Stack Rocks – May 5

Departed Dale with 12 volunteers to meet up with local fishers,  collaborate and locate lost pots.

Stack Rocks  – 12 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot returned to fisher.

Behar – 4 volunteers – 2-3 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 28 metres of rope.

Great Castle Head – 4 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 1 garden gnome  / 1 piece of plastic hose pipe.

Milford Haven Waterway – May 24

NARC were delighted to be joined by World Animal Protection, Fat Face Foundation and Sky Ocean Rescue to cover our work.

Dakotion Wreck – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 5 lobster pots returned to fisher.  Animals released = 8 brown crab / 1 lobster / 1 bull huss.

Soldier Rock – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  1 lobster pot.

Collier Wreck – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  15m x 3m of netting.

Great Castle Head – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  5 lobster pots.  Animals released = 9 edible crab / 2 lobsters.

Skokholm island and Milford Haven Waterway – June 23

12 volunteers headed out to look for pots reported by local fishers.

SE Skokholm – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot returned to fisher.

N Middleholm – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  1 lobster pot returned to fisher.

Protheroes  – 4 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  1 green plastic bottle / 1 cardboard box.

Dudley Pole – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  2m long tube / 3 angling weights.

The Collier – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  5 prawn pots / 4 lobster pots / 2 boat anchors /  3 pieces of netting / 6m of rope / 2 plastic bottles / 1 tennis ball. Animals released = 1 lobster / 1 pollack.

Skomer MCZ and Milford Haven Waterway

–  June 24

9 volunteers headed out to look for pots reported by local fishers.

South Mewstone – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 10 lobster pots . Animals released = 4 Lobsters / 6 Brown Crab / 3 Spider Crab.  Pots returned to Stevie James.

The Bury – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = Nothing found.

The Behar – 7 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  10  lobster pots  . Animals released =  6 Lobsters / 5 Brown Crab. Pots returned to Neil Evans.

Behar Reef – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = Nothing found.

Ramsey Island and Dale Fort – July 23

8 volunteers left to locate lobster pots in Ramsey after reports from local fishers.

Ramsey Island – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 1 pot / 25m of rope.

Caerbwdy – 4 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = nothing found.

Dale Fort– 8 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 750 metres of monofilament line  / 54 angling weights / copper piping / 3 plastic slate tiles.

Handmarks and Skomer MCZ – July 24

12 volunteers left to locate lobster pots reported by local fishers. The locations at the Handmarks were provided by Stevie James who was unable to retrive his pots. The dive confirmed that 2 pots of the fleet were jamed under a rock crevice. At South Haven Pinnacle both marker buoys were missing and 1 was pot jammed in a crevice. All pots were returned to fishers.

Handmarks – 5 volunteers over 2 dives – 4-5  metre viz – dive time of 50 mins =  1 plastic bag / 10  pots recovered. Animals released =  22 Lobsters / 13 Brown Crab / 31 Spider Crab / 1 Sponge Crab /  5 Bull Huss / 12 Velvel Swimming Crab / Animals deceased = 2 Lobsters

South Haven Pinnacles – 8 volunteers over 2 dives – 3-4  metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 9 pots recovered. Animals released =  Lobsters 51 / Brown Crab 7 / Spider Crab 65 / Ballan Wrasse 6 / Velvet Swimming Crab 1

Low Point – Sept 01

Low Point – 7 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 800 metres of monofilament line / 115 angling weights / 106 hooks / 1 rod part . 

Hobbs Point  – Sept 15

8 divers and 2 shore volunteers gathered at Hobbs Point to take part in the all Wales beach clean weekend. Despite the challenging less than 1m viz divers located a range of marine litter, much of which seems to be fly-tipped.

Hobbs Point – 8 volunteers – < 1 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 150 metres of monofilament  line / 24 angling weights / 4 rod pieces / 2 crab lines / 1 crab net / I lobster pot / 2 glass bottles / 2 cans / 1 yacht float / 2 scooters / 1 bike / 1 shopping trolley / 1 car battery / 3 large plastic oil containers / 1 x 4 way extension lead / 1 key ring / 1 car tyre /  1m of copper pipe / 5m of wire cable / 1 pen.

Milford Haven Waterway – Oct 20

10 volunteers left Milford Marina to locate reported pots from local fishers and target Dale Fort for angling gear. Despite the challenging  viz divers located a range of marine litter within the Haven.

The Behar – Location of pots provided by fisher Neil Evans– 9 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins =  10 pots that had thier head buoys missing were recovered. Animals released = Lobsters 4 / Brown Crab  3 / Velvet Swmming Crab 1 / Ballan Wrasse 1. All pots were returned to Fishers.

Dale Fort – 4 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 40 mins = 2000 metres of monofilament line / 171 angling weights / 3 lures / 10 hooks / 1 car tyre . Animals released =  1 dog fish  Animals deceased = 1 Conger Eel.

The Caroline – 4 volunteers – 1 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 50 metres of monofilament  line /  7 weights / 12 hooks / 1 toilet / 1metre of rope / 1 mug / 2 bottles / 1 metre lead pipe / china pieces.

The Collier – 3 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive time of 40 mins = Nothing Found.

Stackpole Quay – Oct 21

11 volunteers left Milford Marina for NARCs final dives of 2018.

Stackpole Quay – 11 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive time of 45 mins = 1200 metres of monofilament  / 469 angling weights / 80 hooks / 5 lures / 3 spark plugs / 1 copper nail / 1 copper washer / 3 cans / 2 glass bottles / 2 metre of rubber tube / 1 plastic bag / 1 thermos flask / 1 swimming goggles / 1 headlamp. 

Other activities in 2018

Invited and visited Sri Lanka to assist with a number of underwater clean-up dives, beach cleans 

Distributed copies of the site specific tackle tips leaflets which have underwater maps and site specific advice for Stackpole and Skomer MNR

Announced TV presenter and naturalist Iolo Williams as Charity Patron 

Continue to contribute to the International network on ghost fishing, GGGI and became a working group member to exchange knowledge on worldwide solutions

Minister for the Environment launched NARC video to celebrate World Oceans Day with the video receiving 15,000 views in the first 24 hours

National coverage of marine litter to include work with Sky Ocean Rescue and Sky News,  the Telegraph, Daily Mail