Projects
The Carmarthen Bay & Estuaries EMS Officer collaborates with various organisations on projects to improve the site.
Management of the Carmarthen Bay & Estuaries EMS is supplemented and aided by running and participating in collaborative projects tackling specific issues and through raising awareness about the amazing marine life we have here. Some of these projects include:
Welsh Partnership of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Carmarthen Bay & Estuaries EMS is one of five marine protected sites in Wales. These five sites form the Welsh Partnership of MPAs and regularly collaborate on joint all-Wales projects such as otter surveys and water quality citizen science projects. The other sites are:
Cardigan Bay SAC
Pembrokeshire Marine SAC
Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau SAC
Severn Estuary EMS
Project Seagrass
In 2024, small-scale seagrass planting trials were undertaken at a site in Burry Port, Llanelli, following site assessments and engagement with local people, environmental advisors, and organisations.
Dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei cores were taken from a healthy dense seagrass meadow close to Llanelli. Monitoring in autumn 2024 showed healthy donor meadow recovery.
The CBEEMS Officer attended and assisted with the planting of the seagrass cores at Burry Port with further projects planned.
Further information:
https://www.projectseagrass.org/south-wales-project/
https://www.projectseagrass.org/projects/may-fieldwork-duplicate/
Project SIARC
Schools outreach
Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) operates throughout Wales, but community engagement and research is focussed at two Special Areas of Conservation (SAC): Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC and Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau SAC. Ten participating schools (both English and Welsh language) located close to the Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries SAC fully engaged in the Project SIARC School outreach programme, with 11 classes (involving around 400 pupils) showcasing their displays at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales (NBGW).
Further information: https://www.projectsiarc.com/community-engagement/
Environmental DNA
Project SIARC have been taking regular water samples across the CBAE SAC to investigate the presence and seasonality of elasmobranchs in the region. Eight different elasmobranch species were identified.
The results can be seen in this paper: https://www.projectsiarc.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2023/07/eDNA-eng.png
