A pioneering conference, bringing together groups concerned with the health of the marine environment off the Cumbrian coast, is to take place later this month.
The inaugural North West Marine Ecosystems Conference 2025 will be held at The Storey Institute in Lancaster on June 30.
The event is organised by the North West Coastal Forum and the North West Wildlife Trusts. Both organisations are involved in crucial work to highlight issues affecting sea life and working towards ways of improving the area.
Topics to be discussed range from oceanography and fishing to water quality and marine spatial planning.
Linn Wiberg, of the forum, said: “This one-day conference is an opportunity to develop networks, open communication and build relationships among people in the marine and coastal community,”
The initiative follows similar movements in the South West and east coast.
Speakers at the event in Lancaster will include Annabel Plumeridge of the North West Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority, Sarah Neill of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Gill Notman of the University of Cumbria
Linn added: “As well as researchers in these areas we’re also interested in citizen scientists, members of the public interested in the sea where they live.
“A lot of people can work in silos and the aim of the forum and this event is to create a community of people keen to make a difference in the area.”
A state of the south west seas report has been produced and there is hope a similar publication could be written for the North West.
