Pollution from Welsh Rivers ‘Suffocating Our Sea’, Warn Campaigners

Pollution entering the sea from rivers in Wales is harming marine ecosystems and “suffocating our sea”, campaigners have warned.

WWF Cymru has highlighted how excess nutrients from agriculture and sewage are fuelling the growth of algal blooms, which are smothering the seabed.

New assessments by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) into the condition of protected marine areas along the Welsh coast have revealed that many sites are suffering from nutrient pollution. Over half of the species and habitats assessed were found to be in an unfavourable condition.

The Welsh Government said the findings would provide “critical information” to support efforts to improve the marine environment.

Previously, NRW confirmed that seven of the nine rivers in Wales designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) were failing to meet water quality standards, due in part to high nutrient levels.

Agricultural run-off and slurry spills, wastewater discharges, and industrial pollution were all identified as contributing factors.

The poor river health has already led to restrictions on housebuilding along SAC rivers.

WWF Cymru, launching a manifesto of demands ahead of next year’s Senedd election, warned that similar issues are now emerging in the marine environment.

Pollution carried downstream is damaging marine ecosystems and reducing the ocean’s capacity to store carbon, it said, making it more difficult to restore carbon-rich habitats such as seagrass beds.

The charity called for a robust, legally backed recovery plan for ocean habitats, supported by appropriate funding.

As with rivers, Welsh estuaries and coastal waters are designated for protection due to their vital habitats and wildlife.

NRW described its latest report on the condition of marine SACs and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as “the most extensive to date on the state of marine protected areas in Europe”.

A total of 85 key features were assessed – including rare species such as grey seals and otters, and important habitats such as mudflats and saltmarshes.

Across both SACs and SPAs, 55% of features were found to be in unfavourable condition, with 38% in favourable condition and 7% categorised as unknown.

NRW identified nutrient pollution as “one of the main causes” of ecological decline at several sites.

Individual assessments were carried out for seven SACs, with five failing to meet water quality targets due to excessive nutrient levels.

Among them was the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC – one of Wales’s most renowned and popular coastal destinations.

In marine environments, the primary nutrient of concern is dissolved inorganic nitrogen, mainly originating from agricultural run-off and pollution incidents, according to the reports.

There were, however, some positive findings. Populations of bottlenose dolphins and grey seals in Welsh waters were reported to be in favourable condition. Welsh SACs are crucial to the conservation of these species, with strong populations recorded across Cardigan Bay, the Llŷn Peninsula and Sarnau.

In the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC – where around 90% of Welsh seal pups are born – long-term monitoring indicates a growing seal population.

Ric Cooper, who coordinates The Cleddau Project in Pembrokeshire, said the link between river and marine health is clear, but the impact on the sea often goes overlooked.

“I live on the estuary and like others had become increasingly distraught with the state of the river,” he said.

“It would often smell of sewage and sometimes slurry, and the life in the river was deteriorating before our eyes.

“We have green algal banks, we have what they can algal mats in the summer months which are due to excess nutrients in the water, sunlight and warm temperatures.”

The project, run by volunteers, has spent the past year carrying out citizen science water quality monitoring at 49 sites, involving 100 volunteers.

“There hasn’t been the same pressure to improve things for the estuary as there has been for the freshwater Cleddau.”

Cooper said they were keen to study NRW’s findings in detail.

“We want it to be highlighted that this water body is failing, it’s in a bad way and then the powers that be will have to decide what can be done about it.

“We’re hoping this catalyses more action.”

Shea Buckland-Jones, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Cymru, said the assessments exposed “the dire state of our waterways and the urgent need for action from the Welsh Government”.

“Sadly, the public do not need to view a report to appreciate the dire state of our waterways as it is all too apparent.

“This is why there is so much support from across Wales to bring Welsh rivers back to full health,” he added, pointing to polling carried on the charity’s behalf.

Polling cited by the organisation indicated that 87% of the Welsh public support government action to reduce or eliminate river pollution from farming and sewage.

Meanwhile, 79% of respondents backed the restoration of carbon-rich marine habitats, including seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and oyster reefs.

“As we have set out in our new manifesto this means sustained action to restore ecosystems and prevent all sources of river pollution, focusing on the two biggest sources; agriculture and sewage,” Mr Buckland-Jones said.

A spokesperson for NFU Cymru said the union acknowledged “the role that farmers play in maintaining and improving water quality in Wales”.

“Farmers take their environmental responsibilities seriously and NFU Cymru continues to work with partners to take action to reduce incidences of agricultural point source and diffuse pollution, where the evidence shows this is needed,” they said.

Welsh Water said it plans to invest £4 billion by 2030, including £2.5 billion dedicated to environmental initiatives.

“During the next two years we will be building on NRW’s work and carrying out investigations to understand the different sources of nutrients found in sea water whether from runoff water from the land or wastewater,” the company said.

“River pollution and marine water quality is not just an issue for water companies. We need to work together with other sectors who impact water quality to ensure improvement.”

Mary Lewis of NRW said the assessments were informed by extensive knowledge and expertise and provided comprehensive evidence on the condition of protected marine areas.

“This will now provide an important baseline for us to monitor progress,” she said.

The Welsh government said it was “committed to improving the health of our rivers and seas” and undertaking “a range of actions to improve water quality”.

This includes implementing “at pace all recommendations from the recent Control of Agricultural Pollution Regulations Review,” it added.

“We remain dedicated to developing and strengthening environmental law in Wales. The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, recently laid in the Senedd, reflects the ongoing need to deliver transformative change, including tackling drivers of biodiversity loss such as nutrient pollution.”

 

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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.