Environment & Agriculture

230 FOI requests relate to this topic across 16 authorities. Full disclosure rate: 29.6%.

By Authority

By Year

Outcomes

Notable Cases (63)

[-] Castletown Golf Links Hotel

2026-02-04 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | Some information sent but part exempt

The request sought correspondence regarding the Castletown Golf Links Hotel demolition between DEFA and Langness Golf Course Limited from 2022 to 2026. The authority released partial information, including a detailed email from February 2026 outlining environmental precautions for bats, runoff management, and sewage investigations, while redacting specific sections.

• Demolition of the Castletown Golf Links Hotel is planned for early 2026.
• DEFA advised that the timing is suboptimal for bats due to hibernation potential in the cold building.
• Specific protocols were provided for handling bats found during soft demolition, including emergency contact numbers.

Data: 02 February 2026, 15 January 2026, 1st January 2022, 31st January 2026, 651577

[-] Reports

2026-01-30 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | No information sent - all held but exempt

The requester asked for all DEFA commissioned reports on Isle of Man Meats since 2022, but the Department withheld the information citing an exemption for material intended for future publication.

• The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture holds the requested reports but refused to disclose them.
• The information is exempt under Section 41 as it is held with a view to future publication.
• The Department plans to publish the reports on its website by 01 June 2026.

Data: 2022, 2026-01-30, 2026-02-25, 01 June 2026, 5266617

[~] Carbon Literacy Training

2025-11-26 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | Some information sent but not all held

A request sought the specific benefits and efficiency impacts of £50,450.38 spent on Carbon Literacy training, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture clarified the actual cost was £42,350.38 and refused to provide interpretative opinions on the training's value, instead directing the requester to a project review document.

• The Department corrected the requested expenditure figure from £50,450.38 to £42,350.38.
• Information regarding the specific benefits and efficiency impacts was withheld as it constitutes opinion rather than recorded information.
• A link to the 'Review of Carbon Literacy Project for the Isle of Man Public Service' was provided as an alternative source of information.

Data: £50,450.38, £42,350.38, £730, £10 per head, 507 staff

[-] Agri-Environmental Budget

2025-11-26 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | No information sent - all held but exempt

The requester asked for Agri-Environment Annual Payment Reports for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to investigate rumors of budget reallocation to a meat plant. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld the reports under Section 41 as they are held for future publication, but confirmed the budget was not reallocated.

• The Agri-Environmental Scheme budget has not been reallocated to Isle of Man Meats.
• The requested payment reports for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 are exempt from disclosure.
• The exemption is based on Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information for future publication).

Data: 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 26 November 2025

[+] The cost.

2025-11-26 | Department of Infrastructure | All information sent

The request asked for the total cost incurred by the Department of Infrastructure regarding the Orsted wind farm. The authority disclosed that costs increased by £46,461.56 since November 2024, bringing the total to £513,818.56, while noting this excludes legislation preparation costs.

• The total cost for the Orsted wind farm application is £513,818.56 as of 30 November 2025.
• An additional £46,461.56 was spent between 27 November 2024 and 30 November 2025.
• The previous reported cost in November 2024 was £467,357.

Data: £513,818.56, £46,461.56, £467,357, 27th November 2024, 30th November 2025

[~] How many fish died as a result of draining clypse reservoir?

2025-11-18 | Manx Utilities Authority | Some information sent but not all held

The request sought information on fish mortality and replacement costs due to the draining of Clypse Reservoir. The authority disclosed a risk assessment detailing mitigation strategies to relocate fish rather than kill them, but did not provide specific mortality counts or financial costs.

• Fish stocking was paused in early July 2025 to allow fish to relocate.
• Slow water release was implemented to enable fish to leave via conduits to Kerrowdhoo.
• Stranded fish were to be relocated by DEFA to Kerrowdhoo.

Data: 06.08.2025, early July, <300mm a day, 25, 5

[-] Fishing boat PL 777 Boy Shayne

2025-11-14 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | Some information sent but part exempt

The request sought details on government grants for the fishing boat Boy Shayne, including purchase price contributions and date. The authority confirmed a 40% grant was provided under a 2003 scheme but withheld the owner's contribution due to personal data exemptions and stated the specific purchase date is not recorded.

• The Boy Shayne received a government grant under the Fishing Vessels (Financial Assistance) Scheme 2003.
• The grant covered 40% of the vessel's purchase price.
• The specific amount contributed by the owner was withheld as personal information.

Data: 40%, September 2011, 2003, PL 777, 5086457

[~] Fallen Stock and AWPP

2025-09-08 | Attorney General's Chambers | Not required to fulfill request

A request for communications regarding the Animal Waste Processing Plant and fallen stock held by the Attorney General's Chambers was refused because fulfilling it would require substantial compilation of information.

• The request was received on 2025-09-08 and the outcome was issued on 2025-09-22.
• The authority refused the request under section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The refusal was based on the requirement to undertake substantial compilation or collation of information under section 8(3)(c).

Data: 2025-09-08, 2025-09-22, 1st September 2023, 5th September 2025, section 11(3)(b)

[-] IOM Meats Accounts

2025-08-05 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | No information sent - all held but exempt

The requester sought audited financial accounts for Isle of Man Meats from 2021 to the latest year, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture withheld the 2022-23 accounts under a future publication exemption and stated it did not hold the 2023-24 and 2024-25 accounts.

• The 2021-22 accounts were deemed accessible by other means and a link to Tynwald was provided.
• The 2022-23 accounts were withheld under Section 41 as they are held for future publication before Tynwald.
• The Department does not hold the audited accounts for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years.

Data: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 31 March 2022

[+] Advice to Douglas City Council - burial of post cremation metals

2025-07-17 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | All information sent

The applicant requested details regarding DEFA's advice to Douglas City Council that a Waste Management Licence is not required for burying post-cremation metals. DEFA disclosed the relevant legislation consulted and specific extracts from the Cremation Regulations 2000, citing Section 20 to withhold full lists and extracts as they are publicly accessible.

• DEFA advised Douglas City Council that a Waste Management Licence is not required for the burial of post-cremation metals.
• Crematoria are regulated under the Cremation Act 1957 rather than the Collection and Disposal of Waste Regulations 2000.
• The response cites Section 20 of the FOI Act to refuse providing full lists and extracts of legislation already available to the public.

Data: 2025-07-17, 2025-08-13, 12th March 2025, 30th May 2025, 1957

[~] PFAs, new EU limit and blood test results

2025-07-02 | Manx Utilities Authority | Some information sent but not all held

The request sought information on PFAS water assessments, EU limit compliance strategies, and blood test data from the Manx Utilities Authority. The authority responded with a partial disclosure, providing a detailed Certificate of Analysis for drinking water samples from Douglas WTW but did not supply the requested strategic or demographic information.

• The Manx Utilities Authority provided a Certificate of Analysis for drinking water sampled at Douglas WTW on 02/06/2025.
• All tested PFAS compounds in the provided sample were below the detection limit or recorded as 0.0000 ug/l.
• The response outcome was 'Some information sent but not all held', indicating missing data on strategies and blood tests.

Data: 02/06/2025, 03/06/2025, 16/06/2025, 2025/12573094 issue2, 66400437

[-] Licences granted under the Wildlife Act

2025-06-11 | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture | Some information sent but part exempt

The requester asked for copies of all Wildlife Act licences issued in 2025, and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture provided a specific research permit for the Manx Wildlife Trust while withholding other information under partial exemption.

• The disclosed document is a Wildlife Act Personal Licence (WLA/PO27/25) and Marine Nature Reserves Permit (WLA_MNR07/25).
• The permit authorizes the Manx Wildlife Trust and supervised personnel to deploy Baited Remote Underwater Video Stations (BRUVS) for research.
• Activities are permitted in ten specific Marine Nature Reserves including Ramsey Bay, Laxey Bay, and Douglas Bay.

Data: WLA/PO27/25, WLA_MNR07/25, 1st January 2025, 15th May 2025, 30th April 2026

Frequently Mentioned Data

• 2015 (mentioned 10 times)
• 1 (mentioned 10 times)
• 01624 685854 (mentioned 10 times)
• 2011 (mentioned 9 times)
• 2017 (mentioned 9 times)
• Freedom of Information Act 2015 (mentioned 9 times)
• 01624 685851 (mentioned 8 times)
• Section 20 (mentioned 8 times)
• IM4 3AS (mentioned 7 times)
• 2016 (mentioned 6 times)

Exemptions Cited