Dogger Bank to get special marine protection Over 12,000 square km of species rich sandbank, an area almost double the size of Devon, has become Britain’s latest marine protected area to safeguard important sea life and habitats.   The Dogger Bank is in the middle of the North Sea and crosses the offshore waters of the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.  The UK section has been submitted by the Government to the European Commission and now has candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) status. It will be the largest European Marine Site to be submitted by any Member State for protection and links up with the existing sites in Germany and the Netherlands.

Dogger Bank to get special marine protection

Over 12,000 square km of species rich sandbank, an area almost double the size of Devon, has become Britain’s latest marine protected area to safeguard important sea life and habitats.  

The Dogger Bank is in the middle of the North Sea and crosses the offshore waters of the UK, the Netherlands and Germany.  The UK section has been submitted by the Government to the European Commission and now has candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) status.

It will be the largest European Marine Site to be submitted by any Member State for protection and links up with the existing sites in Germany and the Netherlands.

1 year ago
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# uk
# dogger bank
# special area of conservation
# europe
# science
# nature
A rare species of ladybird has been rediscovered breeding in the UK for the first time in nearly 60 years. The breeding population of 13-spot ladybirds were found in the Axe Estuary Wetlands in Devon by a student. Sporadic sightings have been recorded since 1952, but not of the species breeding. “As soon as I saw the larva I was fairly sure it was a 13-spot – it’s something I’ve dreamt of finding,” said Richard Comont, the PhD student who made the discovery. The insect was found during a “Bioblitz” event,where the public works with scientists to record all the insect species in an area. James Chubb, education ranger for East Devon district council, said: “With the experts we had on the day I knew that we would find loads of really interesting and unusual creatures, but never for a second did I think we’d make a discovery of this magnitude.” The 13-spot ladybird lives in wetlands and is believed to have re-colonised Britain from the Channel Islands or France. “It is a rare bit of good news for British ladybirds,” said Comont. A census published in June showed one fifth of native British species of ladybird were declining due to competition from invasive species such as the Asian harlequin ladybird, which is larger and breeds faster.

A rare species of ladybird has been rediscovered breeding in the UK for the first time in nearly 60 years.

The breeding population of 13-spot ladybirds were found in the Axe Estuary Wetlands in Devon by a student. Sporadic sightings have been recorded since 1952, but not of the species breeding.

“As soon as I saw the larva I was fairly sure it was a 13-spot – it’s something I’ve dreamt of finding,” said Richard Comont, the PhD student who made the discovery. The insect was found during a “Bioblitz” event,where the public works with scientists to record all the insect species in an area.

James Chubb, education ranger for East Devon district council, said: “With the experts we had on the day I knew that we would find loads of really interesting and unusual creatures, but never for a second did I think we’d make a discovery of this magnitude.”

The 13-spot ladybird lives in wetlands and is believed to have re-colonised Britain from the Channel Islands or France.

“It is a rare bit of good news for British ladybirds,” said Comont. A census published in June showed one fifth of native British species of ladybird were declining due to competition from invasive species such as the Asian harlequin ladybird, which is larger and breeds faster.

1 year ago
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# uk
# ladybirds
# rediscovered
# animals
# insects
Time for some good news: Two otters have been seen in Kent, signalling their return to every English county following efforts to save them from extinction. Kent was the only county found without otters in a survey of rivers across England carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) last year. Since then at least two otters have been spotted, with holts on the Medway and Eden rivers, the EA said. A survey on the Ribble in Lancashire showed a 44% increase since 2008. Otter numbers fell as a result of toxic pesticides, which damaged their health and reduced their supplies of fish. They had almost disappeared from England by the 1970s. ‘Great success’ Improvements in water quality, along with legal protection, has helped their recovery. “The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England” Alastair DriverEnvironment Agency “The recovery of otters from near-extinction shows how far we’ve come in controlling pollution and improving water quality,” said the EA’s national conservation manager, Alastair Driver. “Rivers in England are the healthiest for over 20 years and otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to many rivers for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. “The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation.” The otter survey of England, which examined 3,327 river sites between July 2009 and March 2010, showed the number of places with evidence of otter life had increased tenfold in 30 years. But recovery was slowest in the South East, with conservationists predicting otters may not be resident in Kent for another 10 years. Their return was also a “fantastic reward” for efforts by the agency to improve water quality, said Mr Driver.

Time for some good news: Two otters have been seen in Kent, signalling their return to every English county following efforts to save them from extinction.

Kent was the only county found without otters in a survey of rivers across England carried out by the Environment Agency (EA) last year.

Since then at least two otters have been spotted, with holts on the Medway and Eden rivers, the EA said.

A survey on the Ribble in Lancashire showed a 44% increase since 2008.

Otter numbers fell as a result of toxic pesticides, which damaged their health and reduced their supplies of fish. They had almost disappeared from England by the 1970s.

‘Great success’

Improvements in water quality, along with legal protection, has helped their recovery.

“The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England”

Alastair DriverEnvironment Agency

“The recovery of otters from near-extinction shows how far we’ve come in controlling pollution and improving water quality,” said the EA’s national conservation manager, Alastair Driver.

“Rivers in England are the healthiest for over 20 years and otters, salmon and other wildlife are returning to many rivers for the first time since the Industrial Revolution.

“The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation.”

The otter survey of England, which examined 3,327 river sites between July 2009 and March 2010, showed the number of places with evidence of otter life had increased tenfold in 30 years.

But recovery was slowest in the South East, with conservationists predicting otters may not be resident in Kent for another 10 years.

Their return was also a “fantastic reward” for efforts by the agency to improve water quality, said Mr Driver.

1 year ago
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# otters
# good news
# UK