A PIONEERING Pembrokeshire skills initiative encouraging young women to consider careers in sustainable power, renewable energy and construction has welcomed The Crown Estate as its newest partner.

The SPARC Alliance works with secondary schools across the county to bring future local career opportunities to life for girls aged 12 to 14, with a particular focus on STEM-related pathways.

The programme is already supported by RWE Generation and RWE Renewables at Pembroke Power Station, the Port of Milford Haven, Blue Gem Wind and Ledwood Engineering.

It has now announced new backing from The Crown Estate, the independent organisation which manages land, property and the seabed across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Crown Estate is playing a key role in the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, with South West Wales expected to be at the centre of a new clean energy industry.

Three sites for new windfarms are being taken forward by some of the world’s leading offshore wind companies, creating major opportunities for the region and its supply chain.

The Crown Estate has also awarded funding through its £50m Supply Chain Accelerator Programme, including projects in Pembrokeshire, and is co-funding the regional Fit For Offshore Renewables programme in South Wales with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

Supporters say the growth of the sector could create significant demand for engineers, welders, construction workers, environmental specialists, business support professionals, maritime experts and port operatives.

Current forecasts suggest more than 5,000 jobs could be created through new Celtic Sea windfarms and their associated supply chains.

However, with an ageing population and changing demographics, there is increasing pressure to ensure local young people have the skills and confidence needed to take advantage of these opportunities.

SPARC aims to help meet that challenge by engaging young women who have historically been underrepresented in engineering, construction, manufacturing and clean energy careers.

Through direct contact with industry, pupils are given insight into the range of roles being created by renewable energy, from traditional power generation to offshore wind and hydrogen technologies.

Hayley Williams, of Pembrokeshire College, the lead partner for SPARC, said: “The Crown Estate’s commitment to SPARC will enable the programme to expand its reach across more schools and strengthen its support for young women aspiring to become STEM professionals.

“This includes enhanced mentoring opportunities, helping participants explore both university pathways and work-based apprenticeships as routes into the industries that will shape Pembrokeshire’s future.”

SPARC Alliance partners say the programme is helping ensure local young people are informed, inspired and equipped to seize the opportunities presented by one of the most significant economic developments Wales has seen in a generation.

WALES is facing growing pressure to clarify whether lobsters, crabs and other shellfish can still be boiled alive, amid mounting concern over animal welfare and changing public attitudes.

Animal Defenders International has called on the Welsh Government to issue clear guidance stating that live boiling is unacceptable.

The group says the law has already moved on. The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans, including crabs, lobsters and crayfish, as sentient animals. Campaigners argue that means they are capable of experiencing pain, fear and distress.

They also point to Welsh regulations on the killing of animals, which make it an offence to cause avoidable pain, distress or suffering at the time of killing.

Bill Carter, Science Policy Advisor at Animal Defenders International, said boiling animals alive was “inhumane and unnecessary”, and called on ministers in Wales to act.

The issue has gained renewed attention after the UK Government committed to producing guidance for England making clear that live boiling is not an acceptable killing method.

That has left Wales facing an awkward question. If crustaceans are legally recognised as sentient, and if more humane killing methods are available, should boiling them alive still be tolerated?

Supporters of a ban say the answer is simple. They argue that dropping a living lobster or crab into boiling water causes avoidable suffering and should have no place in modern food preparation.

Animal welfare groups say electrical stunning, or other swift killing methods, should be used before cooking. Some countries have already moved in that direction, with restrictions or bans on boiling crustaceans alive introduced in places such as Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand.

But the debate is not one-sided.

Seafood businesses, restaurants and fishmongers may argue that any change must be practical, affordable and clearly explained. Specialist stunning equipment can be expensive, and smaller coastal businesses could be hit harder than large suppliers.

There is also concern that businesses should not be left guessing over what the law requires. If Wales is to change expectations around shellfish preparation, the seafood trade is likely to want clear guidance, proper notice and time to adapt.

The science is another part of the debate. Evidence increasingly suggests that decapod crustaceans can experience pain and distress, but they do not show suffering in the same way mammals do. That has allowed the issue to remain hidden from many consumers.

For some people, eating lobster or crab is not the issue. The concern is how the animal is treated before it reaches the plate. Others may argue that recognising crustaceans as sentient should prompt a wider rethink about how they are caught, stored, transported and killed.

The issue is especially relevant in coastal communities across Wales, where shellfish remains part of the food economy and local culture.

For campaigners, tradition and convenience are no defence if suffering can be avoided. For the seafood trade, the challenge is making any change workable without damaging small businesses.

The Welsh Government has not yet matched the commitment made in England. Until it does, Wales remains in a grey area: the law recognises crustaceans as sentient, but public guidance on how they should be killed remains limited.

With pressure growing, ministers may soon have to decide whether boiling lobsters and crabs alive should become a thing of the past.

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has stood down the critical incident declared on 26 June following three days of sustained pressure linked to the extreme heat.

The service said demand has now begun to reduce, although it remains under significant pressure.

Members of the public are still being urged to call 999 only in serious or life-threatening emergencies.

For less urgent health concerns, people are being asked to use NHS 111 Wales or the online Albot service for advice and support.

The Trust thanked staff, volunteers, partner organisations and the public for their patience, professionalism and support during what it described as an exceptionally challenging period.