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Wednesday 15 May 2019

Devon Maritime Forum > May newsletter:

Here's this month's newsletter from the Devon Maritime Forum - an excellent place to go for up-to-date information:





We hope you had a fantastic Easter and have been enjoying the wonderful spring weather, here is the latest newsletter from the DMF...


This month's newsletter features your usual roundup of local and national stories, key marine research and reports and information on consultations you can get involved with. There is also special features on Mental Health at Sea, Invasive Species Week and Imogen Napper's research on 'biodegradable' bags. Read on to find out more...


Upcoming Events


May 18: Exe Spring Clean up 2019 Exe Estuary Management Partnership

May 18: Plastic Free Spring Fayre North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
JUN 4 - JUN 6: Challenge of Science Leadership Training Course Plymouth University

Jun 8: South West Maritime History Society AGM South West Maritime History Society 


Its Mental Health Awareness Week (13 - 19 May) and we thought we would highlight this amazing campaign by the Sailors Society. More than a quarter of seafarers suffer from depression. Long contracts at sea, thousands of miles away from families and friends – often with inconsistent or no Wi-Fi – can be incredibly isolating and challenging. Click HERE to find out more!


Local News


New Management Plan for the Outstanding North Devon Coast with ambitious plans to deliver improvements for places, people and wildlife, the updated Management Plan for the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is now live more

University Students Participate in Plastic Pollution Expedition to India scientists from the University of Plymouth are taking part in an all-female expedition studying plastic pollution in one of the world’s most iconic waterways more
D&S IFCA Set to Close Public Shellfish Beds the D&S IFCA Byelaw & Permitting Sub-Committee has taken the decision to apply a temporary closure to public shellfish beds in both the Teign and Exe Estuary more

New Drive to Cut Carbon Emissions Across Devon Devon County Council leader John Hart is pledging cash support towards a new drive to cut carbon emissions and tackle climate change more


But what does 'biodegradable' mean?
 
Biodegradable plastic bags are still capable of carrying full loads of shopping after being exposed in the natural environment for three years! Imogen Napper of Plymouth University explains below:
 
“After three years, I was really amazed that any of the bags could still hold a load of shopping. For a biodegradable bag to be able to do that was the most surprising. When you see something labelled in that way, I think you automatically assume it will degrade more quickly than conventional bags. But, after three years at least, our research shows that might not be the case.”

Full press release available here


National & International News


UN agency meets to tackle Pollution and Emissions by Ships this week is the 74th meeting of the marine environmental protection committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) more

Mariana Trench: Deepest-ever Sub Dive Finds Plastic Bag an American explorer has found plastic waste on the seafloor while breaking the record for the deepest ever dive more
Image: Reeve Joliffe
Maritime UK Launch Inaugural National Awards Programme the Maritime UK Awards will be the first truly national maritime awards in the UK, organised by industry, for the benefit of industry more

Scientists Test Radical Ways to Fix Earth's Climate scientists in Cambridge plan to set up a research centre to develop new ways to repair Earth's climate more

Image: BBC



Research and Reports


Study Explores the Use of Robots and Artificial Intelligence to Understand the Deep Sea more (Plymouth University)

New Study Reveals that Marine Diatoms have Evolved Novel Signalling Mechanisms for Environmental Sensing  more
(Marine Biological Association)
Ocean Acidification Impacts on Coastal Ecosystem Services due to Habitat Degradation more  (Emerging Topics in Life Sciences)

The rise in ocean plastics evidenced from a 60-year time series more (Nature Communications) 



Did You Know?
 
Invasive non-native species harm the environment and wildlife, are costly to the economy, and can even pose a risk to our health and way of life.

Visit Natural Devon's 'Devon Invasive Species Initiative' page to find out more about invasive species in the county and surrounding areas.


Consultations




If you have any news or events that you would like included in the next edition of the DMF newsletter please get in touch 




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