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, that was designated in 2004.
Each year hundreds of dedicated volunteers take part in 'Dolphin Watch' along the Ceredigion coast. The scheme provides valuable feed back 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.