Updated: This regulatory position statement has been extended for one year until 19 August 2019.
The Environment Agency will review this RPS by 19 August 2019. You will need to check back then to see if it still applies.
Version 2.
Ecosystem services are benefit flows to humans from natural ecosystems. Natural capital is the stock of natural ecosystems from which these benefits flow. Mismanagement of natural capital assets or unsustainable use of a service ultimately has negative impacts on benefits obtained.
Pathways linking natural capital assets to goods and services that benefit humans are complex and linked requiring ecosystem level consideration. To implement natural capital and ecosystem services approaches requires
understanding of the:
Opportunities for investing in other types of natural capital that are not currently present should also be explored.
Understanding the benefits obtained from natural capital; the assets that underpin them; and how investment, intervention or management might affect these benefits, is needed for long-term planning.
Many individual species and habitats receive statutory protection under a range of legislative provisions. The protection afforded is different depending on the legislation but can for example range from a duty to further the conservation of the living organisms and types of habitat to preventing intentional injury, removal or death of certain species or damage to habitats.
The MMO receives advice on protected species and habitats from the statutory nature conservation bodies. Additionally, the environmental assessment process may also provide information on protected species and habitats but there is a lack of a coherent evidence base, in terms of distribution and condition, at a national scale. A common understanding of the distribution and condition of relevant habitats and species would improve the transparency and consistency of marine licensing.
The MMO wishes to improve evidence on species and habitats distribution and condition outside of designated sites that may be affected by marine developments. Lists of relevant marine protected species are either included or referred to within MMO web pages on marine species protection.
The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for Radioactive Substances Activity. The arrangements are explained in its Public Participation Statement
These notices explain:
The Environment Agency will decide:
The Environment Agency is reminding anglers of the importance of having a rod licence after three men were handed hefty fines for fishing illegally in separate offences.
They were caught during targeted patrols by Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers.
Each was fined a total of £611, ordered to pay costs of £127 and a victim surcharge of £44.
The offences were all proved in absence at County Durham and Darlington Magistrates’ Court on 13 September.
The Environment Agency’s Fisheries Technical Specialist for the North East, Kevin Summerson, said:
It is wrong for anglers to think they can avoid paying for a licence. Those that do are cheating their fellow anglers.
Environment Agency Fisheries Officers are out checking licences almost every day of the year at all times of day. It’s just not worth it to fish without the appropriate licence. The most a coarse and trout licence costs is £45, which would cover an angler for one year from the date of purchase and, where conditions permit, allow the angler to fish with up to three rods.
With what it has cost these anglers in fines, costs and victim surcharge they could have fished legally for over 10 years.
All income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.
Buying a rod licence is quick and easy – you can buy them online at the Post Office.
The Environment Agency urges anyone to report illegal fishing by calling 0800 80 70 60.