The Government is reminding people of the conservation rules protecting seahorses following reports of a pair being discovered at Babbacombe, Devon.

Both seahorse species found in UK waters – long snouted (hippocampus guttulatus) and short snouted (hippocampus hippocampus) – are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and all species of seahorse are protected under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES.)

If you want to carry out an activity that would disturb a seahorse, or other UK or European protected species, you must have a marine wildlife licence, administered in England by the Marine Management Organisation. Such activities could include taking photographs, filming or surveys.

Intentionally disturbing seahorses without appropriate permission could lead to enforcement action. The MMO will consider applications for licences for scientific or education purposes on a case-by-case basis.

Where divers may incidentally encounter seahorses the MMO recommends the following guidelines are followed:

• Divers’ protocol from Dorset Wildlife Trust
• Divers’ protocol from the Seahorse Trust
• Wildlife Safe (WiSe) scheme guidelines for taking part in research or filming

Details of wildlife licences and applications are published online on the marine licensing public register.

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for the abstraction and impoundment of water.

These notices explain:

• what the application is about
• which Environment Agency offices you can visit to see the application documents on the public register
• when you need to comment by

We’re seeking evidence on how effectively and fairly Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) have operated between 2014 and 2018.

The evidence gathered will be used to prepare a statutory report into the conduct and operations of IFCAs.

The UK Radioactive Waste and Materials Inventory (UK Inventory) provides comprehensive information on a wide range of radioactive waste and material produced by organisations in various sectors including energy, medical, research, industrial and defence.

These producers are responsible for managing information about the nature and quantities of their inventories, as well as contributing data to a central collection that is updated every 3 years. This process is managed by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), and funded jointly with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The contract for the 2019 Inventory compilation and reporting is currently out to tender via the RWM Special Nuclear Services Framework Lot 3.

This approach seeks to review the NDA’s strategy to collecting and compiling inventory data, considering whether a different approach for managing the UK Inventory could have a positive impact across the sector.

Different options are being reviewed following developments in recent years that include:

• the requirement to ensure the UK complies with international reporting obligations for spent fuels and nuclear materials
• the establishment of a national inventory forum that brings UK practitioners together to share learning
• introduction of new data management systems across Magnox and LLWR
• the EU referendum
• updated information on international inventory management practices

This paper identifies credible options, outlines how these were assessed and proposes a preferred option.

Please submit comments by 31 August to strategy@nda.gov.uk

The Environment Agency publish oil and gas mining waste permits.

This decision includes the permit, decision document and standard rules set for:

• Operator name: Europa Oil and Gas Limited
• Facility name: Holmwood Wellsite
• Permit number: EPR/YP3735YK/A001