Sea and shore – marine life

The Welsh portion of the sea around its coasts is equal in area to that of its land, and supports a huge array of different species and habitats.

As our knowledge of the sea and its wildlife improves, there is more and more focus on conserving its most important features.

CCW’s ambition is to raise awareness of the importance of our seas, and to make sure that the variety of wildlife that exists around Wales now is there for future generations.

What we do

CCW collects information about wildlife in Welsh waters, so that we know what is where and when, and how sensitive different habitats and species are to the various activities that take place in the sea around Wales.

Collecting information is more difficult at sea than in other areas, with a need for Scuba divers and special equipment, but CCW has a large monitoring programme that helps us to see how things are changing and to understand why.

This information helps us to manage the sea and coast, to make sure that the effects of any activities can be kept as small as possible.

We work closely with marine industries, and with the Welsh Assembly Government, to ensure that appropriate management frameworks and policies are put in place to secure the future of Wales’ coasts and seas.