Marine Campaign

Did you know that Wales’ territorial sea stretches 12 nautical miles from the coastline, and at 15,000 km², this area of sea nearly doubles the size of Wales! Welsh seas are rich and diverse in wildlife; however, over the years the over-exploitation of marine resources has left its mark.

Welsh Seas
The wildlife found in the seas around Wales is diverse, surprisingly beautiful and incredibly important. Colourful reefs and seagrass meadows provide sanctuary to thousands of plants and animals. Attractive anemones, sea squirts and sponges thrive within these habitats. Several giants of the underwater world visit Welsh waters, including the world’s second largest fish the basking shark and huge leatherback turtles. Welsh seas support internationally important populations of seals and dolphins, and the many dramatic cliffs and islands along the coastline are home to globally important seabird colonies. For information about where you can see some of these creatures, visit our interactive map.

Our relationship with the sea in Wales
Welsh seas are an important part of Welsh heritage and culture, and are entwined in Welsh history particularly through fishing traditions, ports, and the industries that they have supported. A wealth of archaeological sites and remains can still be seen today. Nowadays, the Welsh marine environment still plays a fundamental role in the Welsh economy; with over 60% of the population of Wales living and working around the coast, and coastal tourism contributing more than £700 million to the Welsh economy. Welsh seas support thousands of jobs across a range of sectors and provide us with many of the resources we use daily. We rely heavily on the sea to provide us with food, to regulate our climate, and to provide transport. Increasingly, we are looking to the sea as a source of renewable energy. We also enjoy water-based recreation such as angling, sailing, and diving. It is clear that our coasts and seas provide us with extensive benefits and enhance our quality of life – they must be protected and sustainably managed to ensure that we can continue to enjoy and benefit from them today and in the future.

Troubled waters
Our seas and the wildlife found within them are under increasing pressure. Over the centuries they have been taken for granted, wrongly regarded as a limitless resource. Fragile habitats have been destroyed, once-common species are now on the brink of extinction, fish stocks are diminishing and marine resources have been depleted. Although over 36% of the Welsh territorial sea has been designated as marine protected areas, marine wildlife is still declining. More effective marine management is urgently needed.

Time to Act
It is not too late to protect our unique marine environment and ensure its health for future generations. New laws introduced in 2009 provide the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) with the powers required to revolutionise marine management in Wales. The Wales Environment Link marine campaign is calling for WAG to use these tools in the best possible way to protect Welsh seas for the future. The campaign is focusing on four key areas, which include Marine Planning, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Licensing and Marine Fisheries. Click on the links for more information on these areas of work.