Pollution in Welsh rivers is ‘suffocating the sea’, campaigners say

Pollution from rivers in Wales is affecting the sea environment and “our sea is choking”, the campaigners have warned.

WWF Cymru said that algal blooms were growing from additional nutrients from farming and sewage, which was smoothing the seabed.

New assessments of the position of protected areas along the Welsh coast, published by the environmental watchdog Natural Resource Wales (NRW), have been evaluated in all areas in adverse conditions with more than half of species and houses, many sites suffering from nutrient pollution.

The Welsh government said that the report would provide “important information” to help improve the maritime environment.

NRW had previously confirmed that Seven of the nine most protected rivers in Wales – Known as a special area of ​​protection or bag rivers – they were thwarting the target of water quality due to high levels of nutrients.

Run-off and slurry spread from agricultural land, waste water discharge and pollution from the industry were all contributed to all problems.

The situation has already happened Boundaries are being placed on housebuilding With SAC Rivers.

Launching a manifesto of Asks to politicians before next year’s Sendd election, WWF Cymru said a similar picture was now emerging in the sea.

The pollution fed by rivers is damaging the ocean’s ability to store marine ecosystems and carbon, “Creating a position for recovery or restoration of carbon-rich houses, such as segras, challenging”, said this.

Charity called for a “strong recovery plan” for sea houses, supported by law and money.

Such as with rivers, the area and regions around Wales are preserved for their important houses and wildlife.

The NRW described its report on these maritime bags and special security areas (SPAS) status as “the most widespread on the status of marinely protected areas in Europe”.

A total of 85 important characteristics were assessed – rare species such as gray seals and protected housing such as mudflats and saltmars.

The evaluation of 55% of both SACS and Spas was in adverse position, adapted with 38% and 7% was classified as unknown.

NRW stated that nutrient pollution for issues on some sites was “one of the main reasons”.

Individual reports were prepared with five out of five of the five of the five water quality failed water quality due to extreme nutrients.

These included the Pembrookshire Marine Special Area of ​​Conservation, which was one of the most famous and popular tourist hotspots in the country.

The nutrient of anxiety in the marine environment is usually dissolved in inorganic nitrogen, mainly from the incidence of agricultural run-off and pollution, the report suggests.

The assessment received some good news for both botalenose dolphins and gray seals in Welsh Water.

Welsh bag is considered important in maintaining their population, and both animals were found in a favorable position in Cardigan Bay, Lilin Peninsula and Sarnaau.

In the Pembroxire Marine bag where about 90% of the Welsh Seal Puppies are born, long -term measures show that the population increases.

A group of volunteers where Rick Cooper helps to run a cladow project in Pambrookshire where a group of volunteers is working to return the main rivers of the county – Western and Eastern Cladeou -.

“I live on the mouth and as other people became rapidly distraught with the condition of the river,” he said.

“It often smells of sewage and sometimes smell of solution, and life in the river was deteriorating in front of our eyes.

“We have green algal banks, what are we in the summer months that are due to additional nutrients in water, sunlight and warm temperatures.”

The condition of the river and maritime environment is “very connected”, Mr. Cooper explained, but he felt that the effect on the coast and the sea was “like a forgotten story”.

“There has not been the same pressure for the mouth to improve things because freshwater has been done for cladou.”

He said that the group, which has coordinated a civil science project monitoring water quality at 49 sites last year, included 100 volunteers, was very keen to read NRW reports.

“We want it to be exposed that this water body is failing, it is in a bad way and then the powers that have to decide what can be done about it.

“We are hoping that it takes more action.”

The head of policy and advocacy at WWF CIMRU, Xi Bakalland-Jones, stated that NRW’s assessment highlighted “the terrible status of our waterways and the necessary immediate action from the Welsh government”.

“Sadly, the public does not need to see a report to appreciate the critical condition of our waterways because it is all very clear.

He said, “This is why there is so much support from Wales to bring the rivers of Wales back into full health,” he said, pointing to the voting done by the charity.

This suggested 87% of the Welsh government to reduce the Welsh government and where possible, where the pollution of the river was abolished due to agriculture and sewage.

The results suggest that 79% asked that carbon-rich marine habitats such as cigras, saltamrsha and seep rocks supported.

“As we have installed in our new manifesto, it means that continuous action to restore the ecosystem and to prevent all sources of river pollution, focusing on the two largest sources, agriculture and sewage, said” Mr. Bucklend-Jones “said.

A spokesperson by NFU Simru said that the Farming Union recognized the role of “farmers play and enhance the quality of water in Wales”.

He said, “Farmers take their environmental responsibilities seriously and NFU Simaru continued to work with partners to take action to reduce the incidence of agricultural point source and to spread pollution, where the evidence shows that it needs,” he said.

Welsh Water said it planned to invest £ 4bn – which includes £ 2.5bn on environmental projects – now and between 2030.

“During the next two years we will build on NRW work and are investigating to understand the various sources of nutrients found in sea water, whether with land or waste water, run by runaway water,” the company said.

“River pollution and sea water quality is not only an issue for water companies. We need to work closely with other areas that affect water quality to ensure improvement.”

Mary Lewis of NRW stated that “a large amount of knowledge and expertise was designed to produce such comprehensive evidence about the situation in our protected marine areas.

“This will now provide us an important base line to monitor progress,” he said.

The Welsh government stated that it was committed to improve our rivers and seas health “and” many tasks to improve water quality “.

This involves “implementing all recommendations from the recent control of reviewing agricultural pollution rules,” it involves.

“We are dedicated to developing and strengthening environmental laws in Wales. The environment (theory, governance and biodiversity target) (Wales) Bill, recently laid in SenedD, reflects the need to distribute transformational changes, including the pollution of nutrients such as the drivers of biodiversity.”