A new poll from WWF Cymru shows significant support (87%) from the Welsh public for action from the Welsh Government to reduce and eliminate river pollution caused by agriculture and sewage.
Welsh rivers and the sea are in a dire state. Pollution has poisoned many of our waterways, with catastrophic consequences for people and wildlife.
Salmon and sea trout numbers are in freefall, with 70% lost over the past decade. In the UK, up to 92% of seagrass meadows and 85% of saltmarshes have been lost.
A spokesperson for WWF Cymru said: “The Welsh public strongly support (79%) restoring carbon rich marine habitats such as seagrass, saltmarsh and oyster reefs, improving the health of our sea. To do this it is vital we address the pollution suffocating our rivers and flowing directly into our seas.
“Poor water quality damages natural ocean habitats such as seagrasses, kelp beds and salt marsh.
“Excess nutrients from agricultural run-off from farmland accounts for significant amounts of pollution in rivers and the sea. When this nutrient pollution from the land reaches the sea, it promotes the growth of algal blooms, which blocks sunlight from reaching fish and plants and can smother the seabed.
“This damages marine ecosystems and the ocean’s ability to store carbon, making conditions for recovery or restoration of carbon rich habitats, such as seagrass, challenging.
“Earlier this year NRW confirmed that 7 out of 9 of our most protected rivers were failing due to high levels of nutrients. We are now seeing a similar picture in the sea, we expect a National Resources Wales report released later today (June 25) to confirm high levels of failures for nutrient levels in Wales’s coastal waters too.
“The Welsh public have had enough and are behind several, urgently needed, actions to clean up Welsh rivers with 7 in 10 (68%) supporting Welsh Government to pay farmers to make changes in the way they farm to protect nature and tackle climate change.
“7 in 10 (70%) of those surveyed support action to reduce permitted levels of fertiliser and pesticide use in Wales. The UK government has committed to halve pollution from excess nutrient loss by 2030, as part of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Wales must play its part in meeting this commitment.”
Shea Buckland Jones, WWF Cymru Head of Policy and Advocacy, explained: “In Wales our appreciation of nature and connection to our landscapes and the rivers and sea which shape these landscapes is deeply rooted in our identity, so it’s not surprising that our poll reflects the Welsh public’s overwhelming support for action to stop the pollution which is choking our rivers and seas.”
Shea added: “Today’s ( National Resources Wales) report shows the shocking state of our waterways and the urgent action needed from Welsh Government to bring our rivers back to life and end the pollution suffocating our sea. Sadly, the Welsh 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. 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.”
Our seas support vital industries such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy and shipping, as well as being deeply embedded in our cultural heritage.
Ensuring the health of our marine environment will also bring economic benefits for Wales as seaweed, for example, has the potential to be worth at least £105 million per annum by 2030 and create close to 1,000 jobs in some of Wales’ most deprived communities.
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