Last month, Anna attended the first annual International Conference on Environmental Interactions with Marine Renewables, held in Kirkwall Orkney and involving a broad range of stakeholders in the industry.

In his Autumn Statement last week, the Chancellor George Osborne set out his views on how to improve the economy and tackle the debt crisis. Amongst other matters, he included a few comments in relation to UK environmental legislation that have not gone down well with conservation bodies such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.

The European Commission has published new guidance on Wind Energy developments and Natura 2000.

Technical director Carlos Abrahams recently visited the House of Lords for the presentation of the 2011 Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Medal to Mr Pavan Sukhdev.

In association with the BES Aquatic Ecology Group and sponsored by Baker Consultants, a national meeting on the conservation and management of drawdown zones is being held on Wednesday 16th June.