The Environment Agency is launching a public consultation on measures to protect salmon and sea trout in Yorkshire and the North East.

The Environment Agency wants to return healthy and sustainable salmon and sea trout populations to east coast rivers, while minimising the economic impact of fishing restrictions on local communities.

After taking public views into account, the Environment Agency will make a recommendation to Defra on the measures that should be put in place for the next ten years to balance the needs of the environment with those of the net fishery industry in tidal waters from Berwick on Tweed to the mouth of the Humber estuary.

It is illegal to net salmon or sea trout without a licence, and there is currently a Net Limitation Order in the region that means licences are limited in number. The current arrangements end on 22 December 2022, so this consultation provides people with an opportunity to influence how net fishing is managed in the future.

International decline in salmon

Fishing in the region has been limited in some way since the 1960’s and licenced since 1865. In the years since the first regional Net Limitation Order began in 1992, populations of salmon and sea trout seem to have improved in some areas but remain vulnerable and at risk in others. Evidence shows an international decline in wild Atlantic salmon populations with many principal salmon rivers in England now considered to be “Probably at Risk” or “At Risk”. Sea trout stocks are also dropping in a number of areas and are under pressure from fishing exploitation as salmon stocks decline.

Salmon and sea trout populations are also threatened by changes to their environment throughout their lifecycle caused by climate change and other human activities. The Environment Agency is looking at every stage of the species’ journey that steps can be taken to increase their chances of survival. This includes making river systems more accessible and rearing fish safely in a farm environment to return to rivers and boost wild stocks.

People encouraged to review proposals

Jon Shelley, Environment Agency Senior Fisheries Specialist, said:

The decline in the numbers of both salmon and sea trout is of great concern and we are determined to protect the future of these important species.

Every fish returned safely to our rivers could lead to improved numbers of adult salmon and sea trout spawning, helping to contribute to a reversal in the current decline of returning adult salmon and sea trout numbers. The Net Limitation Order is one example of the decisive action being taken by the Environment Agency and other organisations to help as many fish as possible return to east coast rivers.

I’d like to encourage  everyone with an interest in the well-being of our salmon and sea trout stocks, or an interest in the fishery, to review the proposals, participate in the consultation process and play a part in the recovery of these iconic species. The next generation should also be able to enjoy the benefits of sustainable salmon and sea trout fishing.

A month long consultation launches online today The survey will close on 17 June.

• The British Embassy, in tackling the misuse of journalistic language on LGBT+ topics renews its partnership with the Circolo Mario Mieli, a non- profit organisation for LGBT+ Culture.

• The commitment against LGBT+ discrimination analysed by two experts in the field: Ben Hunte for the UK and Senio Bonini for Italy.

• The fight against LGBT+ discrimination remains a priority for Her Majesty’s Government

The British Embassy in Italy renews its commitment to diversity and the defence of minority rights, choosing to open the doors of its splendid Roman residence, Villa Wolkonsky, to host a debate on “Media and LGBT+ Discrimination: UK and Italy Compared”.

After music, fashion and art, the British Embassy and the Mario Mieli NGO, organisers of Roma Pride, together put a spotlight on the language used by the Italian and British, and European, media. The media’s portrayal of the LGBT+ reality has often been controversial: from the most violent homophobic news cases to the ‘simple’ presence of LGBT+ people in the world of show business, sport, television entertainment.

The lack of proper use of terminology by the media and social media is a symptom of a much wider reality. Language, therefore, becomes a sounding board of a lack of basic information and becomes a means, at times unconscious, of discrimination against a community that struggles to claim its identity and conquer a social reality that, on the contrary, discriminates, threatens, offends, mortifies, kills. For the mere rejection of what is different.

Deputy Ambassador Eleanor Sanders said:

As the representative of Her Majesty’s Government in Italy, my goal is to do everything I can to implement and emphasise the importance of defending diversity in all social spheres. More needs to be done, everywhere in the world, to ensure that LGBT+ people feel safe and are treated equally throughout society. I am very proud to be here today, together with my friends at Mario Mieli, trying to achieve this goal. It is differences that enrich us, bring new perspectives and points of view, thus enabling us to improve ourselves and the communities in which we live.

Mario Colamarino, President of the Mario Mieli Club, commented:

I am happy, as President of the Mario Mieli Club, that also the new Ambassador of the United Kingdom opens the doors of his residence to our association, to our issues and to the approaching Roma Pride. Being able to confront such topical issues allows everyone to grow and feel less alone in this battle for civilisation and overcoming prejudices, even in such a difficult time as the one we are living through. Comparison and culture have always been the strongest weapon against all forms of marginalisation.

The event, organised with the Mario Mieli LGBT+ Culture Circle, will feature, among others, journalists Ben Hunte and Senio Bonini.

• Ben Hunte was the BBC’s first LGBT+ correspondent. He has always covered stories about sexuality and gender. He was also, throughout his career, a correspondent from North Africa. In July 2020, Ben was ranked number one on The Guardian and DIVA Magazine’s Pride Power List.

• Senio Bonini, host of Agorà Extra on Rai3, is a journalist and TV author. A former correspondent for Rainews24, he has followed the Council Presidency for years. He is civilly united with Rosario and is the father of two little twins, Leo and Luna.

This event is part of a wider context of initiatives and activities related to the LGBT+ universe undertaken by the British Embassy in Italy. In fact, in addition to supporting Pride, on 11 June, the overseas mission will participate in the Roma Pride parade, proud to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Pride in London this year.

The confirmation of the presence of the British delegation symbolises the attention with which Ambassador Ed Lewellyn, and the entire overseas mission, deals with such a relevant social issue. The Embassy’s actions are part of the Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office’s action strategy.

Sellafield’s Magnox plant will stop reprocessing in July 2022 and enter a new era of clean-up and decommissioning.

It will mark the end of an operational journey that began in 1964.

The plant has played a crucial role in UK energy generation. It received and reprocessed nearly 55,000 tonnes of spent (or used) nuclear fuel from power stations across the country, and Italy and Japan.

That allowed the UK’s 11 Magnox power stations to keep low carbon electricity flowing to homes and businesses in England, Scotland, and Wales.

The final Magnox station closed in 2015. Spent fuel from the UK’s current fleet of AGR nuclear power stations will continue to be sent for storage at Sellafield.

David Peattie, chief executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), said:

The end of reprocessing at Magnox marks the successful completion of the NDA’s Magnox Operating Programme.

It’s the culmination of decades of hard work to safely, securely, and cost-effectively manage the UK’s nuclear legacy.

Sellafield can now move from the reprocessing phase of its life into a future focused on decommissioning and clean-up.

A special thanks must go to the Sellafield workforce and all those who worked on the programme and have contributed to its success.

Martin Chown, Sellafield Ltd chief executive officer, said:

This is a landmark moment for Sellafield.

When these operations end, we will have fulfilled our promise to conclude our reprocessing programme in a safe, secure, and environmentally-conscious manner.

It’s a clear demonstration of us delivering our purpose to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.

Employee numbers in the plant will remain roughly similar during the post-operational clean-out phase. This is expected to take about two years.

Anyone whose role is no longer required after this will be redeployed to other work within the company.