1 Climb OnBoard

Opportunities for young people to get involved in sailing and windsurfing across Northern Ireland have been strengthened with the opening of two new RYA OnBoard providers on the shores of Strangford Lough.
Both Quoile Yacht Club and Newtownards Sailing Club are welcoming, inclusive hubs for families wanting to sail and windsurf.

2 Electric dreams

RYA Scotland has taken part in the pre-application consultation for the proposed Westray Tidal Array in the Westray Firth, Orkney. Orbital Marine Power's plans would involve installing around 70 O2-style floating tidal turbines, with a generating capacity of about 170 MW of renewable electricity. The development would also incorporate moorings, seabed anchors and inter-array and electrical export cables.

3 Black bream revival

A conservation project in Sussex has reported an increase in black sea bream as well as mussel beds stretching over a kilometre, after a ban on bottom trawling. The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project said a 'quiet but powerful transformation is unfolding beneath the waves' since it launched five years ago.

The project, which is run by the Sussex Wildlife Trust, was launched following the introduction of a byelaw in 2021 protecting a 302 sq km/117 sq mile area between Shoreham and Selsey in West Sussex. According to the charity, 96% of the county’s kelp forests present in the late 1980s had disappeared by 2019.

4 Heritage hopes

Waterways Ireland has launched its Heritage & Biodiversity Plan 2030, which sets out how the cross-border body will steward and enhance the 1,100km of navigable inland waterways within its remit over the next five years. The plan’s focus is on achieving three core objectives: aiming to ensure that the heritage and biodiversity of Ireland’s waterways remain protected, accessible and aligned with international and national commitments, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The consultation process 'outlines a clear pathway for the custodianship of our shared inland waterways, ensuring their resilience for wildlife and ecosystems that depend on them, and ensuring continued enjoyment for local communities and visitors for generations to come'.

5 Traffic tracker

The Port of London Authority is carrying out a major £10 million transformation of its marine control centre in Gravesend, Kent. The project is designed to upgrade vessel tracking in anticipation of a massive increase in river traffic by 2050.

6 Home for oysters

A new habitat for native oysters has been created in Chichester Harbour to help restore the species, which has declined by 96% due to overfishing, disease, invasive species and poor water quality. The project involved laying gravel and oyster shell on the seabed before introducing 20,000 native oysters, with help from 260 volunteers. Native oysters improve water quality, support marine wildlife and help store carbon. The protected restoration area has been designated a No Anchor Zone, with further restoration work planned in the next two years.

7 Bollards for boaters

The Canal & River Trust has launched a pilot of accessible mooring bollards on the Grand Union Canal near Milton Keynes. Developed with the Accessible Waterways Association and Birmingham City University, the large bollards aim to make tying up safer and easier for boaters, especially those with disabilities or limited mobility. They are designed to be easier to use from a seated position with brighter markings making them easier to see for those with impaired vision. Data and feedback will be gathered to monitor the difference they make.

8 Bridge upset

At the time of writing, the Reedham Swing Bridge on the River Yare in the Norfolk Broads was closed to river traffic following a failure of its central pivot bearing. Network Rail and
the Broads Authority are carrying out major  repair works. Teams are testing if the bridge can be manually swung on a limited basis to provide some access. Boaters have a legal right to navigate the Broads’ 200km/125 miles of waterways. For updates, visit broads-authority.gov.uk

9 Funds needed

A fleet of boats travelled along the River Great Ouse in July as part of a campaign calling for urgent government investment in the UK's inland waterways. The Navigating for Change cruise, organised by the Great Ouse Boating Association and Fund Britain’s Waterways, highlighted a funding crisis that has left ageing locks and weirs in need of repair. The Environment Agency estimates that the Anglia region faces an annual funding shortfall of between £6 million and £11 million.