Widespread Water Quality Failures Threaten North Wales Habitats

Last week, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) published the first assessments of the condition of Wales’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), originally scheduled for release two years ago. The findings reveal widespread failures across coastal Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), mirroring similar issues seen in Welsh rivers.

A total of 85 designated features across 17 MPAs were assessed, with 55% found to be in an unfavorable condition. Much of the damage is linked to nutrient pollution particularly nitrate and phosphate entering coastal waters from rivers.

Oisin Lowe Sellers, Chief Operating Officer at the North Wales Rivers Trust, spoke to Newyddion S4C about these findings, highlighting the urgent need to tackle nutrient runoff and protect our waterways.

In response to the report, Afonydd Cymru has emphasized the urgent need to address nutrient runoff, failing septic systems, and wastewater discharges to restore both river and marine ecosystems.

You can read Afonydd Cymru’s full response here: https://afonyddcymru.org/marine-failures/