History

Ceredigion Marine Code

Following on from our joint project with Aberystwyth University in 2008 looking at the use of Aberystwyth harbour by the Bottlenose dolphin, we are pleased to report that the significance of this work has been recognised by Ceredigion County Council with the sighting of a new information board at the harbour. This highlights the Marine code in Ceredigion and informs the recreational boat user as to their responsibilities at sea when encountering dolphins and other wildlife.

Click here to access details of the code.

During 2000-2011 we conducted:

A weekly dolphin watch from Aberystwyth castle over the summer months.

Offshore bottlenose dolphin surveys throughout Cardigan Bay part funded by the Countryside Council for Wales utilising our own survey vessels.

Instigated a series of benthic surveys linked to the foraging of the bottlenose dolphin at previously identified hotspots (See 2005 Sarn's report) This was the first time in Cardigan Bay that this approach had been adopted using Seasearch techniques to evaluate benthic biotopes, and determine potential prey species.

Scallop Dredging in Cardigan Bay

Position statement with regard to scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay (January 2009).

Scallop Dredging An Update2011/12

Friends of Cardigan Bay fully support the Welsh Assembly’s vision of a sustainable fishery for Wales. However, we are deeply concerned with the continuing intensity of scallop dredging operations in Cardigan Bay.

Currently there are up to 50 boats from the whole of the UK operating in Cardigan Bay, as areas elsewhere in the UK are closed off to this very environmentally damaging activity. The boats although licensed, are not all satellite tagged and monitored. Some appear to go where they please, especially coming inshore at night in banned and sensitive areas. There appears at present to be very little regulation or enforcement by the licensing authorities.

Read Guardian article

New Boat for 2009

The Groups new boat for 2009.
'Morgan-Le-Fey'
Officially launched by the Mayor of Aberystwyth 2008/9 Sue Jones-Davies (left) and Lorraine Hill

Friends of Cardigan Bay officially launched their new boat last week for their 20th anniversary, with the Mayor (Sue Jones -Davies) a patron of FoCB officiating. The boat, named Morgan-Le-Fey represents a significant investment. Much effort by the group’s volunteers has gone into acquiring some of the funding to make this possible, with an additional £1000 of sponsorship provided by the boats supplier, Professional Powerboat Sales at Pwllheli. Much thanks also goes to the Waterloo foundation and other donors for their generous support.

Welsh assembly government manage fisheries

Press Statement 14th February 2010
FoCB are very pleased that the Welsh assembly government has taken over the responsibility of fisheries management in Welsh waters. We are fully supportive of their vision for a sustainable fishery involving an ecosystem based management approach. Whilst there is obviously still work to do we are also pleased that they had taken on board advice and views gleaned from information provided through the Scallop consultation process. We are, however, disappointed that they have decided to open up the inshore area (out to 5 nautical miles) between the SAC’s despite our concerns and those of CCW in their advice to WAG. Aside from this there are also potential issues of appropriate assessments within the fishery.

The Late Munro Taylor

With the death of Munro Taylor, Cardigan Bay has lost one of its best friends. Munro, who died suddenly at the end of September 2003, aged 71, was the leading figure in the influential marine conservation group Friends of Cardigan Bay and had been involved in many aspects of life in, on and around the Bay for many years.