Plan covers 29 species and highlights HPAI impact at Grassholm, where gannet numbers are believed to have halved

DEPUTY First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies has announced the publication of a Welsh Seabird Conservation Strategy, setting out an evidence-based plan to protect Wales’ internationally important seabird populations — including major colonies off the Pembrokeshire coast.

In a written statement issued on Monday (Jan 19), the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs said Wales’ diverse coastal habitats, cliffs and islands support breeding seabirds of global significance.

He highlighted Skomer and Skokholm Islands as among the most important seabird sites in Wales, supporting the world’s largest breeding population of Manx shearwater — estimated at around 450,000 pairs — alongside Wales’ largest colony of Atlantic puffins.

Further offshore, Grassholm Island was described as home to one of the largest Northern gannet colonies in the world.

The Deputy First Minister said pressures on seabird populations have built up over many years, including changes to prey availability and the loss of suitable habitat, with impacts compounded by the climate crisis.

He said colonies are becoming less resilient, pointing to the “severe” effects of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in 2022.

The virus significantly affected key tern and gull colonies and hit Grassholm particularly hard, with breeding pairs believed to have declined by around 50%, the statement said.

Mr Irranca-Davies said he commissioned the strategy in response to these challenges, to provide a long-term framework for protecting Wales’ seabirds.

The strategy covers 29 seabird species found in Wales, including resident birds, overwintering species and breeding colonies. It says seabirds need access to suitable foraging grounds and nesting habitats at every stage of their lifecycle.

Its evidence base includes vulnerability assessments which consider how sensitive a species is to a particular pressure and how exposed it is to that pressure. More than 20 pressures were assessed using expert judgement and the best available evidence, the Welsh Government said.

Five main pressures were identified as having the greatest impact on seabird recovery and resilience in Wales:

• Introduction or spread of invasive non-native species
• Visual disturbance
• Introduction of microbial pathogens
• Reduction in the availability, extent or quality of supporting habitat
• Uncontrolled increase of native competitor or predatory species

The Deputy First Minister said the strategy sets out targeted recommendations and actions to address these priorities, adding that the work had been developed collaboratively with partners including Natural Resources Wales, the British Trust for Ornithology, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the RSPB.

He thanked those involved and said the Welsh Government would continue to review the evidence base and update recommendations as new data emerges.

Two young men held after officers attend addresses in Vicary Crescent and Hakin

ARMED police were called to addresses in Milford Haven on Sunday morning as part of an operation which has now led to the arrest of two young men on suspicion of drugs offences.

Officers attended Vicary Crescent and St Laurence Avenue at around 8:45am on Sunday (Jan 18), prompting concern among residents after a significant police presence was seen on the usually quiet residential streets.

Witnesses reported at least six police vehicles in Vicary Crescent, including two police vans, with armed officers seen at the scene shortly after 9:00am. Police were also seen in numbers at St Laurence Avenue in Hakin at the same time, which is understood to be linked to the same operation.

At the time, residents described the scenes as alarming.

One woman told The Herald: “I’ve never seen anything like this down here. It really was a shock first thing on a Sunday morning.”

Dyfed-Powys Police have now confirmed that the operation resulted in arrests the following day.

In a statement issued to The Herald, police said two men, aged eighteen and nineteen, both from Milford Haven, were arrested in the early hours of Monday (Jan 19) on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A controlled drugs.

Both men remain in police custody while enquiries continue.

Police have not confirmed what prompted the armed response, and no further details about the circumstances of the arrests or any items seized have been released at this stage.

The investigation remains ongoing.

AN 18-YEAR OLD youth accused of rape in Saundersfoot has pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial at Swansea Crown Court in May.

Josh Probert, aged eighteen, appeared before Judge Geraint Walters on Monday (Jan 19) for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

The court heard the case is progressing under the custody time limit, meaning it is being managed to a strict timetable while the defendant remains in custody.

Mr Probert entered not guilty pleas. The hearing dealt with case management issues and set dates for pre-trial stages leading up to the trial.

A four-day trial is listed to begin on Tuesday (May 26), with a certificate of trial readiness due on Tuesday (Apr 28).

In relation to bail His Honour said that these were serious allegations and that the defendant would remain in custody, despite his age and being of clean character hitherto.