News

Concerns over salmon fishing ban dismissed

Published

9 years ago

December 16, 2016

A SENIOR member of the Teifi Trout Association (TTA) has raised concerns over ‘restrictions’ that he fears may be put in place by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) regarding salmon fishing in the River Teifi and throughout Wales.

Secretary of the TTA Gwyn Morris has said that NRW is looking to introduce a ban on salmon fishing and introduce restrictions on fishing methods such as bait fishing.

The TTA currently has around 200 members and owns a n approximate 20 mile stretch of water in the Teifi. The fishing strip has received considerable investment in its time, some of which has been sourced through grant funding.

In the late 1980s, Gwyn said that the TTA had initially purchased a strip (which spanned several miles), in part, by using funds that involved a £50k grant from Ceredigion Council. The area also received National Lottery funding for several disabled platforms which can be found along the river.

Gwyn said: “They [NRW] can’t tell us when this ban is coming in. They’re trying to fetch this legislation in, but they’ve got to go through Welsh Government. We’re opposing it being passed if we can.”

Gwyn also raised concerns about the TTA’s disabled members, most of whom rely on bait fishing, something Gwyn expects to be banned.

He said: “With our members now, most of them are getting older, you’ve got more disabled every year, and that’s what we have to try and hit them with now, they’re depriving the disabled.”

With reference to statistical evidence he had received at a meeting at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Gwyn also argued that there had been a 23% increase in salmon numbers in the Teifi.

Having spoken to Gwyn, the Herald contacted the NRW where we got through to Principal Communications Officer, Martyn Gough. While Martyn acknowledged that numbers of adult salmon may well have increased (he could not confirm this either way), he did point out that NRW was currently more concerned with salmon fry numbers which have been declining across the country.

Martyn said: “We’re still very much at the stage where we are investigating the reason for this decline in the numbers and we will take steps eventually, but what they are we don’t know at the moment.”

Martyn went on to dismiss claims of a potential ban, adding: “It’s a problem that we need to address but it is something that we’re still investigating and because of that, we haven’t made any decisions on restrictions or any sort of ban that may or may not take place; that’s a discussion for once we’ve collated all the evidence.

“As you can image, there’s an awful lot of rumours and gossip around the situation. At the moment, there is nothing of that nature in the pipeline.”

When discussing the cause of decreasing salmon fry numbers, Martyn was quick to dismiss over-fishing as a major cause, and instead pointed to something else. He said: “We think that it may be related to last years wet and warm winter, we don’t think this is a case of overfishing. The evidence, and again we’re still investigating this, but the evidence points to something to do with climate change. “

The only scheme that NRW currently promotes is a voluntary catch and release scheme.

Crime

Man sent to Crown Court over alleged breach of sexual harm prevention order

Published

9 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Carmarthenshire defendant denies deleting internet history contrary to court order

A MAN from Llandeilo has been sent to Swansea Crown Court for trial after appearing before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

Ben Barrett, 37, of Maes Y Farchnad, Llandeilo, appeared before the court on Thursday (Apr 9).

The court heard that Barrett is accused of breaching a sexual harm prevention order made by Swansea Crown Court on March 15, 2018.

It is alleged that between October 13 and October 19, 2025, at Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, he deleted the history of internet use without reasonable excuse, despite being prohibited from doing so by the order.

The case was sent to Swansea Crown Court for trial under Section 51 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Barrett gave no guilty indication and the matter was treated as not guilty for the purposes of sending.

He was granted unconditional bail and is due to appear at Swansea Crown Court, The Law Courts, St Helens Road, on Friday, May 8 at 9:00am for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

News

The Fed meets First Minister in Pembrokeshire

Published

16 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

AHEAD of the Welsh election on May 7, 2026, the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has met First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan in Pembrokeshire to underline the vital role small shops play in the Welsh economy and in communities across the country.

The Fed was represented by senior members Vince and Fiona Malone at their business in Tenby, which has recently undergone a refit and now trades under the Morrisons Daily fascia.

Since launching its Welsh election manifesto in January, the Fed has been inviting Senedd candidates to visit members’ businesses across Wales to discuss both the opportunities available to small retailers and the challenges they face.

The manifesto calls for grant support for small independent retailers, as well as action to tackle rising costs — particularly business rates, which are controlled by the Welsh Government. The Fed is also calling for a cost-neutral Deposit Return Scheme that works for smaller shops.

Mr Malone described the meeting as “very positive”.

He said: “In particular, I highlighted the value of our Post Office and the vast range of government services it provides to people in the town and the many visitors who stay in Tenby, especially in the coming summer months.”

Baroness Morgan said: “I would like to thank Vince and the Fed for once again highlighting their important work representing the vital small independent shops that serve the people of Wales.

“I was particularly interested to hear about the work of the Post Office, especially at a time when the Westminster government is looking to engage retail stakeholders on the modernisation of the Post Office network, so businesses like Vince’s can continue to thrive in the years ahead while serving local people.”

If you want it, I can also turn this into a more punchy Pembrokeshire Herald version with a stronger headline and sub-heading.

Crime

Man arrested after alleged child sexual assault in Haverfordwest

Published

30 minutes ago

April 9, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Police enquiries ongoing after incident in Castle Square

A MAN has been arrested after an alleged sexual assault of a child in Haverfordwest town centre.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called to Castle Square at around 2:00pm on Tuesday (Apr 7).

The force said a 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence against a child and has since been released on conditional bail.

The child’s grandfather told The Pembrokeshire Herald that he saw what he believed to be inappropriate contact between the man and the child before members of the public intervened.

Dyfed-Powys Police said enquiries are ongoing.

A police spokesperson said: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report of an alleged sexual assault of a child in Castle Square, Haverfordwest at around 2pm on Tuesday, April 7.

“A 50-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence against a child and has since been released on conditional bail.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”