Just add water
All new developments across England will now have to include mini wetlands such as ponds and floodwater storage lakes that help to prevent flooding of homes and businesses. The move, which will benefit freshwater aquatic life, including frogs and newts, has been welcomed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which has been calling for change for over a decade.
Caught in creels
Whale deaths around Scotland from entanglement in lobster pot (‘creel’) gear roped along the seabed are much higher than previously thought. A new study estimates that 30 minke whales and six humpbacks may get entangled every year. Solutions could include working with fishers to replace floating lines with heavier ropes to join the creels.