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Welsh crab and lobster survey and online events for recreational shellfish fishers

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WELSH crab and lobster survey and online events for recreational shellfish fishers
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Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, is inviting recreational crab, lobster and crawfish fishers in Wales to take part in a survey and attend online engagement events.

The survey and events have been arranged by Seafish as part of a new Welsh crab and lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP) which is being developed by the Welsh Government and due for publication in 2026.

Recreational fishers are classed as anyone fishing simply for leisure and personal consumption, as opposed to commercial business, with the survey and engagement events open to both Welsh residents and visitors.

Seafish wants to hear from pot fishers and divers / spearfishers who have an interest in crab, lobster, and crawfish fisheries in Welsh waters.

FMPs cover all removals of shellfish from a stock; this means that recreational shellfish fisheries will be included in the plan, so it is important that the views and expertise of recreational fishers are gathered as they are important stakeholders in Welsh fisheries.

Seafish has been commissioned by the Welsh Government to carry out online engagement events and a short online survey to understand more about how recreational shellfish fishers would like to see crab, lobster, and crawfish managed in the future.

Lewis Tattersall, Head of Fisheries Management at Seafish, said: “Recreational fisheries for crab, lobsters and crawfish provide cultural and economic value to coastal communities in Wales, as well as being a hobby that many people enjoy. In managing fisheries, we must account for all catches removed from the stock to ensure long-term sustainability. This means future fisheries management plans for shellfish will include recreational catches of shellfish.

We want to make sure that recreational shellfish fishers are involved in the early stages of FMP development and that their views on how fisheries should be managed are heard. The Seafish events and online survey are a great opportunity for recreational shellfish fishers to share their experience and insight, and the outputs of this work will be important in shaping future management of Welsh fisheries”.

In April, Seafish engaged with the commercial fishing sector to gather their views on current and future management of the Welsh crab and lobster fishery.

The focus of this second round of engagement is on recreational potters, divers, and intertidal gleaners / gatherers who catch brown crab, velvet crab, spider crab, European lobster, and crawfish in the Welsh zone.

The online engagement events and survey offer recreational shellfish fishers the opportunity to voice their opinions on how Welsh shellfish fisheries are currently managed, and how they would like to see them managed in the future through the fisheries management plan.

Seafish wants to know what current management works well to protect shellfish stocks, what could be improved to improve sustainability and how recreational shellfish fisheries would like to be involved in the next stages of FMP development by Welsh Government. The ultimate aim of the FMP is to deliver sustainable shellfish fisheries in Wales and to protect these valuable stocks for future generations.

Business

Derelict Cilgerran house to be transformed into cafe

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PLANS by a village shop owner to convert a house “in a state of disrepair” to a café to “improve the variety of community facilities” locally have been given the go-ahead.

Mrs Morris, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council to convert The Old Post House, High Street, Cilgerran, currently a four-bed dwelling, to a ground floor café, along with a first-floor flat.

The application received five letters of support, saying it would provide local jobs, support the community, promote Welsh and local food, and provide a local community hub, with three letters of objection, raising concerns about parking and traffic, and potential odours from the premises.

A supporting statement, through the agent, said: “The proposed site is currently a dwellinghouse, in current need of modernisations and renovations throughout. The site is under the same ownership as the neighbouring village stores Siop Y Pentre,” saying the proposal “can be read as an extension to the existing Siop Y Pentre”.

“Siop Y Pentre is a thriving local community village shop which acts as a village hub. The shop provides local residents with day-to-day necessities, with a focus on local, sustainable and minimal waste products,” the statement says, adding the dwelling it seeks to convert “is in disrepair and in need of internal works to make suitable for modern living”.

It went on to say: “The proposed café seeks to retain its focus on local and seasonal produce with minimal waste and would provide a welcomed opportunity for socialising, especially during the daytime. The café will also seek to employ local staff retaining a community feel throughout. As such, the principle of the café adjacent to the existing village store is considered acceptable. The site seeks to encourage a sustainable community, with development of an appropriate scale and nature.

“Further to this, the location of the development is within the settlement boundary and seeks to fulfil a need for day-time socialising environments currently lacking within Cilgerran.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Business

52 homes to be built in Roch as scheme gets final sign-off

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THE FINAL stage of approval for a near-£10m Pembrokeshire residential development of 52 homes has been given the go-ahead.

Back in April, members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee backed an application by Wakefield Pembrokeshire Ltd for the development, which includes four one-bed affordable housing units, on land near Pilgrims Way, Roch.

18 objections to the scheme were received, raising concerns including an “inadequate” affordable housing level, it being a high density development for a rural area, a loss of green space, the size of some of the homes, and pressures on existing services and facilities, and fears it may lead to an increase in second homes.

Nolton & Roch Community Land Trust (N&RCLT) has raised its concerns about a lack of affordable homes at the development, calling for a 20 per cent affordable homes element, as recommended by policy.

An officer report for members, recommending conditional approval, said: “It is apparent that the proposed development is not fully policy compliant, insofar as it cannot deliver the indicative 20 per cent affordable housing sought [by policy].

“However, a substantial positive social impact will arise through the provision of housing, including four one-bed affordable housing units, in meeting identified needs for both market and affordable housing.

“Financial obligations identified to mitigate adverse impacts arising from the proposed development cannot be met in full. However, [policy] acknowledges that in such circumstances contributions may be prioritised on the basis of the individual circumstances of each case.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Gethin Beynon said the project had a “significant economic value” of around £10m, and the local applicant had “a sense of stewardship to the local community,” offering affordable housing and community infrastructure towards highways and education.

Approval was delegated to the council’s head of planning to approve the application, subject to the completion of a Section 106 planning obligation, making community financial contributions.

The Section 106 agreement was recently agreed, with the application now formally approved.

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