Adventure Sports Disturbing Nesting Birds in Wales

ELF was contacted by a member of a community living in Pembrokeshire, the Welsh County famous for its beautiful and wild coastlines. They have had ongoing concerns about the remote and scenic Ceibwr Bay and the increasing disturbance to the nesting seabirds from recreational activity around the bay. The spot is a popular destination for coaststeering, kayaking but is also home to a diverse array of wildlife such as grey seals, otters and several species of endangered birds. Despite the site being designated as a Special Area of Conservation and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, due to an apparent lack of meaningful restrictions on tourist activities, adventure activities such as coasteering frequently disrupt the habitats of protected marine animals and cause disruption to nesting birds.

According to local residents, the adventure sports industry appears to have been incrementally intensifying year by year in the area but the issue has been brought to a head due to the grant of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to the ‘Coastal Connections’ project for an outdoor adventure centre. Given the numbers of people it is proposed will use this new facility to access for recreational purposes Ceibwr Bay, it is entirely likely that this proposal will exacerbate the wildlife disturbance in this area which is regulated in a seemingly light-touch manner by the regulators.

The enquirer approached us asking how we could help in challenging an application to create a marine recreation hub which would facilitate increased activity on the coast. Also about how to improve actual protection around an already highly protected area. After seeking advice from a barrister, we are now assisting the enquirer in objecting to the planning proposal for this centre, highlighting how nature needs to be taken into account, particularly the need for a Habitats Assessment, before approving any application. We are also exploring whether there are any further legal avenues that can be taken to protect the area.