Scallop dredging in Cardigan Bay
Many thanks to all WDC supporters who responded to the Welsh Government consultation on opening up Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredging, and to those who signed our petition.
We presented the petition of 27,000 signatories to the Minister for Natural Resources – Carl Sergeant – on the 15th February, just before the consultation closed and asked to meet him to represent your views. We have just had the following response:
“I have read the comments you supplied, which do indeed convey strong feeling towards protecting the environment and demonstrate the value people attach to this part of Wales due to its special qualities and the time they enjoyed spending there.”
which is a great acknowledgement of the strength of feeling that has been provided to Welsh government, however, in response to a request for a meeting he simply says:
“I will not, at present, be able to discuss this further with you…”
Welsh Government work will be in suspended animation from the end of this month due to the forthcoming elections. We do not expect a decision until there is a new administration later in May. We are meeting Welsh government fisheries officials in a couple of weeks and we will be pushing for a decision to produce a more sustainable fishery management policy as soon as the new Administration is in place.
