Latest news with #MarineProtectedAreas
Edinburgh Reporter
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Coastal Perspectives in the Marine World: From Scotland to Bangladesh
Lothians MSP, Foysol Choudhury recently visited 'Finding the Balance; Perspectives on Marine Protection', a presentation by the University of Edinburgh and SRUC postgraduate students. He reflects here on the partnership and how it affects everyone in the world. He is chair of the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Bangladesh, where there are 'similar climate induced struggles'. 'The Public Participation in Policy class at The University of Edinburgh has partnered with the Scottish Wildlife Trust to carry out a project to engage the Scottish public in discussions about inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with a group of postgraduate students presenting their research at the Scottish Parliament. 'The students conducted a series of interviews with aims to explore people's relationships with the sea, gaining insights into public knowledge and views on inshore MPAs, and ultimately translate these perspectives into policy recommendations. Their presentation was quite compelling and focused on people's true connections to the sea and its use. 'It is crucial to shine a spotlight on Scotland's marine environment and the deep connection its people share with the sea, as it plays a vital role in the economy and the lives of many coastal communities. With consultations and legislation like the National Marine Plan 2 under review, gaining diverse stakeholder perspectives is essential, particularly about inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), to fully understand how these measures will affect coastal communities and their way of life. Research has revealed a significant gap in marine protection governance between policymakers and the public. This disconnect comes from limited access to reliable information, distrust in decision- making processes, and unequal power dynamics. 'Small-scale fishers feel excluded from policy discussions, perpetuating the perception that these policies favour more powerful interests. Yet, the strong public enthusiasm for marine protection offers a unique opportunity to bridge these gaps through more inclusive and participatory governance. 'The health of our marine environment and the impacts of the climate crisis are interconnected challenges that transcend borders, affecting coastal communities worldwide, from Scotland to Bangladesh. 'As the chair of the Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Bangladesh, I recognise the importance of addressing these challenges. Bangladesh, with its extensive coastline along the Bay of Bengal, faces some of the most severe impacts of the climate crisis. Rising sea levels, intensifying cyclones, and coastal erosion have placed immense pressure on the livelihoods of millions who depend on the marine environment. 'Despite contributing only a fraction to global emissions, Bangladesh ranks among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, with projections indicating that up to 18 million people could be displaced by rising seas by 2050. Coastal communities, particularly small-scale fishers, are at the forefront of this crisis, grappling with the loss of arable land, declining fish stocks, and frequent natural disasters. 'By fostering local participation, incorporating traditional knowledge, and ensuring equitable power- sharing in marine governance, Bangladesh can strengthen its resilience against climate-induced challenges. 'The parallels between Scotland's and Bangladesh's marine struggles highlight the universal need for inclusive and transparent governance. By learning from each other's experiences, both nations can work towards protecting their marine environments while empowering the communities that depend on them.' Like this: Like Related
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Scoop
NPDC's Puke Ariki Museum Hosting National Geographic Pristine Seas Exhibition
The National Geographic Society curated photo exhibition Pristine Seas: Bringing the Ocean Back, opens at NPDC's Puke Ariki Museum on Saturday 7 June 2025. The exhibition, for which Puke Ariki is New Zealand's exclusive venue, draws upon over a decade worth of global expeditions conducted by the National Geographic Pristine Seas project to document and protect the ocean so it can heal, rebound, and regenerate. The exhibition highlights the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a mechanism for protecting and restoring the world's ocean. Through the exhibition's narrative, photography, and film, visitors will learn how the Pristine Seas team supports indigenous peoples, local communities and governments in the creation of MPAs. Visitors will explore the team's expeditions ranging from the tropical coral reefs of the Southern Line Islands to the icebergs of the Antarctic Peninsula. Through stunning imagery and stories that highlight the scientific methods used on these expeditions, the exhibition will showcase Pristine Seas' continued commitment to protecting ocean life. Since 2008, the National Geographic Pristine Seas project has carried out 44 expeditions and helped establish 27 marine protected areas covering over 6.5 million square kilometres of ocean—an area more than twice the size of India. 'This exhibition exemplifies the Pristine Seas team's dedication to educating audiences about the importance of Marine Protected Areas and their contribution to a healthy ocean which provides everything from oxygen, livelihoods and food for local communities and incredible beauty,' said Emily Dunham, chief campus and experiences officer at the National Geographic Society. 'With the team's combined experience in exploration, scientific research and powerful storytelling, visitors will dive deep into strikingly beautiful stories and images from the wildest places in the ocean while learning how we must preserve it.' The Pristine Seas team combines exploration and rigorous research with powerful storytelling. The goal of this exhibition is to immerse visitors in the beauty of the sea while reiterating why we must preserve it.' Puke Ariki Museum Manager Frith Williams says local audiences are in for an eye-opening experience. 'In this special region surrounded by the moana, Puke Ariki is thrilled to share National Geographic's Pristine Seas. The stunning photographs in the show will be complemented by events for all ages, exploring how we can learn about and protect the ocean around Taranaki – from iwi-led conversation initiatives, like the shellfish rāhui, to creative activities and yoga. 'As we are the exclusive venue for the exhibition in Aotearoa, we hope people from outside the region will visit too, along with our local families and nature lovers.' National Geographic's Pristine Seas is on at Puke Ariki Museum's Temporary Gallery 7 June – 26 October. Find out more at About Pristine Seas Pristine Seas actively supports the global goal of protecting 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030. Not only will this be beneficial for marine life, but also for communities through fisheries benefits, increased food security, and mitigation of climate change. 'To protect vital ocean places, we need to combine research with compelling visuals, to inspire people through both minds and hearts. I am thrilled to bring over a decade of filming and science into the first National Geographic Pristine Seas exhibition,' said Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Pristine Seas Executive Director. Fast Facts: National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organisation that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents. Its work reaches three million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit or follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook. Puke Ariki, meaning Hill of Chiefs, stands on a former prominent Pā site in central New Plymouth, and opened as a combined library and museum in 2003. The museum presents both long-term and regularly changing exhibitions across six gallery spaces. Puke Ariki also houses a research centre, restaurant and café, and the district's isite visitor information and ticketing hub.
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Conservation groups hit out at ‘unfulfilled promises' over Scotland's seabed
In a letter to Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon and acting Energy and Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin, the groups claimed the Scottish Government had 'systematically neglected' the country's seabed – which they said was 'one our greatest assets'. Their letter, they said, was sent to 'mark an unfortunate and deeply disappointing milestone of unfulfilled government promises'. The groups told Ms Gougeon and Ms Martin: 'Our primary concern is that less than 5% of Scotland's coastal seabed is protected from bottom-trawling and scallop dredging, two highly destructive methods of fishing that need much more effective management.' They made the plea as they said the new Ocean film by Sir David Attenborough is 'set to lift the lid on the environmental damage caused by bottom-trawling'. The coalition, which includes organisations such as the Blue Marine Foundation and the National Trust for Scotland, as well as groups such as the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation and the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust, hit out at 'broken promises' from the Government on the issue of marine protection. When is the SNP's leadership going to get their environmental priorities back on track? Read our new blog — Open Seas (@TheOpenSeas) May 5, 2025 These, they claimed, 'have led to serious environmental harm' and also 'disadvantaged small-scale, inshore, fishing businesses'. The coalition wants a minimum of 30% of Scotland's inshore waters to be protected from bottom-trawling and dredging, saying this will help the marine ecosystem and allow 'sustainable fishing to continue'. Calling on ministers to act, the groups said: 'The Scottish Government needs to deliver the protection of our inshore waters, as they hold the majority of Scotland's most important yet vulnerable habitats, species and ecosystems. 'Protecting Scotland's inshore waters will safeguard economically and culturally significant low impact fisheries, fishing jobs in coastal communities and ensure a healthy marine environment that will benefit people and the planet. 'The failure to deliver these policy measures is having continued, direct, negative impacts on the health of our marine environment and its capacity to support future generations.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has a legal requirement to put in place fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and measures for offshore MPAs will be implemented in 2025. 'We will consult on measures for inshore MPAs sites once the statutory assessments are completed.'
India Today
25-04-2025
- General
- India Today
David Attenborough launches new initiative to protect 30% of world's oceans
Oceans surrounding the countries of Britain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, the Philippines, and Indonesia are witnessing the effects of overfishing on their marine along with climate change, has become a major cause of disturbing the biodiversity of the tackle this, a new initiative is being launched by British naturalist David Attenborough to help communities profit from the efforts to protect at least 30% of the world's oceans by the decade's This initiative is led by the NGO Dynamic Planet and the National Geographic Society's Pristine Seas programme and will assist local communities in their efforts to establish "marine protected areas" in coastal waters."The worst enemy of fishing is overfishing," Enric Sala, executive director of National Geographic Pristine Seas told Reuters. Implementation of this treaty in the present year is essential to meet the global targets. (Photo: Getty) The researchers also mentioned that protecting marine areas would have economic benefits, by improving fishing yields and boosting also said Marine Protected Areas (MPA) creation has been far too slow, noting that more than 190,000 protected areas would need to be established in order to meet the "30 by 30" target - to bring 30% of the oceans under formal protection by marine life revives local economies and communities. It's time for the world to recognise that MPAs are the building blocks of the blue economy," said Kristin Rechberger, the founder of Revive Our Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, which was signed in 2023 to protect ocean biodiversity, was signed by more than 100 countries, but ratified by just countries, except the United States, are meeting in New York this year to discuss further measures to be taken. Whereas the treaty needs ratification by 60 countries to come into force."Countries are pulling out all the stops to fast-track ratification in several places," said Rebecca Hubbard, director of the High Seas of this treaty in the present year is essential to meet the global targets, as only 8% or 29 million square kilometres of oceans are protected.
STV News
21-04-2025
- General
- STV News
Ministers threatened with legal action over fishing of ‘vital' species
Ministers have been threatened with legal action if they do not shut down the fishing of a 'vital' species in marine protected areas. The Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT) said the fishing of wrasse risks the ecological integrity of reefs and kelp forests in Scotland's waters. The organisation has written to Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon urging her to ensure the law is being followed. The group says wrasse have in previous years been trapped in large numbers and used by the salmon aquaculture industry as cleaner fish in open-cage fish farms where they eat the lice. SIFT said the Scottish Government has allowed the fishery to operate without effective catch limits, without stock assessments and with a closed period which does not align with the wrasse spawning season. The organisation said fishing had even been allowed in Marine Protected Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. A 2020 academic paper, commissioned by NatureScot, found the 'impacts to these species are not consistent with the duty to protect these features'. SIFT said that despite this, the fishery was allowed to continue in protected areas. Environmental Standards Scotland was asked to investigate this situation, and ministers conceded that they should have conducted a formal assessment of the impact of this fishery on notionally protected areas. The fishery is currently being reviewed by NatureScot and Scottish Government ahead of the May 1 date on which the fishery has been opened in previous years, according to SIFT. Charles Millar, executive director of the group, said: 'Five years ago NatureScot commissioned research which showed that the wrasse fishery should not be permitted within protected marine habitats. 'This advice was ignored, and in the meantime, millions of these ecologically important fish have been removed to serve the aquaculture sector. 'Local eradication of wrasse populations is not just an ecological concern: the habitats they protect are also vital nursery grounds for our commercial fisheries. 'Sooner or later the practice of describing areas of our seas as protected while allowing destructive activity in them will have to end. 'The future of Scotland's wrasse populations will be determined in the next two weeks, but the Scottish Government has yet to publish NatureScot's advice. 'If ministers do intend to ignore their legal duties, there will be very little time for Parliament and Environmental Standards Scotland to hold them to account. 'This process is opaque at best, and if the fishery is not closed in the relevant protected areas, it could result in a legal challenge.' Dr David Bailey, of the University of Glasgow and a senior author of the 2020 paper commissioned by NatureScot, added: 'Five years ago, our research established that wrasse are typical species for a range of protected marine habitats, and that has legal as well as ecological implications. 'As we advised NatureScot at the time, the impacts of this fishery are simply not consistent with ministers' duty to protect those habitats. 'It may be the case that a well-managed wrasse fishery could take place on a sustainable basis outside protected areas but establishing that would require research which cannot even be done, as the locations where wrasse fishing has taken place have not been shared with us. 'However, both the ecology and the law point in the same direction now. 'The fishery must be closed within protected areas if we want these key species to survive in Scotland's waters, and if we want to ensure the integrity of internationally important reef ecosystems.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government has commissioned Seafish to undertake initial scoping work to help inform our approach to fisheries management plans for non-quota species, including wrasse.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
