News

Fish using more energy to stay still than first thought, Welsh research finds

Published

10 months ago

August 21, 2025

FISH staying still in water are using considerably more energy than first thought, new research has found.

Remaining stationary in the water is essential for fish as it helps them look out for predators, access prey in small crevices and feed on hard-to-reach resources like aquatic plants.

Fish achieve this by so-called “hovering” which includes corrective fin and body movements. Without these movements, they would naturally flip sideways or upside down.

The research, carried out by a team including an academic from Aberystwyth University’s Department of Computer Science, discovered that hovering requires twice as much energy compared to resting.

The reason for the excess energy use is instability, which is caused by the swim bladder, a gas filled sac that sits within nearly all bony fishes. Although the swim bladder provides the buoyancy that stops a fish from sinking, it also creates a stability problem. Due to the location of the swim bladder, there is a separation between the centre of buoyancy and centre of mass, and this separation makes fish inherently unstable. This is why dead fish are seen floating on their sides or upside down because they naturally tip.

The findings could have implications for the design of more manoeuvrable and stable miniature aquatic robots. The research involved the team placing 13 species of bony fish in a specialised tank and recorded oxygen consumption while they were hovering and while they were at rest at the bottom of the tank. High speed cameras were used to track fin movements.

Body size and shape were also measured from each fish to investigate what influences instability during hovering. This data was then used to create a simple model to link the body properties of fish to metabolic cost of hovering. The model suggests that fish with deep compact bodies, such as goldfish, were more efficient in their hovering, while long slender fish such as rummy-nose tetra had more difficulty.

Dr Otar Akanyeti, from Aberystwyth University’s Department of Computer Science, said: “You would have thought that staying still would be easy but this research has upended this assumption. Hovering is essential for fishes to eat, avoid predators or hunt prey but it has energetic consequences that are not negligible. It is similar to trying to balance on an inflatable tube in the swimming pool or sea, which is harder than it first looks.

“The findings have important real-life implications for sea exploration. First, they help us with ecological modelling to better understand fish behaviour. Second, they can be used to improve the manoeuvrability of undersea robots, raising the possibility of them being able to access previously unreachable areas.

“Undersea robots are traditionally compact for stability but by using these findings, we can in effect build in some instability to help the robots move in the same way as fishes who hover more effectively.”

The findings were published in a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In addition to Dr Akanyeti, the study was co-authored by seven institutions. The research was led by the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Crime

Retired vicar jailed after child images found on laptop

Published

2 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Court Reporter

Former Powys clergyman claimed he had “nothing else to do” when police discovered prohibited material during unannounced visit

A RETIRED vicar has been jailed after police discovered prohibited images of children on his laptop during an unannounced visit to his home.

Andrew Robinson, 77, of Talybont-on-Usk near Brecon, was already subject to strict monitoring after admitting child image offences in 2025.

The former clergyman had previously received a suspended prison sentence, was placed on the Sex Offenders Register and made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order following his conviction for possessing indecent images of children.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police’s offender management unit carried out a surprise compliance visit to Robinson’s home on June 9, 2026, as part of routine checks on registered sex offenders.

During the visit, officers found an open laptop displaying animated sexual images involving children.

When challenged by officers, Robinson claimed he did not believe the material was illegal. Following his arrest, he reportedly told officers he had been viewing the images because he had “nothing else to do”.

Robinson was charged with possessing a prohibited image of a child and with breaching the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Appearing before the courts the following day, he admitted both offences.

The breach activated the suspended prison sentence previously imposed on him. Robinson was jailed for a total of 12 months and 12 weeks and ordered to pay £187.

Detective Sergeant Paula Rutherford said the case demonstrated the importance of monitoring convicted sex offenders in the community.

She said: “The law is clear. Possessing this type of material is illegal, deeply concerning and contributes to the wider harm caused by child sexual exploitation.

“Some people wrongly believe there are no victims when animated images are involved, but viewing such material helps sustain demand for abusive content and can form part of a pathway towards more serious offending.

“The safeguarding of children and the protection of the public remain at the heart of our work. This sentence reflects the seriousness of Robinson’s actions and the effectiveness of proactive offender management.”

Robinson remains subject to notification requirements under sex offender legislation following his release from custody.

Crime

Drug trafficker must repay £33,000 after court rules he made nearly £500,000

Published

16 hours ago

June 17, 2026

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKESHIRE drug trafficker jailed after a major cocaine and cannabis seizure has been ordered to repay more than £33,000.

Dean Evans, 44, returned to Swansea Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing after prosecutors sought to recover money made through his offending.

The court heard it had been agreed that Evans benefited from criminal conduct by £496,533.94. However, his available assets were calculated at £33,337.37.

Judge Catherine Richards made a confiscation order for that amount and gave Evans three months to pay. If he fails to do so, he faces a further year in prison.

Evans, of St Clements Park, Freystrop, is already serving an eight-year sentence after admitting possession with intent to supply cocaine and cannabis.

He was caught after Dyfed-Powys Police’s Roads Policing Unit stopped his Seat Ateca on Holyland Road, Pembroke, at around 10:25am on January 2.

Officers searched the vehicle after Evans admitted they would find “stuff” inside.

They discovered around one kilogram of cocaine in a cardboard box in the boot, together with 5.4 kilograms of cannabis in a black bin bag. The cannabis had been split into ten vacuum-sealed bags.

Swansea Crown Court was previously told the drugs had a combined potential street value of up to £185,000, made up of around £125,000 of cocaine and cannabis worth up to £60,000.

A mobile phone seized from Evans revealed what prosecutors described as a “dealer’s list”, with dozens of names and sums believed to be owed. Messages also showed Evans directing dealers below him in the supply chain.

At the original sentencing hearing, the court was told Evans had 23 previous convictions for 62 offences, including rape and robbery. His previous drug matters had related only to possession.

Sarah John, mitigating, said he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had stayed out of trouble for a “fairly lengthy period”, with his last conviction in 2016.

Jailing Evans for eight years, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “You are clearly a man with few criminal boundaries.

“You ensnared users and low-level drug dealers into debt, dragging them into a vicious circle of criminality.”

After sentencing, DC Phill Jones, of Pembrokeshire’s Serious Organised Crime Unit, said illegal drugs brought misery to local communities and would not be tolerated.

He said: “This sentence should serve as a stark warning to any others who are tempted into the illegal drugs trade. You will get caught and you will go to prison.”

Photo caption: Drugs seized:

Dean Evans was caught with cocaine and cannabis worth up to £185,000 in his car (Pic: Dyfed-Powys Police).

Community

Government hails rural 4G boost as Tenby signal concerns continue

Published

17 hours ago

June 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MINISTERS have hailed the rollout of dozens of 4G mast upgrades across rural Wales, but recent concerns in Tenby show mobile coverage remains a live issue in Pembrokeshire.

The UK Government says a further 11 mast upgrades have been switched on in Wales this year through the Shared Rural Network, bringing the Welsh total to 55.

The scheme is aimed at improving mobile coverage in hard-to-reach rural areas, helping residents, businesses and visitors stay connected and access help more quickly in an emergency.

Areas benefiting from the latest upgrades include Nant Gwynant in Snowdonia, Capel y Ffin near Abergavenny, Manafon near Welshpool, and several locations across Powys.

Telecoms Minister Liz Lloyd said the programme was helping bring “every part of the UK into the digital age”, while Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said reliable coverage was vital for rural communities and economic growth.

However, the announcement comes amid continuing concern about mobile phone coverage in Tenby, where residents and businesses have raised concerns about poor signal and mast-related issues.

Although the latest UK Government upgrades focus mainly on remote rural areas, the problems reported in Tenby highlight that connectivity remains a pressing issue in Pembrokeshire, particularly in coastal communities which see huge seasonal increases in visitor numbers.

Reliable mobile coverage is increasingly seen as essential for tourism businesses, delivery drivers, emergency services, residents and visitors who rely on phones for payments, bookings, navigation and safety.

The Shared Rural Network is a partnership between the UK Government and mobile network operators. Across Great Britain, more than 140 publicly funded 4G masts have now been activated.

The programme is due to continue until January 2027.