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Six new research projects that aim to build a sustainable future for the marine environment and those whose livelihoods depend on it were announced today.
Researchers have received a share of £9.2 million from UK Research and Innovation to investigate how to safeguard the marine and coastal economy while protecting sea ecosystems.
The marine economy is worth £48 billion, but coastal communities are facing increased pressures from climate change, threats to marine wildlife, and economic challenges.
One team of multi-disciplinary researchers will investigate how and where meadows of seagrass can be restored in UK coastal waters. Seagrass is important in supporting marine wildlife, capturing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and improving the productivity of fisheries. However, many seagrass meadows have been destroyed in recent years, caused by disease, disturbance, and pollution.
Scottish fishers have called on retailers and food suppliers to stop sourcing Norwegian and Faroese mackerel after the two countries unilaterally increased their quota shares.
The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) and the Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA) are demanding action from members of the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), whose members include leading retailers, feed producers and processors committed to sustainable quota shares.
Both Norway and the Faroe Islands raised their mackerel quota shares by 55 percent after coastal nations failed to reach an agreement on how to divide up the catch.
Norway supports of zonal attachment, where fishing quota is linked to where the fish are located but Norway has been catching less mackerel in its own waters and more in UK waters in recent times, a trend supported by the heavier presence of Norwegian vessels, SPFA Chief Executive Ian Gatt noted.
The Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association and Shetland Fishermen’s Association have warned the UK government not to agree a quota exchange paid for with Scottish quotas