plan (NMP) was adopted on 25 March 2015.

Key documents:

(http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/national)

 

marine conservation advice

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Natural England is committed to improving the conservation advice for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that we provide to marine users. This summary provides:

  • An overview of the new MPA Conservation Advice Project.
  • A ‘live’ timetable setting out when Natural England intends to publish conservation advice for designated MPAs in the period between March 2015 and March 2018.

Access the project summary at:

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-advice-for-marine-protected-areas-project-background/marine-conservation-advice-project-summary)

 

the plastic challenge 1–30 june 2015

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Marine Conservation Society is asking: could you give up single use plastics for a day, a week, or for the full month of June?

People just love plastic! From brushing our teeth and showering to buying and storing our food and other products. It's durable and lightweight, and because of that it stays in the environment for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

FACT: Plastics are among the most persistent synthetic materials in existence and are now a significant and extensive marine pollutant. The MCS challenge to you is to stop using single use plastics for as long as you can – and get your friends and family to sponsor your efforts.

FACT: Plastics are everywhere. Even buying lunch is a minefield – boiled eggs in individual plastic containers, apple slices in plastic bags, pasties on a polystyrene tray wrapped in plastic, plus pre-packed sandwiches and bottled drinks.

MCS want you to help them highlight how much we overuse plastics, and encourage people to avoid single use packaging where they can. Do the Plastic Challenge and you'll never look at your shopping in the same way again!

Find out more at:

(http://technology-trust-news.org/104K-3DE6H-01JPB0L9B2/cr.aspx?v=1)

 

great british beach clean 2014 – results

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

In 2014, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) celebrated the 21st anniversary of their Beachwatch surveys with a special event in September – the Great British Beach Clean. A total of 5,349 volunteers cleaned and surveyed 301 beaches, collecting a whopping 2,457 pieces of litter per kilometre!

In 2013, recorded beach litter levels across the UK reached their highest point for 20 years, and this worrying trend continued in 2014. The amounts of letter recorded represented an increase of 6% on 2013. Overall, despite existing measures aimed at reducing beach litter, the 2014 results represent an increase of 135% since MCS began conducting Beachwatch surveys in 1994.

This report is MCS’s annual summary of all the litter data recorded during beach cleans that took place on the third weekend of September 2014. Every year they analyse this data to look at long term litter trends and release the results the following spring.

Access the report at:

(http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do.php/Clean+seas+and+beaches/Reports+and+downloads/Beachwatch+results+2014)

 

new eel pass helps young eels grow in london

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

AJanuary 22, 2015 James Maiden Comment

revolutionary new eel pass has been installed on a canal weir next to Osterley Lock on the Grand Union Canal in Brentford, West London.

On behalf of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Environment Agency, Frog Environmental (an environmental consultancy) have designed a new eel pass structure to allow juvenile eels to travel through the weir alongside Osterley Lock.

The new elver pass, which is being installed as part of ZSL’s London-wide European Eel Conservation Programme, aims to make the journey easier for elvers migrating upstream from the Thames, along the Grand Union Canal and into the River Brent just below the Hanwell Lock flight.

(http://frogenvironmental.co.uk/habitat-management/new-eel-pass-helps-young-eels-grow-in-london/)

 

fishing for litter scotland project – 10th anniversary

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

A total of 800 tonnes of litter has been removed from Scottish waters over the past ten years. Items removed have included a washing machine, tumble drier, a WWII mine and a curling stone. This weight of litter is the equivalent of two full Olympic swimming pools or the weight of two fully loaded jumbo jets.

The Fishing for Litter project is now ten years old. The scheme continues to grow and, next month, Buckie will become the latest port to join the scheme taking the number of participating harbours to 15, all of which are contributing to the important task of cleaning up our seas.

(http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/800-tonnes-of-litter-removed-from-seas-17c0.aspx)

 

conservation advice for marine protected areas: pressure benchmarks

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This document explains the reference benchmarks used in Natural England’s sensitivity assessments for marine features. The sensitivity assessment of a habitat or species feature at each site has been determined at pre-defined pressure benchmarks, so that they give a consistent view of the sensitivity of each feature to each pressure type. A pressure benchmark is a reference point from which all plans and projects can initially be assessed.

This document is to be used together with the advice on operations included in the marine conservation advice packages.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/conservation-advice-for-marine-protected-areas-pressure-benchmarks)

 

environmental protection uk

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Environmental Protection UK is a national charity that provides expert policy analysis and advice on air quality, land quality, waste and noise and their effects on people and communities in terms of a wide range of issues including public health, planning, transport, energy and climate.

The organisation offers clear and critical analysis of UK government and European Union policy proposals through a range of high-quality publications and expert-led events, as well as up-to-date regulatory information through their comprehensive guide to UK and EU environment legislation. Environmental Protection UK works with, and for, UK national and devolved governments, local authorities, business, academics and the general public, and with relevant EU institutions and NGOs.

Read more at:

(http://www.environmental-protection.org.uk/)

 

sustainable drainage systems: non-statutory technical standards

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This document contains non-statutory technical standards for the design, maintenance and operation of sustainable drainage systems – systems to drain surface water from housing, non-residential or mixed use developments for the lifetime of the developments. Sustainable drainage systems slow the rate of surface water run-off and improve infiltration by mimicking natural drainage in both rural and urban areas. This reduces the risk of ‘flash-flooding’ which occurs when rainwater rapidly flows into the public sewerage and drainage systems.

In December 2014, DCLG set out the changes to the planning system that will help to increase the use of sustainable drainage systems. This document should be used in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sustainable-drainage-systems-non-statutory-technical-standards)

 

government must tackle rising number of wet wipes

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is calling on the government to tackle marine litter after new data revealed the number of wet wipes found on Britain's beaches rose by 50% in a single year. The report by MCS also revealed that general beach litter has risen by 6.4% between 2013 and 2014. The government says it is taking sufficient action on beach litter, but MCS disagrees, saying the upward trend in rubbish on UK shores over the last 20 years demonstrates that the government is failing to tackle the problem. It is therefore calling on the government to produce a National Marine Litter Action Plan for England and Wales, similar to those already in place for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

MCS says an Action Plan should address the key sources of marine litter: public, fishing, shipping, and sewage related debris - including wet wipes. Much of the problem stems from so-called 'flushable' wet-wipes being put down the toilet rather than in the bin. The plastic-containing wipes don't disintegrate readily and also cause blockages in sewerage systems not designed to cope with them, resulting in overflows and sewage related debris ending up on the beach.

The Scottish Government announced in August 2014 a new strategy, the 'Marine Litter Strategy for Scotland' to tackle marine litter by developing current and future measures to ensure that the amount of litter entering the marine and coastal environment is minimised.

(http://www.edie.net/news/5/Marine-charity-calls-for-government-action-on-rising-number-of-wet-wipes/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewslett er)

 

the state of england’s chalk streams

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

WWF launched ‘The State of England’s Chalk Streams’ report towards the end of last year. The authors found that:

  • 77% of chalk streams are failing to meet ‘Good Status’ as required by the Water Framework Directive.
  • Only 12 out of 224 chalk streams have protected status.
  • The chalk aquifer is classed as being in poor health with phosphate and nitrate levels dangerously high.
  • Chalk streams are still facing many threats – physical modification, over-abstraction, pollution from sewage works, septic tanks and agriculture; and pressure from a growing population, climate change, and non-native invasive species.

The report sets out WWF’s manifesto for chalk streams, including government leadership to champion chalk streams and fit-for-purpose regulation for abstraction and pollution prevention.

Access the report at:

(http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/wwf_chalkstreamreport_final_lr.pdf?utm_source=action&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=loyalty)

Source of information:

(http://www.wwf.org.uk/where_we_work/europe/rivers_in_the_uk/englands_chalk_streams/)

 

jncc have developed offshore site information centres for all 38 offshore marine protected areas in the uk

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

JNCC (Joint Nature Conservation Committee) is responsible for identifying and providing conservation advice on MPAs in UK offshore waters (beyond 12 nautical miles). They have developed Site Information Centres for offshore MPAs in UK waters; these are a one-stop-shop for all relevant information on offshore MPAs in UK waters. They include detailed sections on:

  • The site, its protected features, and images of the flora and fauna present
  • Evidence underpinning the protected features present at a site
  • Conservation objectives and advice on operations
  • JNCC’s understanding of activities taking place within the site
  • Information on site management

There are also sections to house information on results of monitoring and assessment studies as these become available. 

(http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4524)

 

marine licensing: nationally significant infrastructure projects

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is involved in different nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) in the English inshore and offshore, and Welsh offshore areas under the Planning Act 2008. The Planning Inspectorate examine these applications and provide recommendations to the Secretary of State.

MMO acts as a:

  • statutory consultee during the pre-application stage
  • interested party during the examination stage
  • licensing and consenting body

If a development consent order (DCO) is granted, MMO is responsible for enforcing, post-consent monitoring, varying, suspending, and revoking any deemed marine licence(s) as part of the DCO.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-licensing-nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects)

 

north sea economy and ecology at risk without UK government action

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The UK government must act now to prevent the degradation of economic opportunities and natural ecosystems in the North Sea, a recent House of Lords report warned. The North Sea is one of the most industrialised seas in the world, with drilling rigs and offshore wind turbines alongside the more traditional shipping and fishing activities. ‘That level of use places significant pressure on ecosystems in the North Sea,’ said Baroness Scott, chair of the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy. The environmental side effects include diminishing fish stocks, warming sea-temperatures and a threat to seabirds from wind turbines and oil spills. 

The Committee's suggested actions for UK government:

  • Convene a North Sea ministerial conference
  • Establish a single database for North Sea information
  • Review funding of the North Sea fisheries Advisory Council

(http://www.edie.net/news/4/North-Sea-economy-and-ecology-at-risk-without-UK-Government-action/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewslett er)

 

environment experts present ‘policy menu’ for next UK government

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

A new air-quality strategy, water conservation in fracking and a plan to treat energy as an ecosystem are all on the 'policy menu' launched recently by the Society for the Environment (SocEnv). This is a non-profit body that licences institutions to award the Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) qualification. It has gathered 48 environmental policy suggestions for the next government, with input from 12 professional bodies.

Source of information:

(http://www.edie.net/news/4/Environment-experts-present--policy-menu-/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewslett er)

Access the report at:

(http://www.socenv.org.uk/events/priorities-for-the-next-government/)

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

the problem with wet wipes …

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Wet wipes cause problems both in the UK, on our beaches, as well as for water authorities in the US where they are causing damage to pumps and blocking pipes. In the US they are taking legal action against the manufacturers to address the problem (see below).

Charlotte Coombes (Marine Conservation Society) explains that piles of wet wipes are littering UK beaches as more people choose to use moist cloths to remove make-up, replace traditional toilet paper and apply fake tan. According to beach litter data collected by MCS and published in its annual Great British Beach Clean report, numbers of wet wipes found on beaches have increased by over 50% in a single year. The problem is that wipes, often described as flushable, are being put down the loo instead of thrown in the bin.

(http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/Clean+seas+and+beaches/Reports+and+downloads/Beachwatch+results+2014)

Millions of dollars in ‘sewer clogs’ prompts flushable wipes lawsuit

A Minnesota city is suing six manufacturers of so-called ‘flushable’ personal wipes, alleging that the product is not living up to its name and instead clogging up the sewer system. ‘The lawsuit, filed [last month] in federal court, might be the first seeking class-action status on behalf of cities grappling with the disposable cloths that wastewater officials say are plugging pipes and pumps,’ the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Aimed at the makers of baby wipes, antibacterial towelettes and other similar hygiene products, the lawsuit homes in on the cost of repairing clogged infrastructure.

To read more go to:

(http://www.wateronline.com/doc/millions-of-dollars-in-sewer-clogs-prompts-flushable-wipes-lawsuit-0001?sectionCode=NewsFeaturedItem&templateCode=Single&user=2985663&source=nl:43005&utm_source=et _10759433&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WOL_2015-05-14&utm_term=d928599e-7a55-41da-984c-bf06ec967bd0&utm_content=Millions%2bOf%2bDollars%2bIn%2bSewer%2bClogs%2bPrompts%2bFlushable-Wipes%2bLawsuit)

 

china to clean up act on environment with water commitment

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

China is set to tackle its heavily-polluted water supplies by enforcing polluting industries to treat discharged water. The country is expected to launch an action plan shortly following approval by the cabinet to give it legal powers to hold polluters and local authorities responsible. The plan will require industries such as paper mills and dye and chemical plants to treat discharged water, setting high penalties for those that do not comply with the new regulations. Water will be prevented from being classed worse than level five – so polluted it is toxic for human skin – by 2017. 

According to official data, one third of China's major river basins and 60% of its underground water are contaminated, posing a major threat to public health and food security. Experts say the plan will improve China's urban drinking water system, help prevent industrial discharge into rivers, lakes and underground water and expand water infrastructure in rural areas.

(http://www.edie.net/news/4/China-to-clean-up-its-act-on-the-environment/?utm_source=weeklynewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=weeklynewslett er)

 

uk government to create world’s largest marine reserve around the pitcairn islands

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The UK government has announced its decision to create the world’s largest marine reserve around the Pitcairn Islands, a UK Overseas Territory in the South Pacific. Plans were announced in the March 2015 Budget Report. This decision begins the process of creating a fully protected marine reserve, extending from 12 miles offshore of Pitcairn Island to the full 200 nautical mile limit of the Territory’s waters, encompassing over 800,000 km sq of ocean, an area about 3.5 times the size of the UK.

Pitcairn’s waters host some of the best-preserved marine ecosystems on the planet and are of globally significant biological value. Over 1,200 marine species have been recorded around Pitcairn, including whales and dolphins, 365 species of fish, turtles, seabirds and corals. Forty-eight of these species are globally threatened, such as the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, and some are found nowhere else on Earth, such as the Pitcairn angelfish.

With the designation of the marine reserve, Pitcairn’s waters will become off-limits to all extractive and damaging activities, offering protection from overfishing and illegal pirate fishing, as well as deep-sea mining exploration, pollution and climate change. In February a coalition of over 100 conservation and environmental organisations and scientists launched the www.GreatBritishOceans.org campaign, to encourage the government to create fully protected marine reserves in UK Overseas Territories, principally around the Pitcairn Islands, Ascension Island in the Atlantic and the South Sandwich Islands in the Southern Ocean.

(http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/Wildlife+protection/What+we+do/Pitcairn+marine+protected+area)

 

eu project on surface water contaminants

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

A €1m ECOPHARMA project started in January to help improve the quality of surface waters across Europe and meet new EU legislation standards. UK-based Aqua Enviro, who specialise in the treatment of water, wastewater and organic waste, will be taking part in the project, funded by the European Commission, to help detect chemical pollutants that potentially pose a significant risk to human and marine health. 

New EU legislation has driven an improvement in analytical techniques to monitor and detect ‘emerging contaminants’. However, the current analysis is expensive, does not produce immediate results and has a slow turnaround time. Aqua Enviro, as part of a European wide joint venture, will now trial and verify an online probe system called ‘Continuous Flow Integrative Sampler’ (CFIS) for detecting contaminants in water, such as pharmaceutical products and herbicides. 

ECOPHARMA is a two year project and will coincide with the second phase of the Chemical Investigation Programme (CIP2). The CIP2 programme is an extensive UK-wide sampling programme aiming to confirm and characterise where Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) limits are being exceeded, in order to inform water company investment on process upgrades. A project website will be launched later in the year.

Source of information:

(http://wwtonline.edie.net/news/eu-project-on-surface-water-contaminants-to-begin#.VRLS0CJFCig)

 

PROJECTS & RESEARCH

seagrass worth €190 million per year to mediterranean fishing

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This new study estimates that seagrass meadows are worth around €78 million every year to commercial fishing in the Mediterranean. Their annual value to recreational fishing is even bigger, at an estimated €112 million. The research indicates that marine policies should consider the socio-economic implications of the loss of seagrass, which provides habitat for many fishery species, in both commercial and recreational fisheries.

The EU’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires the cost of marine degradation to be determined. The full economic value of seagrass beds could be determined if other ecosystem services were also accounted for, such as erosion protection. The study recommends aligning fisheries and seagrass management.

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/seagrass_worth_190_million_euros_per_year_to_medit erranean_fishing_410na6_en.pdf)

 

increased oestrogen pollution in european rivers could affect development of brown trout

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Brown trout embryos exposed to oestrogen during development hatched earlier, grew more slowly and had a lower heart rate than unexposed individuals, according to a recent Swiss study. These findings may indicate that oestrogen pollution in some European rivers is contributing to a decline of wild populations of such species.

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) affect animals’ hormonal systems and can impair growth. Previous studies have demonstrated that the presence of EDCs – including beta-estradiol, a natural oestrogen – has a negative impact on fish species. However, the impact of pulses of exposure of the hormone had not been investigated. This is an important issue as the level of EDCs in European rivers fluctuates due to the intermittent release of these chemicals from sewage treatment plants.

In this study the authors aimed to replicate a pulsed exposure to estradiol to determine if, and how, development of brown trout embryos is affected.        

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/increased_oestrogen_pollution_in_European_rivers_coul d_affect_development_in_brown_trout_414na2_en.pdf)

 

evidence projects register

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) publishes a register of evidence projects that will be updated as each new project is commissioned.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evidence-projects-register)

 

quantifying recovery rates and resilience of seabed habitats impacted by bottom fishing

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Ecosystem Approach to fisheries requires that managers take account of the environmental impacts of fishing. Towed bottom-fishing gears disturb seabed habitats and cause mortality of benthic invertebrates. Measurements of recovery rates of marine habitats after fishing disturbance can provide insight into spatial variations in resilience and may be used to assess the sustainability of these fishing impacts and inform the development of appropriate management strategies.

The researchers used a new method to estimate the recovery rate of benthic communities and to describe spatial differences in sensitivity to fishing. Bottom-fishing in areas that recover quickly will minimize overall impacts, while leaving unfished patches of seabed will enhance recovery rates in fished areas. They concluded that management plans which limit bottom trawls and dredge fisheries to more resilient areas and maintain unfished patches within these areas will minimize the collective impacts of a given amount of fishing effort on seabed habitats.

Read the full paper at:

(http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12277/abstract;jsessionid=7EFEE1272C901358FAE76E3DBB6AC53F.f03t04)

 

evaluation of farmscoper for cost-effective measures to reduce diffuse agricultural pollution

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Farmscoper (Farm SCale Optimisation of Pollutant Emission Reductions) is a useful software tool for providing guidance to farmers and agronomists on the selection of mitigation measures to control the sources and transport or delivery of sediments and nitrates to watercourses. This report summarises an evaluation of the agricultural decision support tool in the Wensum catchment in Norfolk. This was a collaborative MSc project between the Environment Agency and Cranfield University.

Farming practices such as conventional tillage, chemical fertilisation and manure application to fields, high livestock stocking rates and overgrazing have all been identified as potential causes of diffuse agricultural pollution leading to pressures on water quality in many catchments. Managing agricultural pollution at the farm and catchment scale needs to take into account trade-offs between environmental and economic objectives. However, accurate quantification of pollution losses from agricultural activities is a major challenge.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-farmscoper-for-cost-effective-measures-to-reduce-diffuse-agricultural-pollution)

 

phosphorus cycling in rivers

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This research describes the development of a decision support tool to help screen rivers in England for the likelihood and extent of sediment-bound phosphorus being released back to the river water. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) is one of the parameters used to determine the ecological status of a river. The impact of high concentrations of SRP in rivers includes a shift in the composition and abundance of plant species present, which has an impact on the river’s overall ecology. This is one of the most significant causes of water bodies such as rivers not achieving good ecological status under the Water Framework Directive.

The screening tool described in this report will help the Environment Agency and its partners to target resources and identify measures to reduce phosphorus levels in rivers to meet water quality standards.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phosphorus-cycling-in-rivers)

 

low-cost testing kits for measuring phosphate in water

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

An evaluation of low-cost testing kits for measuring phosphate in water samples was undertaken as a collaborative MSc project between the Environment Agency and Cranfield University.

Phosphate pollution of water is one of the biggest challenges facing the Environment Agency. Low-cost testing kits could be used by Environment Agency officers, Catchment Sensitive Farming officers or those carrying out catchment walkovers to make decisions in the field based on immediate results. They also allow farmers and farm advisors to see for themselves the levels of phosphate in water draining from their land, rather than having to accept the word of a scientist or regulatory body. Farmer-led monitoring, also known as participatory monitoring, should improve farmers’ understanding of where on a farm phosphate is lost and enable them to modify current farm practices to reduce their contribution to pollution.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-cost-testing-kits-for-measuring-phosphate-in-water)

 

assessing the impact of exposure to microplastics in fish

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This report presents the findings of research undertaken by Portsmouth University on behalf of the Environment Agency to assess the potential impacts on fish of microplastics in the aquatic environment.

Each year approximately 245 million tonnes of plastic are used globally. This production volume, coupled with high durability, has led to widespread accumulation of discarded plastic in landfills and as litter in terrestrial and aquatic habitats worldwide. Once in the environment, plastic debris progressively fragments into smaller pieces. These minute fragments of plastic debris, termed microplastics (particles of plastics with dimensions of less than 5 mm), can comprise as much as 85% of plastic debris in the environment. Manufactured microplastics from consumer products, such as cosmetics and industrial abrasives, also enter the aquatic environment.

Plastic debris, particularly microplastics, can be consumed by a variety of animals, including fish, which mistake particles for food. This may lead to blocking of the intestinal tract and/or starvation through stomach filling. There is also evidence that microplastics may act as a vector transferring potentially harmful chemicals through the food chain.

This research project used sticklebacks as a model organism in three experiments to assess the potential impacts of microplastics on fish.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/assessing-the-impact-of-exposure-to-microplastics-in-fish)

 

Shipping oil pollution: new hazard mapping method developed

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Accidental oil spills at sea are becoming rarer. However, ships still deliberately release some oil into the sea as part of normal operations. For example, they release oily water from the bilge (the lowest compartment in a ship), oily ballast water and fuel oil sludge. Hazard maps which show the spread of this oil in the sea can be used to help manage the health of the marine environment.

The mapping method developed by the authors of this study focuses on operational discharges in the southern Adriatic and northern Ionian Seas of the Mediterranean. The researchers say, however, that their method could be used anywhere. The method pulls together a range of data, including information on shipping routes, oil particle behaviour, currents and climate. They used it to produce maps of oil pollution on the surface of the sea and along the coastline for 2009–2012, and revealed pollution hotspots in the south-western Adriatic Sea and north-eastern Ionian Sea.

Read more at:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/new_hazard_mapping_method_developed_for_shipping _oil_pollution_408na1_en.pdf)

 

air pollution modelling could help predict algal blooms

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Algae populations are kept under control by various factors that affect their growth. Certain nutrients, for example, are not always available at concentrations that would allow unrestrained growth. In the marine environment, the main limiting factor for algal growth is thought to be nitrogen. Therefore, when nitrogen levels in seawater increase, algae populations grow rapidly and can sometimes result in algal blooms. As the algae die and decay, broken down by microbes, large quantities of oxygen are consumed. This process of eutrophication is harmful to other marine organisms because it deprives them of oxygen.

Researchers used models to simulate nitrogen deposition in the North Sea and, using predicted weather data, suggested that this approach could be adapted to predict algal blooms.

Read more at:

(http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/air_pollution_modelling_could_help_predict_algal_bloom s_408na6_en.pdf)

 

PUBLICATIONS

marine species: protection

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Find out about marine species and how they are protected by EU and UK wildlife legislation. There are documents on the following:

  • Birds
  • Cetaceans – dolphins, porpoises and whales
  • Seals
  • Marine turtles
  • Fish – including seahorses, sharks and skates
  • Invertebrates
  • Prohibited or unauthorised method to capture or kill

Many marine species are protected by EU and UK wildlife legislation from intentional or deliberate disturbance, taking, harm and killing, and in some cases possession or sale. The offences that apply will depend on the species, activity and location. The tables provide a summary of which marine species are protected and by what legislation. Please refer to the legislation directly for details of offences and defences, or contact your local Marine Management Organisation office for further advice.

Some of the species are also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and are labelled in the guidance.

Access the documents at:

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protected-marine-species)

 

fishing regulations: the blue book

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Blue Book is a single collection of UK and EU laws. It consists of:

  • Principal acts relating to sea fishing
  • Access to British fishery limits
  • Legislation applicable in Welsh and Northern Irish zones
  • Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) legislation
  • Technical measures for the conservation of fisheries resources
  • Total allowable catch (TAC) and quota regulations
  • Deep water and highly migratory species regulations
  • Control measures
  • Licensing regulations
  • Marine environmental protection and habitats regulations

The Marine Management Organisation tries to maintain ‘The Blue Book’ with up-to-date legislation but cannot guarantee that it is up to date at all times. For specific advice please contact your local Marine Management Organisation office.

Access the documents at:

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-regulations-the-blue-book)

 

nitrate vulnerable zones in england: guidance on complying with the rules for 2013 to 2016

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This guidance is for farmers in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) for the period 2013 to 2016. It explains how Defra interprets the requirements of the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008 (the Regulations). Ultimately, it is for the Courts to decide on the interpretation of legislation, but this document sets out Defra’s working assumptions in enforcing the Regulations. It also sets out their recommendations for good practice in complying with the Regulations.

June 2015: Minor changes have been made to this guidance to reflect the consolidation of a number of nitrates’ regulations. This is being published as an interim measure until a new version of the guidance is published later in 2015.

In conjunction with the revised guidance a file of user-friendly blank tables have been produced. They can be printed after their completion onscreen (or before) for manuscript completion as preferred.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nitrate-vulnerable-zones-in-england-guidance-on-complying-with-the-rules-for-2013-to-2016)

 

discussion paper on the potential for catchment services in england (Wessex Water, Severn Trent Water, South West Water)

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The introduction to the report states: Over the next 15 years, over £100 billion will be spent in English catchments to address issues including the continued provision of water and waste water services, water quality, farming and on flood protection and maintenance. This huge number reflects the essential role that the water and land environment plays in the effective running of the economy and in the day-to-day well-being of our society. There are numerous independent and interlinking factors impacting the choices society has to make about this vital resource and it is under growing pressures from factors such as population growth, economic development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, changing customer expectations and austerity [measures].

Wessex Water, Severn Trent and South West Water commissioned this report to understand whether catchment management has a role to play in addressing these challenges and particularly in the delivery of sustainable water and waste water services. Catchment activities typically account for less than 1% of water company expenditure and the companies commissioning this report, each having delivered successful catchment management projects, were keen to understand any further potential benefits of this approach. Identifying such benefits will provide a strong foundation to work with policy makers and environmental and economic regulators to make the changes that would unlock these benefits.

Read the full report at:

(http://www.indepen.uk.com/docs/catchment-services-report_july2014.pdf)

 

the good beach guide

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Good Beach Guide, from the Marine Conservation Society, will help you make the most of your British beach experience. Find the beach you're looking for then check out how clean its bathing water is. What can you expect to find there? Is it lifeguarded? Is it dog friendly? What are the weather and tides doing today? Start exploring...

(http://www.goodbeachguide.co.uk/?utm_source=marine+conservation+society+&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5628874_Good+Beach +Guide&dm_i=104K,3CN9M,JPB0L9,C8JDG,1)

 

blue-green algae: advice for the public

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Blue-green algae naturally occur in inland waters, estuaries and the sea. Blooms can form when their numbers become excessive. This leaflet describes characteristic features of blue-green algal blooms, how they affect you and what you should do if you see one.

To order a hard copy of this publication, please email: environmentagency@prolog.co.uk with your name, address, publication title ‘Blue-Green Algae’, reference ‘LIT 4135’ and quantity. For any other questions about this publication, please email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-green-algae-advice-for-the-public)

 

demonstration test catchments newsletter

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Articles include:

  • Start of the second phase of DTC (involving more synthesis of data and translation of the emerging science into useful knowledge for policy-makers and catchment managers).
  • Details about a major new research programme, NERC DOMAINE, which has commenced work in the Hampshire Avon catchment.
  • Lancaster Environment Centre has been awarded funding from NERC to deliver training for postgraduates and professionals working in the environmental sciences.
  • Details about the Agricultural Catchments Programme in Ireland.
  • Monitoring dissolved nitrous oxide concentrations in field drains from arable lands.
  • Scaling up from the DTC experimental areas.

(http://www.demonstratingcatchmentmanagement.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DTC-Newsletter-Mar-2015.pdf)

 

catchment sensitive farming Phase 3 evaluation report

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Evaluation is a core part of the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) project, essential for assessing delivery of objectives and the project outcomes. This report covers the project’s work since inception in 2006 and demonstrates the considerable impact of voluntary work with farmers to reduce diffuse pollution.

All the activities in the Phase 3 reports are framed around a 4-stage process to inform farmers of local water quality issues and help farmers take action to accrue both environmental and business benefits. The 4 stages are:

  • farmer engagement
  • increased awareness
  • taking action
  • improvements in water quality

This approach has been tightly targeted to WFD Protected Areas and water-dependent SSSIs which are failing water quality objectives.

(http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6510716011937792)

 

pocket good fish guide

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The Marine Conservation Society has produced a new version of their popular Pocket Good Fish Guide. No bigger than a credit card – so truly pocket size – it folds into an easy-readable mine of information which includes: the latest Fish to Eat and Fish to Avoid list, alternatives to the favourite five, how to make the best choices when it comes to the basics such as fish fingers and scampi, plus advice on what you can do if you’re confused at the fish counter or see no logic in the labelling.

If you’re addicted to apps, then download the guide to your smart phone or visit the website for more detail at: (www.fishonline.org)

 

expert report calls for long term planning to protect uk food and water supplies

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The UK needs to formulate long-term plans to protect both water and food supplies here and across international supply chains, as water usage and availability change in coming years. That’s the conclusion in a new report from an expert group, led by the Global Food Security programme as part of the UK Water Research and Innovation Partnership (UKWRIP). The report was written by a collaboration of scientists, policy experts and specialists from the water industry. Agriculture, food and water supplies are more intimately connected than is often appreciated.  As demand for both food and water increases, there is a growing need to recognise the inter-connections and integrate long-term planning for the ‘agri-water’ system rather than thinking about water and food systems separately.

Farming and Water: Facing the Future Together recommends preparing for a greater frequency of extreme weather, better advice for farmers, investing in modelling water systems and improved communication of the issues.

(http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/news-events/news/2015/150323-planning-to-protect-uk-food-and-water.html)

 

a guide to improving water efficiency

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

A ten-step good practice guide for public sector and other Scottish organisations has been released by Resource Efficient Scotland.

Implementing water efficiency measures is not yet standard practice across the public sector and wider organisations in Scotland. While there is considerable attention on improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprint, there appears to be a lack of focus on attributing responsibility for the management of water use. This good practice guide has been developed to help organisations implement tried-and-tested water minimisation projects across their organisation. Simple, low- and no-cost solutions are offered and, importantly, include how to change staff behaviour.

Read the guide at:

(http://www.resourceefficientscotland.com/sites/default/files/10-Step%20Good%20Practice%20Water%20Guide%20Resource%20Efficient%20Scotland.pdf)

Resource Efficient Scotland is a Scottish Government programme delivered by Zero Waste Scotland and has been designed to help the public and private sector reduce costs by implementing resource efficiencies in energy, water, raw materials and waste management. Resource Efficient Scotland, launched in 2013, offers free advice and technical support as well as the sharing of best practice and new technologies.

 

managing eu fisheries in the public interest

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) have launched the ‘Bio-economic Model of European Fleets’ together with a report which highlights the results from rebuilding fish stocks to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and reallocating quota based on socio-economic considerations.

Key findings:

  • Poor management of EU fisheries is draining jobs and profits
  • NEF’s new Bio-Economic Model of European Fleets (BEMEF) analyses 221 fleets and cover 73% of total EU landings
  • This model highlights the huge benefits of restoring fish stocks and reallocating quotas

NEF has developed the BEMEF model over the past two years with help from academics and institutions across the EU. This is the first model to estimate the economic impacts of reallocating fish quotas across fleets under alternative allocation criteria. BEMEF also looks at how rebuilding fish stocks beyond MSY would affect landings, revenues, employment, profitability, wages and carbon emissions.

To secure the best economic, social and environmental outcomes for their citizens, the report advises that member states must focus their attention on:

  • ensuring fishing opportunities and ‘total allowable catches’ do not exceed scientific advice
  • reviewing how they allocate quotas across the fleet, and implementing pilot schemes to test new allocation criteria

Access the report at:

(http://b.3cdn.net/nefoundation/e2a0356a6c69ec0cc6_ygm6bznj3.pdf)

Online model: (http://fisheriesmodel.eu/)

Full excel model: (http://fisheriesmodel.eu/download)

New Economics Foundation (NEF) is an independent think-and-do tank that inspires and demonstrates real economic wellbeing. They aim to improve quality of life by promoting innovative solutions that challenge mainstream thinking on economic, environmental and social issues.

 

essential environment online

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Effective environmental management is one of the biggest challenges faced by the public and private sectors today. Local authorities, small businesses and multi-national enterprises all operate in an increasing regulated environment and without access to the right information, operations and reputation can be adversely affected.

Essential Environment Online has been designed to help businesses, local authorities and education establishments keep track of developments in UK and EU environmental policy and regulation. It provides clear, simple information and guidance. It is supported by Environmental Protection UK.

Find out more at:

(http://www.essentialenvironment.org.uk/)

 

urban water blueprint

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This report, from the Nature Conservancy, analyses the state of water in more than 2,000 watersheds and 530 cities worldwide to provide science-based recommendations for natural solutions that can be integrated alongside traditional infrastructure to improve water quality.

The report lays out a basic set of facts about the market potential for conservation to improve the supply of water, in particular its quality. The findings provide an important basis for comparing engineered and natural solutions and exploring how the two can be integrated to provide a more robust system.

Access the report at:

(http://water.nature.org/waterblueprint/index.html#/intro=true)

 

improved sewage treatment needed to stop drug pollution in rivers

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

Environmental charity CHEM Trust is calling for improvements to sewage and wastewater treatment to prevent river pollution caused by human and veterinary medicines. In the report, Pharmaceuticals in the Environment: A growing threat to our tap water and the environment, the organisation says treatment options to be considered include activated carbon, advanced oxidation and UV.

According to the report, medicines are polluting rivers and have harmed wild birds and fish. Dozens of medicines have been found in samples of drinking water in EU countries with larger monitoring programmes. However, legal standards for residues of medicines in rivers and drinking waters are lacking. The report concludes that individuals, companies and governments can all help to reduce this problem by ensuring that:

  • Unused medicines are disposed of at pharmacies and NOT by flushing them down the toilet.
  • New medicines are designed so that they don’t persist in the environment.
  • Sewage treatment works are improved.

CHEM Trust is a UK charity working to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals.

Read the report at:

(http://www.chemtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/CHEM-Trust-Pharma-Dec14.pdf)

Source of information:

(http://wwtonline.edie.net/news/improved-sewage-treatment-needed-to-stop-drug-pollution-in-rivers#.VRLPxSJFCii)

 

living waters for wales update

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This update provides the latest information on the River Basin Management Plans and promotes stories of delivering improvements to the water environment. Natural Resources Wales ask their partners and others to provide examples of work being undertaken to improve the health of Wales’ waters and habitats.

This news update includes information on sustainable inland fisheries for Wales, WFD classification update, Nature Fund projects, the testing of an innovative nutrient offsetting scheme in Pembrokeshire, Water Watch Wales, Glamorgan Rivers Trust tackling Himalayan Balsam, and Keeping the Taff Tidy.

Access the newsletter at:

(http://naturalresources.wales/media/2773/living-waters-update-issue3-winter-2015-english.pdf)

 

Reports from Events

‘sailing towards 2020’ conference (2 & 3 March 2015)

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This conference was held in Brussels and brought together over 450 participants from 27 different countries. The event marked an important step in the journey to ensure a sustainable future for fisheries and coastal areas around Europe; the conference offered the opportunity to find out about the results of 42 local projects supported by Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and to explore the potential for Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) to face new challenges in coastal and fisheries communities.

Implemented by 312 Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs), Axis 4, during the 2007–2014 period, supported over 10,000 projects at the local level, applying a bottom-up, local development approach in fisheries and coastal areas across 21 Member States.

The event was organised to support the transition to the 2014–2020 programming period.

You can find the conference material, including the conference report, presentations, project descriptions, videos, etc at:

(https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/cms/farnet/sailing-towards-2020-conference-brussels-2-3-march-2015)

 

managing cryptosporidium – sharing wisdom (23 March 2015)

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

There were several outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis associated with drinking water during the 1990s and 2000s, and much advice emerged concerning process control and water management techniques. This seminar brought together those who had experienced either managing an outbreak or had been involved with significant incidents of actual or potential detections of Cryptosporidium in drinking water supplies. Experts also shared their knowledge on the latest research in the management and prevention of Cryptosporidium in water supplies. Talks included: the current regulatory position; treatment challenges in Scotland; the approach to the challenge in Wales; network contamination recovery; managing Cryptosporidium in drinking water using QMRA; groundwater challenges; Cryptosporidium typing – how it can help identify risks and mitigation measures.

See the presentations at:

(http://www.ciwem.org/events/events-outputs.aspx)

 

water & environment 2015: ciwem’s annual conference
(15–16 April 2015)

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Challenge and Change: How regulatory innovation and partnership working can deliver the needs of customers and the environment.’

Day One looked at how regulatory changes and innovative solutions taking place in the water industry could deliver sustainable water management, with presentations including abstraction reform, affordability and the Price Review, and sustainable drainage solutions. The theme for Day Two was catchment management and partnership working, with presentations including progress of the Catchment Based Approach, delivery for biodiversity, water quality, and the role of natural capital.

See the presentations at:

(http://www.ciwem.org/events/events-outputs.aspx)

 

eurocean 2014 (7–9 october 2014)

(Posted 16 June 2015) 

This conference, held in Rome, highlighted the importance of Blue Growth and commercially-driven research, equally emphasizing that a growing and sustainable maritime economy will also require a much greater knowledge and understanding of marine ecosystem functioning and resilience. As the key output, EurOCEAN 2014 delivered the Rome Declaration – a common vision on achieving an ecosystem approach to the management of Europe’s marine resources as a fundamental requirement for sustainable Blue Growth and European leadership in marine science and technology.

EurOCEAN conferences are major European marine science policy conferences. They provide a forum for the marine and maritime research community and wider stakeholders to interface with European and Member State policymakers and strategic planners, to consider, discuss and respond to new marine science and technology developments, challenges and opportunities.

The distinctive feature that characterizes EurOCEAN conferences is the focus on bringing the stakeholders together to speak with one voice towards policy. Since EurOCEAN 2004, conference delegates have delivered joint policy statements, EurOCEAN Declarations, to raise decision makers’ awareness of marine research priorities and propose concrete actions. These statements have since been critical drivers of research and policy developments in Europe.

(http://www.euroceanconferences.eu/)