Written question WQ83476
- Asked by
- Janet Finch-SaundersConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Climate Change
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 11 days
Question
What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the risk to marine wildlife from disturbance generated by personal watercraft, rigid hull inflatable boats and small pleasure craft?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Climate Change
The Welsh Marine Protected Area (MPA) network covers 50% of the Welsh marine zone with 139 designated sites. Each MPA is designated to protect specific geographical features, species and habitats.
Activities, such as personal watercraft, rigid hull inflatable boats and small pleasure craft, can and do operate within MPAs. However, NRW conduct indicative feature condition assessments for the Welsh MPA network. Each assessment is made using readily available data to inform the status of the feature. Included in these assessments are potential threats to a feature, such as recreational activities and where the status is unfavourable, further management measures may be proposed