Ceredigion Recreation Boating Management Plan 2010 - 2020
SCOPE AND AIM OF PLAN
The Plan aims to identify actions to achieve a sustainable boating
management system in an internationally important marine wildlife area.
Tourism development along the Ceredigion coastline has been identified in a
number of Welsh Assembly Government strategies as it is considered that the
environment offers unrealised economic potential if developed sensitively. The
plan will therefore consider the issue of boat disturbance to wildlife, the
effectiveness of management to date, and how this can be developed. The
plan aims to make a contribution to meeting the Council’s Biodiversity Duty
under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.
SUMMARY
The inshore waters of Ceredigion are recognised as being of international
importance for wildlife, and are home to Europe’s largest population of
Bottlenose Dolphins. The Council has been involved in marine protected area
management and the issue of boat disturbance for nearly 20 years. It has
pursued an approach of raising awareness and providing advice via a Marine
Code of Conduct. The Council has been monitoring the effectiveness of this
approach with its Dolphin Watch study involving local volunteers. The study
has also improved our knowledge and understanding of the issue enabling us
to target management more effectively. Research has highlighted areas of
most importance to dolphins and areas which are less important to wildlife.
The Council’s approach has shown to be working; improved trends in boats
complying with the Code have been noted, particularly in recent years, along
with the evidence that shows that compliance with the Code does reduce the
risk of disturbance to bottlenose dolphins. Continued monitoring of code
compliance, along with boat traffic levels is required, as there is evidence that
boat traffic levels already suppress dolphin site use at New Quay.
Recommendations summary:
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Improve guidance to skippers - amend Code of Conduct and
update information at launch sites.
Extend existing 8 knot speed zone between New Quay Head
and Ynys Lochtyn to the bye-law area at Llangrannog.
Introduce 8 knot speed guidance within 200 metres from shore
between Aberporth headland & Cardigan Island.
Promote boating activity, subject to suitable on-shore launch
facilities and liaison, in the following areas:
 Aberporth - Tresaith – Penbryn - Llangrannog
 Llanina reef - Aberaeron
 Llanrhystud – Llanon
 Borth
Maintain current voluntary management approach and continue
to provide education/information to skippers and develop their
involvement
1
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Reduce over-reliance on external grant aid to fund agreed
management
Establish a sub-group of officers from the Coastal Group to
collect data to investigate a workable registration scheme for
consideration by Cabinet.
Promote the Council’s sustainable boating management system
in all its marketing material.
PWC users to be required alongside all other craft to comply
with the Marine Code.
Develop involvement of Afon Teifi Fairways Committee, Boat
clubs and Gwynedd Council’s marine unit in plan review,
development and implementation
Continue policy of withdrawing mooring/launching facilities from
skippers that habitually fail to comply with the Code and develop
involvement of boat clubs in reporting breaches.
Maintain existing monitoring schemes and extend to
Aberystwyth and Borth
Review the plan bi-annually
.
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1. Background:
1.1 Management of recreational boating craft to limit adverse impacts on
the Bay’s protected bottlenose dolphin population has been taking
place in Ceredigion since the early 1990s when the Council
established the Marine Heritage Coast (MHC). A Code of Conduct
was developed and given to skippers via information at launch sites,
mooring-holder mail-outs, leaflets, and in the annual tide-table
booklet.
1.2 In 1996 the status of the voluntary MHC changed when the area was
included in the larger statutory Cardigan Bay Special Area of
Conservation (SAC). This SAC, plus the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau SAC,
now cover approx. 70% of the Ceredigion coastline. Bottlenose
dolphins and Atlantic Grey Seals are features of both SACs.
1.3 Potential disturbance from boating activity has been highlighted as
being an issue in both SACs. Adverse impacts on dolphins may
include physical injury from collisions with high-speed craft, and the
more subtle effects of disturbance to dolphin behaviour that incur a
net energetic loss. For example, boat interactions that cause the
animals to stop feeding and disperse may reduce prey consumption
and increase time spent travelling in search of prey.
1.4 The presence of bottlenose dolphins in the Bay has proved a great
visitor attraction, as there are only two places in the UK that supports
a resident population. The importance of tourism development along
the Ceredigion coastline has been identified in a number of Welsh
Assembly Government Strategies during the last decade, including
the Wales Spatial Plan and the Wales Tourism Strategy. It is
considered that the diversity of Central Wales’ environment offers
unrealised economic potential if developed sensitively, and
sustainable forms of high-quality tourism at the coast can be
encouraged. Opportunities to build higher value sustainable tourism
include developing nature tourism, improved visitor management at
the coast, providing improvements to facilities for access to water
and beaches, and making greater provision of visiting berths and
yacht stations.
1.5 As a result of these developments, the Ceredigion Recreation
Boating Management Scheme was devised. The aim of the Scheme
is to demonstrate that wildlife and boating can co-exist in the same
waters, by establishing a sustainable boating management system
that caters for the needs of recreational boat users and the Bay’s
marine wildlife. Many lessons have been learned from the experience
of the voluntary MHC and the aim is to put these into practice along
the whole Ceredigion coastline.
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2. Legal requirements within SACs:
2.1 Relevant public authorities are responsible for exercising their
statutory duties to secure compliance with SAC objectives; this
includes undertaking appropriate assessments on plans or projects that
are deemed to have a “significant effect” on site features and making
sure that activities that are under their management do not have an
adverse effect on these sites. These assessments should ensure that
any mitigation action is identified to prevent operations having an
‘adverse effect on site integrity’. The CCW is responsible for setting
conservation objectives for the site features. The CCW also has a duty
to advise relevant authorities on any activities that may cause
deterioration or disturbance to these features of interest.
2.2 The Marine and Coastal Access Bill amends section 37 of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Regulation 36 of the
Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 to enable Welsh
Ministers to make conservation orders to protect European Marine
Sites within Welsh territorial waters. The intention is to use these
powers to manage activities that are harmful to sites that would
otherwise be left unregulated, for example, recreational activity. The
CCW is considering how conservation orders may be used to achieve
appropriate management within an European Marine Site and so
contributing to achieving favourable condition. The outcome of this
work will be available in 2010 to inform future site management
options.
3. Ceredigion Recreational Boating Scheme Background:
3.1 Authorisation was given by Cabinet in 2002 for officers to pursue
measures to strengthen the Council’s Code of Conduct for recreational
boating traffic, and to prepare a review of the seaside pleasure boat
byelaws and harbour issues for further consideration. Accordingly,
officers developed the Ceredigion Recreational Boating Scheme for an
Objective One bid – (Measure 5:8 Support for Recreational
Opportunities and Management of the Natural Environment) to cover 8
launch sites along the length of the Ceredigion coastline as well as the
inshore waters of the County.
3.2 Results in 2002 of the Council’s monitoring study of recreational
boating traffic along the MHC1 had indicated that the voluntary Code of
Conduct was having a limited effect in terms of improvements in the
separation distance from the dolphins and stopping rates when the
animals were in close proximity. It was clear that further work was
needed to communicate and promote the Code. Cabinet considered
this scheme in 2003 and resolved an allocation of £93k towards it.
1
Ceredigion County Council, Cetacean Site Use & Boat Traffic on the Ceredigion Marine
Heritage Coast, West Wales 1994–2001
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However, the scheme did not secure funding under Measure 5:8, and
officers therefore revised the scheme and obtained reduced grant aid in
2004 from the Crown Estate Marine Stewardship Fund to commence
Phase 1.
3.3 Phase 1 of the Scheme was the establishment of the “Cardigan
Bay Boat Place”.In May 2003, Cabinet authorised officers to utilise an
under-used Council owned building on New Quay harbour to set up a
small marine information centre aimed at skippers and members of the
public. With the Crown Estate grant, information and displays were
developed to help promote compliance to the Code of Conduct and to
ensure that tourists and people launching from Cardigan Bay would
know about the presence of marine wildlife and the issues related to
disturbance by boats.
The Boat Place also raises awareness about the Cardigan Bay SAC,
its features and related conservation issues. The Boat Place opened in
May 2005 and attracts 8000 - 9000 visitors each summer from May to
September. In 2007, it was nominated for a Crown Estate Marine
Business Award as being an example of the best coastal community
initiative in the UK for a project that developed with community wide
involvement.
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3.4 In 2007, officers once again submitted a bid to the Crown Estate
Marine Stewardship Fund to implement the final phase of the Scheme,
namely:
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Purchase of a patrol boat for use by the Cardigan Bay SAC officer,
to play an educational role throughout the Bay
Production of a recreational boating management plan to identify
wildlife sensitive sites where further management may be needed,
and areas where boating activity can develop
Delivery of recreational boating management actions identified in
SAC site plans and the Ceredigion Local Biodiversity Action Plan
Development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) by
delivering the recreational boating management plan component
Development of information/educational materials at launch sites
(posters/leaflets)
Promotion of marine wildlife tourism opportunities for land-based
dolphin, seals and seabird watching by the identification of “hotspot
sites”; leaflets and guided walks
Two years funding (2008-2010) was secured and the patrol boat became
operational during summer 2008.
3.5 The preparation of the Ceredigion recreation boating management
plan has taken place against this background of work and follows
consultation with skippers and recreational boat users during the
summer of 2009. The plan represents the final phase of the scheme.
4. Current management:
4.1 The main approach to
management to date has been to
develop and disseminate
educational materials that raise
awareness amongst the boating
community of the Bay’s special
marine wildlife, and that provides
information on appropriate boating
behaviour to minimise disturbance.
4.2 Three Council departments are
involved in recreational boating
management:

Highways, Properties &
Works – Harbour
management at
Aberystwyth, Aberaeron &
New Quay and management of a slipway at Borth. Harbour Masters
disseminate Code of Conduct and byelaw information to mooring
holders and day launches. Harbour Masters and Launch Control
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Officers are authorised to withdraw launching and/or mooring permits
from vessels and/or individuals not observing local regulations, byelaws
and the Code of Conduct.
Prospective users of Ceredigion launch facilities must:
o Register with the appropriate Harbour Master or Launch Control
Officer and pay the appropriate fee
o Produce evidence of a valid insurance certificate and any other
documentation required
o Ensure the name and/or number of the craft to be launched is
clearly displayed on the craft and on the accompanying tender if
applicable
o Ensure any pleasure craft propelled by an internal combustion
engine is fitted with a suitable silencer meeting legal requirements
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DESH Coast & Countryside Section - The Section developed, and is
managing the Recreational Boating Scheme. The Section also provides
the lead for the development of the management scheme of the
Cardigan Bay SAC. Grant aid from the CCW and the Crown Estate has
been secured by the Section to develop the various educational
initiatives within the MHC and Cardigan Bay SAC. The Section runs the
Cardigan Bay Boat Place and the SAC boat patrols, and has developed
the Code of Conduct and the speed zone area between New Quay
Head and Ynys Lochtyn.
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Chief Executive Dept. - Responsible for bathing beach management.
Beach officers/lifeguards were appointed each summer by Economic
Development & Tourism but this service is now being delivered by the
RNLI with funding from the department Provides legal input and
drafted a Ceredigion Recreation Boating Management Plan in 2002 in
response to concerns about PWC activity.
4.3 The Afon Teifi Fairways Committee manage boating activity on
the Teifi under a sub-lease of the foreshore granted by the Council,
employ mooring masters, and operate a patrol boat from spring to late
autumn.
4.4 Gwynedd Council’s Harbour Master at Aberdyfi manages boating
activity on the Dyfi via the Gwynedd registration scheme for all power
boats and personal water craft. (2500 registered). This plus moorings
and beach car-park charges generates income of £2.4 m, and there is
expenditure of £2.2m. Gwynedd have four PWC patrol vessels, five
patrol boats, six 4x4 vehicles, and employ thirty seasonal beach staff
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who have a number of duties including being able to issue fixed
penalties for dog-fouling/litter etc. Gwynedd Council has four
harbourmasters throughout the county and boats can only launch from
these points. The Leri Boatyard has a slipway licence from CCW and
there is a code of conduct. Leri water-ski club operate from there
(about 60 members). The Aberdyfi boat information handout is given to
members. At CCW’s Ynyslas site there is a no-launching sign in the
car-park but they report it difficult to control, particularly when the
seasonal wardens are not there.
5 Assessment of Current Management
5.1 Results of the 2006 and 2007 Council’s monitoring study from Mwnt
to Aberystwyth, ‘Dolphin Watch’, showed an improvement in
compliance with the Code. Overall compliance was good; the Code has
been adhered to in around 90% of encounters annually since 2004.
Compliance was highest for visitor trip boats (98% compliance).
Results also show that following the Code really does reduce the risk of
disturbance to bottlenose dolphins. Speedboat owners are most likely
to infringe the Code, mainly because they travel at fast speeds and
don’t actually notice the animals. Results of the 14 year monitoring
study to 2007 were published in the peer reviewed international Journal
of the Marine Biological Association in September 2009. The 2008 and
2009 data sets are currently being analysed. The records of the SAC
Patrol Boat, however, indicate that this positive trend of compliance
with the Code continues.
Year
Days used
Vessels encountered
Code breaches
2008
16
77
12
40
199
18
2009
Doing what?
9 speeding
3 following animals
8 speeding
8 following animals
2 close to seabird colonies
Table 1: Summary of SAC Boat Patrols 2008 & 2009
The value of local volunteers being involved in the land-based
monitoring programme is immense. Not only do they provide the
Council with a long-term data set and feedback on how boating
management is working in a robust, scientific manner, they are also
helping to raise awareness. The monitoring sites are on the coastal
path and at New Quay harbour and the volunteers are in an excellent
position to talk with passers-by. Local skippers have also become
accustomed to seeing the Dolphin Watch volunteers at these sites
every summer.
The combination of these local volunteers, harbourmaster staff, SAC
patrol boat, and Conservation team officers has meant that observed
incidents in the southern part of the county can be quickly passed
through to the relevant officer for follow-up action. This is an area that
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has been evolving and there is further scope for development,
particularly in relation to the beach officers/life-guards.
5.2 Personal Water Craft policy: The Council currently has a policy of
discouraging the use of Personal Water Craft along the entire
Ceredigion coastline. The main issue of PWC use is the impact on
bather safety and noise disturbance to other inshore recreational users.
In practice the implementation of this policy has been problematic, as it
is ambiguous; can only be achieved at launch sites that are controlled
and staffed by the Council, and is legally unenforceable. It is worth
noting in the context of this plan that from a nature conservation
viewpoint no differentiation has been made between PWC’s and other
fast, high-powered craft.
The main constraint on legislative reforms seeking to regulate PWC’s is
the ancient common law rights of the public to navigate and fish on the
foreshore. In addition the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order
proposed by the Department for Transport extends the definition of
"ship" within Merchant Shipping legislation to include every description
of watercraft in those provisions applying to safety, conduct
endangering ships, structures or individuals and drugs and alcohol
offences. The introduction of the Order has implications for PWC
usage in Ceredigion allowing PWC users the right to launch from any
harbour in Ceredigion subject to local byelaws.
5.3 Teifi estuary The Afon Teifi Fairways Committee 2008 report
refers to their Patrol Boat completing 80 tours of duty on the river
totalling 245 hours. As a result there was a marked reduction in
offenders and reports of misdemeanours, with 15 logged assistance
calls. Mooring masters reported no major problems within their areas
and no major incidents occurred.
5.4 Dyfi estuary Gwynedd Council report that they have some
problems of boats launching from the Ceredigion launch sites at Borth,
the Leri, and Aberystwyth who don’t know the Aberdyfi rules. Gwynedd
Council would like Ceredigion CC to have a registration scheme to help
them identify boats in their area. CCW controls part of Ynyslas beach
under lease from Crown.
6. Public consultation response
6.1 In April 2009 the Coast & Countryside Section wrote to all boat
clubs, diving groups and coastal town/community councils as part of a
major consultation of skippers and recreational boat users of the
Ceredigion coastline. The purpose of the consultation was to seek
views on what boating management measures had worked well and
what, if anything, needed changing. A press article appeared in the
Cambrian News & the Tivy Side, together with an item on BBC Radio
Wales. Details of the consultation were given on the Cardigan Bay SAC
and Coast & Countryside Section web-sites. A total of 36
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questionnaires were returned and 11 one-to-one meetings held with
key organisations.
6.2 Awareness of the Cardigan Bay SAC amongst respondents was
very high at 100% and the percentage of respondents listed as having
a recreational boating interest was 71%.
Table 2
What further management(if any) would you like
to see in known sensitive wildlife sites
Total no.
responses
%
Yes
Recreational
Boater % Yes
More speed restrictions (if so, where?)
31
52
33
No-stopping areas (if so, where?)
27
22
11
No go areas (if so, where?)
29
28
19
Areas where boating can be actively promoted (if so,
where and what type of boating activity?)
29
69
65
Seasonal restrictions near cliff-nesting birds (where
and what restrictions)
32
63
50
Seasonal restrictions near seal-pupping beaches
and caves (where and what?)
31
65
55
Code of Conduct. How useful do you think the current Code of Conduct is? What
changes (if any) would you like to see?
More specific detail on how to behave around wildlife
(maximum speeds, distances etc)
30
57
50
Less specific detail (general guidance on behaviour
rather than specific maximum distances, speeds etc)
28
54
59
Would you like to see a standard code that applies
to the whole of Wales?
29
76
68
Does Ceredigion still need its own specific code (to
highlight particularly sensitive areas, for example)?
32
66
55
Do commercial trip boats need a separate code to
recreational boats?
30
27
23
Do any activities (kayaking, angling, powerboating
etc) require a specific code? (if yes, please specify
which activities)
32
44
39
10
Current levels of awareness
100
90
All respondents
Recreational boaters
80
70
60
% 50
40
30
20
10
0
I am familiar with
I have visited the
I was aware that
I have seen
I was aware that
I was aware that
the current boating ‘Boat Place’ wildlife the Council runs a information panels
reckless
much of Cardigan
Code of Conduct
and boating
patrol boat during at boat launch sites
disturbance of
Bay is designated
information centre
the summer
dolphins, porpoises as a Special Area
in New Quay
and seals is a
of Conservation
criminal offence
Is further protection needed in sensitive areas?
Is further protection needed in sensitive areas?
80
70
60
50
% 40
30
20
10
0
More speed restrictions
No-stopping areas
No go areas
Areas where boating
can be actively
promoted
Seasonal restrictions
near cliff-nesting birds
Seasonal restrictions
near seal-pupping
beaches and caves
7. Recommendations:
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The Council’s policy of pursuing essentially a voluntary approach to the
management of recreational craft appears to be working. By providing
skippers and the general public with positive information about
Cardigan Bay’s internationally important marine wildlife and the need to
conserve it, the majority have taken these messages to heart and are
playing an active part in its protection. It is clear that the majority do not
want to see no-go boating areas, nor do they want areas where
stopping boats to view marine wildlife is disallowed. Certainly amongst
local skippers generally there is a clear understanding of the presence
of sensitive marine wildlife, and a confidence that boating and wildlife
can co-exist happily together. This is particularly the case in the
southern part of the county. The main challenge seems to be how do
we communicate to visitors the central message of the need to take
care when out in boats near wildlife.
7.1 Code of Conduct improvements: As our understanding of which
areas along the Ceredigion coastline are important for wildlife has
improved and we are more knowledgeable about cetacean behaviour,
improvements can be made to the guidance that we give to skippers
whilst at sea. Specifically:
 Highlight headlands as especially important feeding areas for
cetaceans.
 Remove requirement to be stationary within 100m of marine
mammals (best to keep moving very slowly away) and change
“slow down gradually if stopping” to “slow down gradually to
minimum speed”.
 Add not to enter sea caves during seal pupping season (AugOct inclusive).
 Allowing a closer approach (50m) to animals on the shore if boat
is moving with minimum speed and noise.
 Max 15 mins. staying around animals
7.2 Speed limit zones: We know from studies that the inshore area
between Aberporth and Cardigan Island is the most important area in
the county for dolphins and it is the area with the highest sighting rate.
A system similar to the existing 8 knot speed guidance within 200
metres from shore between New Quay Head and Ynys Lochtyn is
therefore recommended between Aberporth and Cardigan Island. It is
further recommended that the existing New Quay to Ynys Lochtyn
speed zone is extended to the byelaw area at Llangrannog.
7.3 Activity Promotion: Support for the concept of promoting boating
activity in certain areas was shown during the public consultation
period. Therefore five stretches of inshore waters have been identified
that are less important for wildlife where there is potential for boating
activity to be developed, subject to suitable onshore facilities being
available (beyond existing bathing beach byelaw areas):
 Aberporth - Tresaith – Penbryn - Llangrannog
 Llanina reef - Aberaeron
 Llanrhystud – Llanon
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
Borth – (Borth headland to south of Dyfi estuary)
7.4 Effective communication: Continuation of information to skippers
will be important in order to pursue the policy that the more people
know and understand what’s happening in the Bay the more people will
want to help conserve it. Thanks to grant aid from the Crown Estate
Marine Stewardship Fund the Coast & Countryside Section has been
able to allocate resources to providing a number of educational and
interpretation materials to skippers and the general public. These have
been well received and the responses from the consultation indicate
that speed limit buoys, Code of Conduct leaflets/Posters, the Cardigan
Bay Boat Place, Boat Patrols, and information panels at launch sites
should all be retained and updated when necessary. Ceredigion Marine
Code panels have been produced in March 2010 and replace panels at
the southern launch sites, and are newly sited at Aberystwyth and
Borth. Gwynedd Council requested a copy of the Ceredigion Marine
Code in order to adopt and disseminate the code in their county.
Consideration needs to be given as to how future education material
production can be achieved under the core budgets of DESH, DHPW
and CE as there has been an over-reliance on external grant aid to
date. Dissemination of information should continue to be undertaken by
officers from all three departments and be coordinated by the Coastal
Group
All the Council’s promotional material aimed at visitors to Cardigan Bay
should refer to the sustainable boating system that we have in place as
being a positive asset to the area.
% yes
%
recreational
boater
97
100
By the Harbourmasters to mooring holders and people launching
boats
100
100
Notice boards at boating clubs
100
100
Through the use of a patrol boat
77
77
Leaflets and posters at caravan parks, information centres and
other tourist hotspots
94
96
Buoys to mark areas with speed restrictions
97
95
How else would you like to see code of conduct information put across?
At the Cardigan Bay Boat Place in New Quay
Other suggestions received during public consultation:
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Byelaws included with launch permit; regular workshops and
seminars at boat clubs
Talks to schools, local groups, university clubs
Newspaper publicity and in area tourist newspapers
Talks and presentations to user groups. More marine-specific
information boards at popular coastal locations with wildlife
information, Code of conduct, litter information
7.5 Licensing/Registration/Enforcement: Gwynedd County Council
has demonstrated the income raising ability of its registration scheme,
enabling them to put in place the necessary infrastructure to manage
the area’s power boat and PWC activity. It has been previously
mentioned that it is speedboats travelling at high speed that are most
likely to be breaking the code of conduct and therefore be potentially
causing disturbance to dolphins. Most of these craft do not have easily
identifiable markings that allow officers to follow up incidents on return
to shore. Whilst current boating levels in Ceredigion perhaps do not
warrant a scheme quite on the scale of Gwynedd Council, careful
consideration should be given as to how a scheme could be introduced
here as there are potentially many advantages. It is recommended that
a sub-group of officers from the Coastal Group, collect data to
investigate a workable scheme for consideration by Cabinet.
Coordination of effort between the three departments should continue
in order to back up agreed recreational boating/wildlife policy and
implement actions from the plan. Additional links with the Afon Teifi
Fairways Committee, boat clubs and Gwynedd Council’s marine unit
should be developed.
Whilst some respondents to the public consultation expressed the view
that enforcement should be tightened, there is evidence that shows that
the voluntary approach outlined in this document has achieved
considerable success albeit in the southern part of the county. The
Council should continue its policy of following up reported incidents
with skippers; withdrawing mooring/launching facilities where
necessary, and reporting suspected reckless or deliberate disturbance
to the police for investigation. Some boat clubs during the consultation
said that their members would be willing to assist in reporting code of
conduct breaches. There is a view that persistent defaulters are in a
minority and that it would be unfair to bring in punitive measures that
would affect the majority.
7.6 Personal Water Craft: As no evidence has been shown to suggest
that PWC’s per se cause any more disturbance to the protected
species in the Bay than any other fast, maneuverable craft it is
recommended that PWC users be required alongside all other craft to
comply with the Marine Code.
7.7 Monitoring & Review: These recommendations have been made
on the basis that boat traffic levels in the southern part of the county
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have been constant since 1994. It remains important to keep
monitoring systems in place in order to detect trends in both boating
rates and dolphin sighting rates. Integration of records of number and
type of boats launched annually by harbourmasters, launch officers and
life-guards would be useful in order to get a fuller picture of boat traffic
trends. The Dolphin Watch study has recorded that between 2004-07
when boating levels fell due to poor weather, dolphin sighting rates
showed a strong inverse relationship to boating levels. Data has
suggested that boat traffic suppressed site use by dolphins at New
Quay Harbour during this period. The Dolphin Watch study
demonstrates that networks of volunteer observers can provide a costeffective, non-invasive means of gathering data on marine mammals
and the effectiveness of the Code of Conduct for the purpose of coastal
zone management. Consideration needs to be given as to how
monitoring can be extended to cover both the Teifi estuary and
Aberystwyth/Borth areas.
Analysis of the monitoring data is undertaken bi-annually, and a
simultaneous review of this plan would be beneficial at that time.
The review could be carried out by relevant officers, with
representatives from the Fairways Committee, Boat clubs and
Gwynedd County Council’s marine unit.
References:
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CCC, (2000) Cetacean site use & boat traffic on the Marine
Heritage Coast 1994-1999
CCC (2002) Draft Coastal Recreation Management Plan, Richard
Marks
CCC (2006) Bottlenose dolphins and boat traffic on the Ceredigion
Coast, West Wales 2004 & 2005
CCC (2008) Cardigan Bay SAC Management Scheme
DEFRA (2007) Managing coastal activities: a guide to local
authorities
Hyder Consulting Ltd. (2007) Cardigan Bay Action Plan. Final report
to WAG
G. Pesante, P.G.H. Evans, M.E. Baines, and M. McMath
Abundance and Life History Parameters of Bottlenose Dolphin in
Cardigan Bay: Monitoring 2005-2007, CCW Marine Monitoring
Report No. 61
Pierpoint, C., Allan, L., Arnold, H., Evans, P., Perry, S., Wilberforce,
L., & Baxter, J. Monitoring important coastal sites for bottlenose
dolphin in Cardigan Bay, UK. Journal of the Marine Biological
Association, 89.4
WAG (2008) Coastal Tourism Strategy
WAG (2008) People, Places, Futures, Wales Spatial Plan.
15
16