Nature Networks - information on marine projects
Nature Networks is a multi-year programme funded by Welsh Government which aims to address the nature emergency in Wales through increasing biodiversity, improving the condition of protected sites and enhancing the resilience and connectivity of our habitats and species.
The programme, running since 2022, covers terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats. NRW is working with landowners, partners and other stakeholders to implement management measures that address our objectives and make a real difference to the environment of Wales.
The programme budget funds both NRW led work as well as the Welsh Government Nature Network grant programme administered by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.
While some of the budget has been allocated to boost our existing conservation management of protected sites, targeted projects have also been created to focus attention on vulnerable species and habitats.
Below are the marine projects – read about the nature projects on land.
Marine projects
Marine litter and derelict vessel prevention
Marine litter is a problem in many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and one focus is to tackle the issue of derelict boats which can affect MPAs through loss of habitat extent, microplastics and pollutants from oil, diesel and anti-fouling paint. The project has initially mapped the location of derelict boats, and then worked with partners and other stakeholders in the Dee Estuary Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to remove vessels and create guidance for vessel removal. Building on the success of this first phase, further derelict boat work is planned at other locations in Wales. The project will also address wider marine litter issues by tackling source to sea litter sources. Using the Dyfi as a pilot site, the project will use modern technology to monitor litter and work with stakeholders to prevent litter introduction into the catchment.
Investigations into the decline of species and habitats
Within our MPAs, some habitats and species are in decline. This project will look at key areas of focus, with the aim of helping these habitats and species to recover.
- Maerl in the Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Marine SAC
- Sponges in the Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
- Horse Mussel beds, in the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC
- Herring in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Marine SAC
Following the production of these reports, further species and habitats in decline will be tackled. Management of issues arising from these investigations and wider work will also form part of this project. The first topics are bird disturbance issues at Traeth Lafan and looking into how local authorities approach permissions for activities which may impact the marine environment.
Invasive non-native species biosecurity planning
Building on the work already done for biosecurity planning in Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC, this project has worked with key stakeholders to create and implement 6 biosecurity plans for the following MPAs: Dee Estuary SAC, Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC, Cardigan Bay SAC, Pembrokeshire Marine SAC, Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC and the Severn Estuary SAC. Following the production of these reports, the next phase of the project will deliver the recommendations of the reports. These include working with stakeholders to implement INNS monitoring and training as well as supporting the creation of management measures that can reduce the introduction and spread of INNS such as boat cleaning facilities. This project will also look into methods to reduce the spread of marine INNS and has to date implemented a trial Chinese Mitten Crab trap in the Dee.
Rumney Great Wharf Polders
This project seeks to restore saltmarsh along the Rumney Great Wharf by reinstating and extending the sedimentation polders. Polders involve the installation of fences in a rectangular pattern, to reduce water movement, which will allow saltmarsh to form over time. Following installation of the polders in summer 2024, the project is now focusing on monitoring the success of the scheme through vegetation surveys and other measures to assess whether saltmarsh is developing, as well as repairing fencing damaged in winter storms. The project will also seek to understand other locations in Wales where polder installation would be beneficial.
Coastal squeeze
Sea levels are predicted to rise at increasing rates due to the effects of climate change. Inevitably this will have an impact on those habitats found closest to the sea, which would ordinarily adapt naturally. However, sea defences, railways and roads sometimes prevent the habitat from behaving naturally, and with increasing inundation, degradation and loss will occur - a process known as Coastal Squeeze. This project aims to understand how ‘Coastal Squeeze’ is likely to impact the MPAs, and will be used to inform the future management of our coasts and habitats. In the first phase of the project, extensive mapping was undertaken to understand how rising sea levels would impact intertidal habitats in Wales. In the next phase of the project, these results will be analysed and refined to inform potential management measures to tackle coastal squeeze in future.
Improving marine conservation advice
Marine conservation advice is legal advice that influences the way we manage our marine protected areas. Conservation objectives within the advice explain what we are trying to achieve for each feature in a site and this project will help us improve our knowledge of the condition of our features and ensure that we set accurate conservation objectives for sites to be sustainably managed. In the first stage of the project, condition assessments were produced for all wholly Welsh SACs and new conservation advice packages produced. In the second phase of the project, condition assessments and conservation advice packages will be created for the Severn and Dee Estuary SAC cross border sites and Special Protection Areas, as well as some SSSI condition assessments.
Landfill impacts on MPAs
There are over 1,500 individual landfill sites recorded in Wales. Many of these are located at the coast and sit within or adjacent to MPAs. Flooding and erosion of coastal landfill sites could lead to physical and chemical contamination entering the environment, potentially affecting the condition of MPA features. The release of landfill waste could be further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, such as sea-level rise and an increase in extreme weather events. In addition, changes in Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) policies over time, has the potential to affect the exposure of landfill sites to flooding and coastal erosion. This proposed project, using the Dee as a pilot area, will explore in more detail the potential impacts of coastal landfill sites, expanding to include waste sites and contaminated sites on MPAs.
Restoration of seabirds on Welsh islands
Seabird populations in Wales the UK and globally are under pressure from many sources including disease such as avian flu, climate change, coastal squeeze and rat incursions. This project will target suitable Welsh islands which are ascertained to be rat-free and which will be viable to support long-term recolonisation of seabird colonies through various management methods following a feasibility study. Target species might include Atlantic puffin, Manx shearwater, European storm petrel, Common tern, Arctic tern, Roseate tern and Sandwich tern. The project will trial measures which have proven to be successful elsewhere in order to boost numbers and increase the resilience of seabird populations in Wales.
Loughor and Burry Inlet
This project will address water quality (WQ) issues on waterbodies within the Loughor and Burry Inlet catchment, while also covering linked protected site issues around saltmarsh overgrazing. There are a number of issues affecting WQ in the area, including sewage and diffuse pollution but also high bacterial counts which cause the cockle fishery to close occasionally. Coupled with the latter WQ issue is the issue of overgrazing on the North Gower saltmarsh. This project seeks to address WQ issues through the implementation of management measures in farms within the catchment, as well as working with commoners on the North Gower saltmarsh to manage sheep numbers on the saltmarsh.
Bait collection
Bait collection methods of most concern are digging for worms, boulder turning and crab tiling. The project investigated the impacts of these activities on MPAs though extensive survey work at sites which showed high levels of these collection methods. The project also reviewed potential management measures and will be looking to implement these where possible for areas which have shown impacts. Signage has been created for these sites, informing bait collectors on measures to reduce impacts. A Code of Conduct has also been developed with stakeholders, with leaflets stocked at bait tackle shops in Wales. The use of farmed bait was investigated as part of this project, with recommendations provided on how to promote farmed worms to reduce the need for wild caught bait.
Welsh acoustic marine mammal survey
Marine mammals, like harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin, use sound to communicate and orientate themselves. The project’s aims were to improve our understanding of how background noise levels can impact these mammals by using specialised acoustic recording equipment. The project took place in the North Anglesey Marine SAC where recording equipment gathered data over two years. The ensuing report describes the timing and seasonality of both man-made and marine mammal noise. These results will help manage populations in future and improve our advice and evidence in relation to casework and planning decisions.