Bird charity criticises marine conservation zones plan

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Wales has criticised Welsh Government plans to create marine conservation zones around our coast.

The zones would see a ban on all human activity such as fishing and anchoring boats.

The Government has stressed that they are still consulting with interested parties, but the proposals have already sparked opposition from the fishing industry and some tourism groups who are concerned about the effects on their businesses.

Now the RSPB has expressed its worries too. It says the sites that have been chosen do not protect some of the most important habitats, and it wants to see a wider range of protected areas where environmentally friendly activities would be allowed.

To back up its argument, the charity took Welsh Government Environment Minister John Griffiths on a boat trip off the Pembrokeshire coast to see some of the most important wildlife sites, including Grasholm island. The island is home to almost 15 per cent of the UK’s gannet population.

Ten zones are being considered for the outright bans known as 'Highly Protected Marine Conservation Zones'.

That number is likely to be reduced after a consultation process the first stage of which closes at the end of this month.

Environment Minister John Griffiths says he's willing to listen to get the best results for Welsh wildlife: