Marine Code work

Pembrokeshire Marine Code

The Pembrokeshire Marine Code protects the cetaceans, seals and sea birds for which Pembrokeshire is renowned through voluntary codes of conduct and seasonal agreed access restrictions. Training is organised for outdoor instructors and trip operators to pass on information and raise awareness. Code and wildlife information and maps showing local access restrictions are widely shared. All this information and more has been incorporated into the Wales Coast Explorer App. There is a dedicated section on rocky shores, and you can also find information about grey seals and other marine mammals such as dolphins and whales. The App also contains information about coastal plants and animals and maritime archaeology. Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum lead the work on the Pembrokeshire Marine Code, aided by partners and the SAC Officer.

Marine code information for across Wales can also be seen at Wild Seas Wales.

Gann bait digging code of conduct

The negative impacts of bait digging on the Gann Flats had been of concern to Dale Fort FSC and local residents for decades. A study commissioned by the Countryside Council of Wales in 2007-2009 showed that the level of digging was intensive at The Gann and provided some quantitative evidence of activity and impacts. In 2013 a report was commissioned by the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC Relevant Authorities Group to clarify the legislative regime for managing bait digging. Following this, and intended as a first step, a code of conduct was agreed working with stakeholders including users and the local community to minimise disturbance from bait digging.

This code was updated following a report by Natural Resources Wales into the impacts of bait digging on the Gann. Management of the site is currently reliant on signage and markers to raise awareness, and monitoring of code compliance by statutory agencies. Intensive bait digging in contravention of the code continues to take place.

Milford Haven waterway sensitive habitat protection zones

The voluntary sensitive habitat protection zones, developed with the aim of protecting the seagrass and maerl beds within the Waterway from mooring and anchoring activity, were agreed over the winter of 2013 following discussions with the Milford Harbour Users Association. Further information is provided in the documents below.

• The voluntary agreement
• Annex to the voluntary agreement
• Background information to the agreement

Two day-visitor mooring buoys (owned by the Port of Milford Haven) were installed in 2015 in Longoar Bay to provide a facility for visiting boats and discourage anchoring within the small seagrass meadow there.