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Topic Groups, Marine Pollution and Water Quality

Pembrokeshire has a coastal environment that is above average quality, with more Seaside Awards than any other county – it has nine Blue Flag beaches and nine Green Coast award beaches.

A survey in 2002 identified litter and other detritus as being the environmental issue of greatest concern to residents of Pembrokeshire. As well as being unsightly and a risk to public health, litter can be a hazard to marine and terrestrial wildlife.

Pembrokeshire is prone to many polluting aspects from both land and sea. The county has high levels of industrial and shipping activity, and the major oil disasters of the Sea Empress in 1996 and the Christos Bitas in 1978 mask the routine problems associated with accidental and occasional discharge of oil into the marine environment.

A few of the issues identified through topic group meetings on this subject were:

• Recycling of sewage should be used as a means of reducing problems and raising revenue for further improvements.
• Lost/discarded commercial and recreational fishing gear creates a hazard for humans and wildlife and is aesthetically intrusive.
• Dog faeces on beaches, particularly in the vicinity of Newport , Milford Haven Waterway   and the Daugleddau, Freshwater East and the Parrog (Goodwick) are a public nuisance and a health risk.

This Topic Group was chaired by Ged Davies from the Environment Agency Wales. To download a full report on this subject in PDF format, including all the issues identified at the meetings, click here. If you would like the document in Welsh, please contact Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum on 01646 696174.

PLEASE NOTE THESE PAPERS WILL NEED REGULAR UPDATING TO REFLECT CHANGES TAKING PLACE AND THE EMERGENCE OF NEW INFORMATION SO ANY FEEDBACK ON THEIR CONTENT IS WELCOMED.