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In addition to the information provided elsewhere on the Green Blue website, this page is aimed at highlighting particular issues and initiatives in Wales. The Green Blue compliments the 'Catching The Wave' initiative, which aims to increase annual revenue from water sports by 40% within 6 years, taking the total contribution to the Welsh economy to £224m by 2010. By following a few simple steps suggested on this website, we hope this can be achieved sustainably, boosting watersports participation whilst ensuring environmental impact is not increased overall.
Below you will find links to some of the key organisations working in the environmental field in Wales. News and information will be added as and when you you let us know! info@thegreenblue.org.uk
The Green Blue is supported in Wales by The Crown Estate's Marine Stewardship Fund, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency Wales
Bendithwyr Cymru â rhai o ddyfroedd arfordirol a mewndirol harddaf Ynysoedd Prydain. Mae morwyr Cymru’n gyfarwydd iawn â theithi’r môr ac yn chwarae rhan bwysig yn y gwaith o warchod amgylchedd y gwahanol ddyfroedd. Bydd y wybodaeth ar dudalennau gwe Glaswyrdd yn gymorth i ddefnyddwyr cychod sicrhau nad ydynt yn amharu ar yr amgylchedd ac, yn fwy na hynny, yn eu hannog i fod yn llysgenhadon ar ran yr amgylchedd.
Ar y dudalen hon, yn ogystal â'r wybodaeth sydd i’w chael mewn mannau eraill ar wefan Glaswyrdd, ein bwriad ydi amlygu materion a mentrau penodol yng Nghymru. Mae cynllun Glaswyrdd yn cyd-fynd â menter 'Dâl y Don', sy’n anelu at godi’r incwm blynyddol a ddaw o chwaraeon dwr hyd at 40% o fewn 6 mlynedd. Byddai hyn yn codi cyfanswm cyfraniad chwaraeon dwr i economi Cymru i £224m erbyn y flwyddyn 2010. O ddilyn ychydig o gamau syml, fel sydd wedi eu hamlinellu yma ar y wefan, rydym yn gobeithio y bydd modd cyflawni hyn i gyd mewn modd cynaliadwy, a chynyddu’r nifer sy’n cymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon dwr heb fod yna gynnydd mewn niwed i’r amgylchedd.
Ychydig islaw fe welwch ddolenni cyswllt i rai o brif gyrff amgylcheddol Cymru. Byddwn yn ychwanegu newyddion a gwybodaeth i’n tudalennau fel y byddwn yn ei dderbyn o gennych chi! info@thegreenblue.org.uk
Mae Glaswyrdd yng Nghymru’n derbyn cefnogaeth oddi wrth Gronfa Gwarchodaeth Morwrol Ystadau’r Goron, Y Cyngor Cefn Gwlad ac Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd
Y Glas Gwyrdd Cymru
The Green Blue Wales – end of a chapter
After 3 years I am leaving The Green Blue. It is an interesting time for marine conservation in Wales with the imminent passage of the Marine Bill but it is hopefully a positive time when the seas around Wales start to get the protection they deserve. Wales has a beautiful coastline with a rich wildlife both above and below the water.
I have enjoyed my time here with Welsh Yachting Association and The Green Blue. WYA have given me great support and have really taken on board the environmental issues related to sailing. With leaflets and posters in both North and South WYA, TGB literature ends up at lots of sailing events. Lots has happened here in Wales, with attendance at boat shows, regattas, activity weekends at Cardiff Harbour, club open days and coach training. Everyone sees the importance of The Green Blue and helping to keep Welsh waters in as good a condition as possible. Feedback has been great with coaches and club officers thinking about how they can make their training and activities more environmentally aware.
Presentations to organisations such as the Welsh Assembly government’s Marine unit, and Inland Waterways has made sure that other organisations involved in looking after Welsh waters know about us and what our goals are. It was important to be a key player in marine and inland water conservation. Wales has a lovely coastline and Welsh waters are an important part of Welsh life. TGB wants to help keep them for future generations. Thanks to all the sailors and recreational boaters in Wales who are concerned about the environment and make sure that what they do is right for the environment.
So although no longer employed by The Green Blue, I won’t stop working to protect the marine environment and the amazing wildlife above and below water, here in Wales.
And to all at The Green Blue – I know I don’t need to say this - keep up the good work.
Gwneud yr amgylchedd yn ail natur
Hwyl
Ruth Sharratt
A Marina in Wales has been found to be hosting a potentially highly damaging species of Sea Squirt. Didemnum Vexillum, known as the Carpet Sea Squirt, was found earlier this year by a research student investigating non-native species in North Wales. Didemnum Vexillum is potentially deadly to aquatic life as it smothers marine habitats in thick sheet-like growths. Colonies can be found on wood and metal pilings, moorings, ropes, chain, rocky outcrops, gravel sea beds and boat hulls. The animal can suffocate organisms such as other sea squirts, sponges, seaweeds, scallops, mussels and oysters, and where these colonies occur on the sea bed, can act as a barrier between fish and their food.
A task force of experts was brought in to deal with the problem, with the first action being to remove the fouling from the boats that had the sea squirt on them, thus ensuring that they would not transport the organism to other areas. The fouling was then disposed of on land. Particularly badly affected were two boats that had not had hull cleaning carried out for at least two years. The marina took a proactive approach with all of its berth holders and neighbours. Berth holders were written to with details of how to spot and deal with the possibility of having Didemnum Vexillum living on their boat hulls. And posters were distributed to neighbouring boat clubs and other marinas showing what the organism looked like.
As it is extremely difficult to identify non-native species, the best course of action for boat owners is to ensure that their hulls are properly scrubbed and antifouled regularly.
See The Green Blue website for more information on non native species, and guidance on antifoul.
Click here to read the full case study
Click here to see our non-native species poster
Source:The Green Blue 14/08/09
Shotwick Sailing Club, in Deeside Clwyd, has been awarded a Volvo Eco-challenge grant to make environmental improvements at their club house.
One of 23 Volvo Champion clubs chosen from across the country to receive a grant, Shotwick will be using the extra funds to implement a washdown facility for boats at the club, harvesting rainwater and consequently saving precious drinking water and money.
The Club will use their grant to fit water butts to the Club House to collect the rainwater and will also be seeing, as part of this project, whether water butts can be a simple solution for other clubs to use as a means of washing down boats, rather than using tap water.
Tim Bowden of Shotwick Sailing Club said: “Despite being a freshwater lakeside club we recognise the importance of keeping our boats washed down to reduce the risk of transferring organisms to other lakes when we sail elsewhere.”
Shotwick Sailing Club was presented with their cheque by Phil McCaffery Branch Manager at Rybrook Volvo Chesterwho presented the cheque to the club was joined by junior club member, Ben, Erin and Megan who came up with the idea of water harvesting for the club and helped prepare the application.
The Volvo Eco Challenge, sponsored by Volvo Cars and supported by The Green Blue, was open to all Volvo Champion Clubs. Clubs were encouraged to engage their youngsters and apply for grants of up to £1000 to help them become Eco Friendly and comply with current environmental legislation.
For more information about Shotwick Sailing Club go to www.shotwicksailing.org
The Volvo Eco-challenge is currently closed for this year, however check out www.volvocars.com/uk/footer/about/NewsEvents/Pages/ecoadventure.aspx for news on future plans and grants.
The Honda Rib championship is an annual competition. Wales has a heat in each region: North, South and West and the winners of each age group then go on to the Final which this year was held at Pembrokeshire Yacht club at Milford Haven.
This year, we decided to do something different....
To read the full report click here
To view this report in Welsh click here
The Green Blue launched its latest tool to promote environmental messages to boaters with their brand new ‘Into The Green Blue’ CD-Rom at Southampton Boat Show this year.
The new CD-Rom is designed to give training centres and clubs more resources to help teach kids and young adults the importance of environmental issues whilst on and around the water.
Rugby legend Gareth Edwards has backed the Green Blue initiative calling on all water sports enthusiasts to help clean up the environment of Wales.
The national environmental campaign, The Green Blue, a joint initiative between the Royal Yachting Association and the British Marine Federation was rolled out in Wales yesterday at Penarth Marina, aimed at all recreational boaters and the marine industries.
The Green Blue has now translated its most popular publication into Welsh. The bilingual versions are available free of charge and can be requested from Ruth Sharratt remembering to state which guide you requuire and the quantity. Alternatively, download the pdf's from the links below.
At the Green Blue, we want to get our message of environmental awareness across to as many boat users as possible. The Wales Boat show at the Showground Carmarthen was an ideal place to start.
The Green Blue has now appointed a Project Coordinator dedicated to delivering the project that has been so successful in England to Wales.
Some areas are designated with SAC status because they have environmental features which are particularly important to preserve. If you are visiting or anchoring in any of these areas, take extra precautions to reduce your environmental impact. For example, take extra care where you anchor if there are important bottom species, and in particular, ensure that you don't drag anchor. Use only recommended landing areas when going ashore. You can find lots more tips in our How To... Guide. In the meantime, enjoy visiting these beautiful areas!
Anglesey Coast (Saltmarsh) / Glannau Môn (Cors heli)
Cardigan Bay/ Bae Ceredigion SAC
Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries/Bae Caerfyrddin ac Aberoedd cSAC
Cemlyn Bay / Bae Cemlyn SAC
Dee Estuary/ Aber Dyfrdwy
Lundy Island
Menai Strait & Conwy Bay / Y Fenai a Bae Conwy
Pembrokeshire Marine/ Sir Benfro Forol cSAC
Pen Lln a'r Sarnau/ Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC
Severn Estuary/ Môr Hafren SPA
To find a training centre, club or marina in Wales, visit the RYA website and you can locate the nearest one to you!
If you are looking for a rigger, chandlery or broker, you can find those located in Wales by searching on the British Marine Federation website. Ensure that you ask for a copy of the company environmental policy before you do business with them, and check that they are sticking to it!
If you run a charter company that operates in any of the protected areas listed above, you might want to consider wildlife awareness training to ensure that you fully understand the implications of your actions on the local environment. The WiSe Scheme is extremely affordable (£50 per person) and WISE accreditation demonstrates to your customers that they can view marine life responsibly from on board your vessels. Forthcoming dates can be found on the WiSe website
If you'd like to learn more about your local wildlife check out the events run by your local Wildlife Trust.
Biodiversity Wales
Celtic Goodwill Raid: environmental rally for boats
Countryside Council for Wales
The Crown Estate
Environment Agency Wales
Inland Waterways Association: Wales Branch
Keep Wales Tidy – ‘Clean Coasts’
National Assembly for Wales
National Watersports Centre
Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum
Severn Estuary Partnership
Sports Council for Wales
Wales & Border Counties Waterways
Wales Coastal & Maritime Partnership
Watersports Wales
The Welsh Yachting Association
Welsh Tourist Board
Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales
