The Conservation Area

The battle to halt plans for a shutdown of fishing grounds off the west coast yesterday won support from a major conservation group.

WWF campaigners said there was no need for the closure proposed by the European Commission (EC) to rebuild white-fish stocks.

But the WFF said it was vital to step up conservation measures in the area to allow vital fisheries to stay open, while protecting stocks of cod, haddock and whiting.

Liberal Democrat fisheries spokesman Liam McArthur warned that west coast shutdown could have implications further afield.

He wants Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead, who is fighting the proposal at end-of-year fish quota talks in Brussels today, to recognise the impact it could have on other coastal communities.

Adding its backing to the Scottish and UK government efforts to avoid a shutdown, the WWF said voluntary closures, specially adapted prawn nets and by-catch quotas could all help to achieve conservation aims.

WWF Scotland marine policy officer Louize Hill added: “Adopting all the measures proposed by WWF would allow this fishery to remain open, ensure the protection of white-fish stocks and allow the fishery to become more sustainable.”

It is feared a shutdown would be a hammer blow to west coast prawn fishing, which is worth more than £30million a year.

About 150 prawn trawlers and 35 white-fish vessels would be affected.

The WFF insisted square mesh panels in prawn trawl nets would allow white-fish species to escape while retaining the target catch. It added: “These panels should be adopted by all vessels.”

A decision on the closure proposal – and other fishing rules for 2009 – will be announced by EU fisheries ministers at the conclusion of their negotiations, likely to end early tomorrow.

Readt he rest of the wonderful piece from The Press and Journal here!

Plans for a 10-acre site next to 47 Bridge Road show 49 homes, allotments, gardens and open spaces, more than 28,000 plants and shrubs and a wetland area.

There will also be nine commercial units to be used as offices and a research/visitors’ centre which could all be occupied in four years’ time.

The £7.5 million development will allow people to live an eco-friendly lifestyle by generating their own energy and water, waste management and food supplies without resorting to the use of fossil fuels.

Architect Jerry Harrall, of Sustainable Ecological Architecture, who is behind the Sustainable Settlement Extension, says the project is the culmination of many years’ work for him and is his most important development to date.

Dr Harrall said the scheme will promote a low carbon work-life ethic.

He said: “It will inform, influence and inspire the rest of the area. It becomes a benchmark delivering the agenda of autonomy.

“Woe betide anyone who ignores the inevitable. We have got to plan for it. Everything here will be fossil fuel free. This is what the eco-town movement should be doing. The businesses and homes here will run on at least 70 per cent less energy.”

Read more of this great article from Spalding today here!

An “eco-sculpture” which can turn toxic gasses from cars back into oxygen and nitrates has been unveiled in Dundee.

The public artwork, entitled Catalyst, is a life-size model of a car draped in a sheet.

It has been installed near Greenmarket Car Park and Sensation science centre and was created by city-based artists Louise Scullion and Matthew Dalziel.

It is believed that this is the first time the concrete which can convert the pollutants has been used in the UK.

It contains catalytic titanium dioxide which reacts with light and triggers nitric oxides, carbon monoxide and sulphur monoxide to break apart.

Materials such as nitrates would then drain off with the next rainfall into the soil for plants to use.

Mr Dalziel said: “The material was originally developed for use on pavements in congested urban areas to improve air quality.

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The IDF is training its officers to take care of the environment. From environmental lessons in officers’ course to coordination of army moves with park rangers in the area. “Respect yourselves and the environment too and your soldiers will respect you the more for it.”

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From conservation in your home to reducing toxicity, here are 100 ways to save the environment.

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