News

New Natural Resources Wales conservation project looks to restore native oysters in the Milford Haven estuary

Published

4 years ago

March 17, 2021

AN EXCITING new conservation project led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is investigating the viability of restoring the native oyster.

This pioneering project aims to trial different approaches to restore the environmentally important native oyster and associated habitat. It is the first native oyster conservation project of its kind in Wales and if successful, could be used as a blueprint for larger scale restoration projects.

Native oysters filter and clean water and provide essential habitats for fish, crustaceans and other species. They lock away carbon, and filter particles and nutrients from the water, so they play a vital role towards offsetting the effects of climate change. Oysters help to improve the resilience of our marine ecosystems so restoring these habitats will provide benefits for people and for the wider environment.

Once widespread across Wales, there have been significant declines of oyster habitats over the last century. Historic over-exploitation, changes in water quality, and disease are likely to have driven this decline. These factors left too few individuals in the wild to produce new offspring and bring about natural population recovery – it is unlikely the species will recuperate without intervention.

Working with a team of marine scientists and aquaculture experts, including a local oyster farming business (ABPmer, Aquafish Solutions, Aquatic Survey and Monitoring and Atlantic Edge Oysters), NRW have introduced juvenile oysters and clean shell material in a series of trials over several historic oyster grounds. The areas will be monitored to check that oysters are surviving, growing and if there is evidence of reproduction.

Ben Wray, Project Manager and marine ecologist at NRW said:

“Restoring native oysters and associated habitat in Wales is extremely important. It improves the condition of the surrounding area and it is great for the wider environment which benefits people too. We are very hopeful that the project will be a success – the native oyster is a threatened and declining species. And it’s a main priority for biodiversity restoration in Wales.

“We are using current and former oyster habitats in the Milford Haven waterway to test if it is possible to introduce native oysters to boost the population. So far, we have introduced around 25,000 juvenile oysters in the estuary and we will monitor how they progress. If the project is successful, oysters could be introduced on a larger scale and across additional sites”.

Dr Andrew Woolmer of Atlantic Edge Oysters said:

“We are really pleased to be able to support this important restoration work in the Milford Haven estuary by supplying the native oysters for restocking. It has been challenging, but we have worked hard over the last few years developing new techniques to produce them.

“Native oysters are an important part of the ecosystem, as well as the heritage of the waterway and we are proud to play a part in their recovery.”

Welsh Government and WEFO provided funding for the important conservation project.

Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, said:

“I am very pleased we have been able to back this conservation effort at oyster habitats in Wales, which will help improve the health and resilience of our marine ecosystems.

“Our Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Management Framework sets out how we will continue to improve management and quality at MPAs across Wales over the next five years, playing a vital role in our efforts to improve the resilience of our marine habitats and biodiversity.”

Monitoring the native oyster restoration project will take place over the next two years. Results will be analysed and examined by March 2023. If successful, NRW will look to work with other organisations to reintroduce native oysters across Wales.

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Court Reporter

A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.

The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.

The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.

The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.

News

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

Community

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.

The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.

Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.

Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.

With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.

“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”