The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recently announced the designation of 27 new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in inshore and offshore waters around the UK.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) welcomed this announcement, noting that the MCZs will further contribute to the emerging network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in UK waters.
Currently, the UK designates MPAs within inshore and offshore waters under European and national legislation.
Full report available here...
At a seminar in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 18 November 2013, Ton Sinh Thanh, ambassador of Sri Lanka spoke about the potential of developing the country's aquaculture industry with help from Vietnam.
Speaking to reporters at the seminar, Sinh Thanh said that Vietnam was assisting Sri Lanka in three aquaculture projects including growing seaweeds, sea cucumber, and the fattening of lobsters.
Full report available here..
Recently, Environment Canada, the agency of the Government of Canada approved the production of AquaBounty Technologies' genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon eggs in Canada.
However, the Environmental Advocacy Center of Panama (Centro de Incidencia Ambiental de Panama or CIAM) has submitted a complaint to the National Environmental Authority (NEA) in Panama alleging AquaBounty is in breach of environmental regulations in its research and development of the GM salmon.
AquaBounty currently produces its GM salmon eggs in a research facility in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The eggs are shipped to its Panama location for further research and development.
“How can islanders trust a company to manage the huge risks of growing GM fish eggs and fish? We’re concerned that GM salmon eggs from PEI could have already caused environmental problems in Panama,” said Sharon Labchuk of the PEI group 'Islanders Say No to Frankenfish.'
Full article available here...
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| Atlantic salmon eggs (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
