How organisations in the UK are meeting their various commitments to source sustainable palm oil and reporting key developments within their sectors.
This is the final update to commitments made in the sustainable production of palm oil: UK statement.
Details of the prosecution of Mr Murray McGregor. Published in February 2017.
On 18th January 2017 at Perth Sherif Court, Mr Murray McGregor plead guilty to importing an unauthorised veterinary medicinal product, possession of an unauthorised veterinary medicinal product and that he did administer an unauthorised veterinary medicine under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2008 and 2009.
These charges related to the product Terramycin 100MR which was administered to Mr McGregor’s bee hives.
On 1st February 2017 at Perth Sherif Court, Mr Murray McGregor was fined £2500, reduced by a third from £3750 for an early plea.
Two new fish passes on a Northumberland stream are giving salmon and sea trout easier access to 22km of watercourse.
The work by the Environment Agency and Northumberland Rivers Trust at South Low, in north Northumberland near Berwick, is making it easier for fish to migrate and spawn.
Two large weirs were preventing fish movement upstream, but both weirs have been changed to make it easier for sea trout and salmon to make their way to their spawning grounds.
It follows work to make it easier for fish to pass through Environment Agency tidal gates at the coast, where the sea meets the stream.
Since then, work has been taking place to make it easier for fish to move further upstream.
Upstream weir before it was altered to make it easier for fish migration
The new upstream fish pass after alterations were made to the weir to make it into a rock pass
Robbie Stevenson, Fisheries Technical Officer with the Environment Agency, said:
We’ve worked closely with partners to carry out a lot of positive work in this area, to look at issues which might be having an impact on fish populations.
The alterations to the weirs will open up 22km of watercourse for fish and make it far easier for them to travel upstream.
We’ve worked really hard together with our partners over the years to make dramatic improvements to water quality.
But there is always more we can do and this project at South Low is the sort of work which is taking place right across the North East and the country to protect and enhance our rivers and streams.
The £100,000 project has been part funded by the Environment Agency, supplemented by private landowner contributions and the work carried out by volunteers.
Peter Kerr, Director of Northumberland Rivers Trust, who was also designer and project manager for this project, added:
We are delighted to have been able to add these two important fish passes by working in partnership.
The contractors, WL Straughan and Son, did an excellent job in some challenging weather conditions, including the floods following Storm Angus.
After we completed the lower of the passes we saw some big sea trout trying to get past the upper weir, so we are confident that the lower one works well and that there are many migratory fish trying to return to the South Low.
The recent completion of the upper pass will now let these fish access many miles of spawning gravels.
Two new fish passes on a Northumberland stream are giving salmon and sea trout easier access to 22km of watercourse.
The work by the Environment Agency and Northumberland Rivers Trust at South Low, in north Northumberland near Berwick, is making it easier for fish to migrate and spawn.
Two large weirs were preventing fish movement upstream, but both weirs have been changed to make it easier for sea trout and salmon to make their way to their spawning grounds.
It follows work to make it easier for fish to pass through Environment Agency tidal gates at the coast, where the sea meets the stream.
Since then, work has been taking place to make it easier for fish to move further upstream.
Robbie Stevenson, Fisheries Technical Officer with the Environment Agency, said:
We’ve worked closely with partners to carry out a lot of positive work in this area, to look at issues which might be having an impact on fish populations.
The alterations to the weirs will open up 22km of watercourse for fish and make it far easier for them to travel upstream.
We’ve worked really hard together with our partners over the years to make dramatic improvements to water quality.
But there is always more we can do and this project at South Low is the sort of work which is taking place right across the North East and the country to protect and enhance our rivers and streams.
The £100,000 project has been part funded by the Environment Agency, supplemented by private landowner contributions and the work carried out by volunteers.
Peter Kerr, Director of Northumberland Rivers Trust, who was also designer and project manager for this project, added:
We are delighted to have been able to add these two important fish passes by working in partnership.
The contractors, WL Straughan and Son, did an excellent job in some challenging weather conditions, including the floods following Storm Angus.
After we completed the lower of the passes we saw some big sea trout trying to get past the upper weir, so we are confident that the lower one works well and that there are many migratory fish trying to return to the South Low.
The recent completion of the upper pass will now let these fish access many miles of spawning gravels.
International Development Secretary comments on the launch of the United Nations 2017 funding appeal for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The United Nations has today (8th February) launched an appeal for US$2.1 billion to provide life-saving assistance to 12 million people in Yemen in 2017.
International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:
Today, the UN has launched its new humanitarian plan for Yemen, setting out the steps it will take to save lives in 2017 and the funding it requires to be able to do that.
Last year, UK aid ensured life-saving food, medical supplies, clean water and emergency shelter reached more than one million Yemenis in desperate need across the country and we will once again be supporting this new appeal.
At the UN General Assembly last September, the UK Government secured more than $100 million [approximately £80 million] in new funding for Yemen and a commitment from UN agencies to strengthen their response to the crisis. As the UN launches its new appeal today, we will continue to push donors and partners alike to step up their efforts and to keep pace with the UK response.
It is imperative that all parties to the conflict ensure lifesaving assistance can get through and aid agencies get the unfettered access they require. At the same time, the international community must provide the UN with the funding it is calling for along with the political pressure to ensure aid reaches those who need it.