Ceredigion County Council website

Cardigan Bay (SAC) Special Area of Conservation is home to an amazingly rich variety of marine animals and plants, including the Bottlenose Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seal. Together with the valuable habitats on which they rely, this makes the Bay an outstanding and internationally important marine environment.

To find out more, take a look at the Cardigan Bay SAC website which provides information about the wildlife and habitats of the Cardigan Bay SAC, how the site is being managed, and how you can play a vital role in helping us to conserve it for the future.

Pen Llŷn and Sarnau SAC

The Pen Llŷn and Sarnau (SAC) Special Area of Conservation covers a large area encompassing the Llyn peninsula to the north and the Sarnau to the south, as well as the large estuaries along the coast of Meirionnydd and north Ceredigion.

Named after the Welsh word for causeway, the Sarnau are three rocky reefs that extend up to 24 km out to sea, formed from glacial debris following the melting of glaciers at the end of the last ice age. The southern boundary of the SAC is marked by Sarn Cynfelin at Wallog.

The SAC is of also of importance for the Bottlenose Dolphin and Atlantic Grey Seal.

West Wales Marine SAC

The West Wales Marine (SAC) Special Area of Conservation site covers important summer habitat for harbour porpoise.

It overlaps Pembrokeshire Marine SAC, Pen Llŷn, Sarnau SAC, and the Cardigan Bay SAC. Part of the site in Cardigan Bay was also identified as important during the winter.

West Wales Marine SAC spans an area over three times the size of Snowdonia National Park including an area outside the twelve nautical mile limit of Welsh territorial waters.

Four sections of the Ceredigion coast are designated as Heritage Coast. The Ceredigion Heritage Coast was established in 1982 and comprises four separate sections of coast which extend over 22 miles (35 km):

• Borth - Clarach
• Monks Cave - Llanrhystud
• New Quay - Tresaith
• Pen-peles - Gwbert

Following a request from the people of New Quay, in 1992, the boundary of the Heritage Coast between New Quay and Tresaith was extended one nautical mile seaward.

The request underlined the importance to local community of the area's special marine wildlife, including the Bottlenose Dolphin.

Since then, the local community and the County Council have been working in partnership to help conserve the special character of the Marine Heritage Coast. This voluntary initiative was the first of its kind in Britain.

A range of management measures have been introduced, including a Code of Conduct for recreational boating and this management has been integrated into the work of the Cardigan Bay SAC.

The coastline gives us unforgettable images, such as the profile of Ynys Lochtyn and the sweep of Cardigan Bay around to the Lleyn Peninsula.

Each year hundreds of dedicated volunteers take part in 'Dolphin Watch' along the Ceredigion coast. The scheme provides valuable feedback on the Code of Conduct, monitoring how bottlenose dolphins and boats use key sites along the Ceredigion coast.

If you would like to be involved in the dolphin Watch scheme please contact Melanie Heath, the Marine Protected Area Officer on 01545 561074 or melanie.heath2@ceredigion.gov.uk.

Sea Mammal Information

Live Seals

Seals often haul themselves out on the coast as part of their normal behaviour. However, if you see a seal that is entangled in fishing gear/marine debris, shows sign of sickness, is thin or injured then call British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546 (24hr) or the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.

Live Dolphin, Porpoise or Whales

It is not normal behaviour for them to be beached or stranded. Please call British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546 (24hr) or the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999. There is information on what to do immediately at What to do if... on the British Divers Marine Life Rescue website.

Dead Sea Creatures

If you encounter a dead marine animal, then it is still important to report this as it will teach us about the effects of pollution, diet, disease, distribution and threats. Please contact the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme on 0800 652 0333. Photos and descriptions of stranding's may be sent to info@strandings.com. An information leaflet is available from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue website. Warning may contain distressing content.