MPA

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

The Sustainable Markets Initiative has launched a new Ocean Stewardship programme to turn global sustainability commitments into action through private-sector engagement.

20th January 2026

Ocean Stewardship initiative targets Antarctica

20th January 2026

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

Europêche is calling on the European Commission to more fully integrate fisheries into the EU’s trade agenda, warning that current negotiations risk undermining the competitiveness and long-term viability of the bloc’s fleet if sustainability and social standards are not upheld.

19th November 2025

Europêche presses EU to put fisheries at the core of trade policy

19th November 2025

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

Ocean conservation organisation Oceana has appointed Vera Coelho as its Executive Director and Vice President in Europe. Coelho joined Oceana in 2020 and has served as Deputy Vice President since 2022. 

14th October 2025

Vera Coelho to head up Oceana’s work in Europe

14th October 2025

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

With the United Kingdom pledging to ban bottom trawling in 41 marine protected areas (MPAs) at the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, and France proposing restrictions in fewer MPAs,…

11th June 2025

Lawyers call for enforcement after UK and France vow to ban bottom trawling in protected areas

11th June 2025

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

Following the conclusion of second edition of the European Ocean Days, held in Brussels from 3 to 7 March 2025, ocean advocates BLOOM, Blue Marine Foundation, Défense des Milieux Aquatiques, Empesca’t, National…

11th March 2025

Kadis urged to affirm stance on bottom trawling

11th March 2025

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis has been praised by industry body, the European Bottom Fishing Alliance (EBFA) for his balanced approach to bottom trawling within marine protected areas (MPAs).…

4th March 2025

EBFA: EUs Kadis taking sensitive approach to bottom trawling

4th March 2025

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

European leaders have received a fresh call to ban destructive fishing practices in marine protected areas (MPAs) and to simultaneously provide support for small-scale fishing sectors and marine ecosystems.

11th February 2025

Macron, EU urged to end fishing in MPAs

11th February 2025

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

Scottish Government has embarked on a public consultation that could ban bottom-trawl fishing across 20 offshore marine protected areas (MPAs). For 15 of these, the government is considering two options – banning bottom trawling…

22nd August 2024

Scotland consults on bottom-trawl ban

22nd August 2024

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

With 401 votes in favour, European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission in a secret ballot. This will be von der Leyen’s second term as Commission…

18th July 2024

Reaction as Ursula von der Leyen re-elected European Commission President

18th July 2024

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

A year since the High Seas Treaty to protect biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) was formally adopted by UN member states on 19 June 2023, the High Seas Alliance has started a one-year…

19th June 2024

Countdown to ratify the High Seas Treaty begins

19th June 2024

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

The United Nations’ agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), also known as the “High Seas Treaty” has been adopted by the European Council. With the decision, taken on 17 June 2024,…

18th June 2024

EU ready to ratify High Seas Treaty

18th June 2024

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

A campaign calling on the EU to take tougher action against member state countries that still allow bottom trawling in their marine protected areas (MPAs) has been launched by a group of…

17th April 2024

Campaign launched to end destructive fishing in EU protected waters

17th April 2024

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

With new analysis of satellite data from non-profit Global Fishing Watch (GFW) finding that over 100,000 hours of apparent industrial fishing took place within the United Kingdom’s offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) in 2023, oceans…

21st March 2024

Oceana: UK MPAs subjected to 33,000 hours of suspected bottom trawling in 2023

21st March 2024

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

The fishing industry is urging EU member states to call out Norway for its ‘disloyal attitude’ towards EU fishing rights.

14th February 2024

EU fishers slam Norway’s ‘disloyalty’

14th February 2024

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

Fishing for sandeel in English waters of the North Sea will be banned from April if UK government plans get the go-ahead.

1st February 2024

Sandeel fishing banned in UK waters

1st February 2024

INSIGHT

INSIGHT

Much in the same way that the restorative agriculture movement is looking to increasingly nurture and restore terrestrial food production systems that deliver positive environmental impacts, in the water, restorative and regenerative…

21st August 2023

Optimising restorative aquaculture

21st August 2023

INSIGHT

INSIGHT

The Benelux states of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg have never been amongst Europe’s elite band of fish-producing nations, despite the first two having North Sea coastlines. Consequently, a significant proportion of their…

2nd August 2023

Benelux fishers in troubled waters

2nd August 2023

FISHERIES

FISHERIES

Professor Stuart Rogers, Cefas’ former Chief Scientist, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE), recognising his extraordinary scientific career dedicated to tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the…

20th June 2023

OBE awarded to Cefas chief scientist

20th June 2023

ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS

On 5 March 2023, after around 36 hours of intense negotiations in New York, a breakthrough deal to protect international waters and their marine life from a multitude of activities was agreed…

25th May 2023

High seas uncertainty

25th May 2023

SUSTAINABILITY

SUSTAINABILITY

The public consultation process on Scottish government plans to designate at least 10% of the country’s seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) has now closed, Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary…

19th April 2023

Government ‘listening’ as HPMA consultation closes

19th April 2023