welcome to the mcs welsh pages
The seas of Wales host a truly stunning variety of marine wildlife, from beautiful anemones and starfish familiar to anyone who has investigated a rockpool, to giant basking sharks and many species of whales and dolphins - and many more species besides! Sadly, many of these animals and the habitats that support them are under threat. The MCS Welsh campaign aims to connect communities with the rich diversity of marine life around the Welsh coast, through a programme of presentations and events, and involve people in projects and surveys to better protect our Welsh seas, shores and wildlife - you can read more about our vital work in these pages.
wales' sea life
Wales has 750 miles of coastline, made up of bays, beaches, cliffs, headlands and harbours, and boasts the UK's only coastal National Park, in Pembrokeshire, and one of only three Marine Nature Reserves in the UK, at Skomer Island. Much of the Welsh coastline has Heritage Coast and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status and has several marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), with species and habitats of international importance.
Welsh waters are home to 70% of the UK's marine Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species - animals such as basking sharks; leatherback turtles; common dolphins; harbour porpoises ; the coral-like pink sea fans, fanshells, native oysters; and the very uncommon common skate. Wales has 78% of the UK's marine BAP habitats, from sand and gravel, and seagrass beds, to honeycomb worm reefs and glorious mudflats!
threats to wales' marine life
Wales' marine environment is under threat from pollution, development, fishing and even damage through recreation. Litter pollution levels on Wales' beaches are some of the highest in the UK (Click here to view Adopt-a-Beach website), and whilst bathing water quality has improved steadily (Click here to view the GBG site), sewage related debris is still common in Welsh waters. The precious coastline is also under threat from coastal development, with recent proposals for an oil platform in Cardigan Bay SAC and a proposed Severn Estuary Barrage. Even the Skomer Marine Nature Reserve is not fully protected and some forms of fishing are still allowed. For more information and to sign the petition, visit the MCS Pembrokeshire local group website http://www.wwmc.org.uk/
Click here to contact the Welsh Officer.
The Welsh Ocean Wildlife project is supported by the Countryside Council for Wales and the Ernest Cooke Trust.