Safeguarding Welsh Seas

© istockphoto

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Wales’ coasts and seas are home to some of the most beautifuland biologically productive habitats in the world. Underwater thereis a spectacular wealth of marine life, including cold-water corals,anemones, seals, dolphins, whales and sharks. Dramatic cliffs andislands teem with large numbers of sea birds, including SkomerIsland, with the largest Manx shearwater colony in the world andGrassholm Island, with one of the largest colonies of gannets in the North Atlantic. There are also more than 3,000 sites andmonuments of archaeological and historical interest along theWelsh coastline.

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The marine and coastal environmentcontributes £2.5 billion of GDP to theWelsh economy, mainly throughtourism, and we also rely on our seasfor food, transport, recreation andenergy. However, these demands areplacing the marine environment underincreasing pressure and the effects ofclimate change compound the problem.Human activities are managed in anuncoordinated and reactive fashion,which can result in conflicts betweendifferent interests, and frustrating andcostly delays to developers. On top of this, current measures to protectmarine wildlife are falling short.

Wales Environment Link, the network for voluntary sector environmentalorganisations in Wales, is calling forcomprehensive new legislation tosecure better protection of marinewildlife and effective management of human activities in our seas.

© Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

Wales Environment Link (WEL) is a network of voluntaryenvironmental and countryside organisations in Wales,most of whom have an all-Wales remit. For moreinformation on WEL and our membership visit:www.waleslink.org

Wales Environment Link27 Pier Street, Aberystwyth SY23 2LN

Wales Environment Link Registered Charity No: 1022675

The Wales Environment Link Marine Working Group,Wildlife and Countryside Link Marine Task Force, ScottishEnvironment Link Marine Task Force and Northern IrelandMarine Task Force work together to promote new, effectivemarine legislation for all UK seas. This work is supportedby the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the TubneyCharitable Trust.

Our coasts and seas

January 2008

Our marine environment is comingunder increasing pressure from a rangeof activities, including recreation, fishingand bait collection, ports and shipping,coastal land use and development,aggregate dredging and offshoredevelopments such as renewableenergy schemes. On top of all this,climate change will impact upon marinehabitats and species, and only a healthyenvironment will have the resilience to cope with the changes.

There is currently no overarching system for

planning or managing these diverse activities;

industries are regulated sector-by-sector, often by

different agencies and departments, while other

activities remain unregulated. This complex

situation can result in conflicts between sea users,

sometimes causing costly delays to projects.

It also makes it impossible to address their

combined impacts on the marine environment.

We are calling for a new marine planning system

that will consider the combined impacts of all

activities, to facilitate sustainable development,

while securing protection of marine wildlife and

heritage. The management of the seas should

follow boundaries that make sense for marine

systems, rather than political boundaries and must

therefore involve cross-border working between

administrations, for example in the Irish Sea.

Habitats and species in decline

Approximately 30% of Welsh seasare already included in protectedareas, but this is not halting thedecline of our wildlife. Research bythe Countryside Council for Walesindicated that many of the speciesand habitats that should be affordedprotection within these areas are notin a favourable condition1.Furthermore, much of our nationallyimportant wildlife is not taken intoaccount in the management of mostof these areas.

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The National Assembly for Wales has identified

species and habitats that it considers to be

of principal importance for nature conservation

in Wales. Unfortunately, a recent assessment

showed that five of the seven marine habitats

identified to be most in need of conservation,

were in decline2. The Welsh Assembly

Government has made a commitment to

safeguarding and improving the Welsh

environment through the Wales Environment

Strategy (2006)3.

Increasing pressures and poor management

© Rohan Holt

© Rohan Holt© Rohan Holt © Rohan Holt © Ian Homer

Pink sea fan

The pink sea fan is a type of cold-water coral that can befound in the southern parts of the UK. It is a nationallyimportant species, protected under UK legislation. Thelargest population in Wales is in the Skomer MarineNature Reserve (MNR). Despite occurring in the MNR,the population is in decline. We are calling for improvedprotection through ‘Highly Protected Marine Reserves’,where fragile, threatened species, like the pink sea fan,can be protected from all damaging activities.

Horse mussel reefs

Horse mussel reefs support a high diversity of marine lifeand are of national and international importance. Horsemussel reefs off the coast of Anglesey have disappeared,possibly as a result of bottom trawling. In contrast, a reefoff the Llyn Peninsula that is protected from scallopdredging appears to be thriving. We are calling forimproved protection for our nationally important speciesand a holistic management system that considers all theelements of marine ecosystems and the activities thatimpact upon them.

Bottlenose dolphin

Cardigan Bay has one of only two semi-resident bottlenose dolphin populations in theUK, and wildlife watching is a major part of thearea’s busy tourist industry. Marine planningmust recognise, not only the inherent value of marine wildlife, but also the fact that someindustries depend on clean, healthy andbiodiverse seas.

Basking shark

The basking shark is one of the largest fish in theworld, reaching 8 to 10 metres. Despite its largesize it only feeds on tiny plankton species. In thesummer it migrates through the waters aroundWales. This impressive animal is at risk fromcollisions with water craft and entanglement infishing gear in coastal areas. Marine ProtectedAreas are necessary to protect seasonalaggregations of basking sharks, but alone, they are unlikely to provide adequate protection.Additional tools are also needed to enable marine managers to protect mobile marinespecies throughout our seas.

Our marine heritage

Our seas are rich in cultural heritage,with a wealth of archaeological sitesand remains. This demonstrates theclose relationship between humansand the sea that has existed formillennia. Marine Planning shouldconsider the impact of humanactivities on our historical marineenvironment and ensure itsprotection for future generations.

Fishing

In 2005 there were 1,131 fishermen in Wales with the vast majorityoperating in inshore waters (0-6 nautical miles)4. In South Wales alone,more than 22,000 tonnes of fish and shellfish were landed by inshorefisheries5. It is essential that we have well-managed, sustainablefisheries, not only to protect the environment, but to ensure the long-term viability of the industry. Management of inshore fisheries in Walesmust be updated to ensure fisheries managers have the necessarypowers to put sustainable management into practice. Management of fisheries should consider the whole marine ecosystem, rather than focus on single fish species.

Renewable energy

Wales has a large potential for renewable energy due to its geography and climate. North Hoyle, off Prestatyn, is the UK’s first major offshore wind farm, producing 90 MW of energy; enough to power 40,000 homes. Two more offshore wind farms are indevelopment in Welsh waters. However, the lack of a coordinatedplanning system in the marine environment can often cause delays torenewable developments. Marine planning should facilitate appropriatesustainable development of renewables – the right technology in the right place – with full engagement of all interested parties.

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IndustryHabitats, species and heritage

© Paul Naylor / www.marinephoto.co.uk / WWF-UK© Bill Sanderson

© Rohan Holt © Colin Speedie © The National Trust / Richard Ellis

Enjoying our seas

Over 60% of the population of Waleslives and works on the coast.Coastal tourism contributes more than£700 million to the Welsh economy.The coasts and seas also provideenjoyment to many people, adding tothe well-being of our nation. Thisstunning national resource dependsupon clean and healthy seas, now andin the future, that can only be achievedthrough better protection of marinewildlife and improved management of human activities.

© The National Trust

© Rohan Holt

© Richard Wilson / WWF-UK

Our message

We are calling for comprehensive legislation to achieve better protection ofmarine wildlife and heritage, and effective management of Welsh seas.

New legislation must introduce a holistic and integrated approach tomanaging our seas, and must have strong conservation objectives at its core,to secure sustainable development and resource use in our diverse marineenvironment.

It is not too late to protect our unique marine environment and ensure itshealth for future generations. Wales Environment Link is calling for marinelegislation to deliver:

Endnotes1 CCW Policy research Report No. 06/9. Implementing the EcosystemApproach in Wales: Current status of the maritime environment andrecommendations for management. CCW May 20062 UK Biodiversity Action Plan. URL: www.ukbap-reporting.org.uk/status/priority.asp. online December 20073 Welsh Assembly Government (2006). Environment Strategy for Wales.4 Marine Fisheries Agency (2005) UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2005. Defra.5 South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (2005) Landing Statistics

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in anyform or by any means without the prior permission in writing of WalesEnvironment Link. Within the UK, exceptions are allowed in respect of anyfair dealing for the purposes of private research or study, or criticism orreview, as permitted under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988,or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the termsand licenses issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

Printed on recycled paper

For further information on the WEL marine

campaign please contact:

Tim Hall

Campaigns and Advocacy Officer

The Wildlife Trusts Wales

02920 480070

t.hall@welshwildlife.org

new management tools to properly protect

Welsh species and habitats, including the

creation of Highly Protected Marine

Reserves and powers to protect mobile

species in the wider sea.

a Marine Planning system that considers all

marine activities together, while ensuring

protection of the environment. This should

integrate with other plans and should follow

boundaries that make ecological sense.

clear, transparent and accountable

regulation of activities in Welsh seas that

ensures all interested parties are involved

in the process.

updated legislation for management of

inshore fisheries in Wales that is integrated

with marine conservation and management

objectives to ensure sustainable fisheries.