Welsh Manifesto

We’re calling on the next Welsh Government to lead the way on marine recovery to protect our ocean’s future.

Why protect our seas?

From Ynys Môn to Gower, Wales is blessed with beautiful coastline. Our rich history and culture are held within every ebb and flow. Whether it’s food security, carbon storage, or flood defence, the ocean sustains us.

The ocean economy is expected to be worth $3 trillion USD by 2030 and employ around 40 million people. It is an integral part of our lives.

Yet despite the vital role our ocean plays in our health and our livelihoods, the marine environment is often overlooked in policymaking.

Trwyn Du Lighthouse at Penmon, Anglesey, Wales | Image credit: Neil Mark Thomas

That’s where we come in.

We’re calling on the next Welsh Government to take bold action in the following four areas:

A Deposit Return Scheme is a system that helps people recycle bottles and cans. Deposit Return Schemes are effective and proven ways to tackle drinks-related litter and are used in other countries like Germany and Lithuania. In 2024, the Marine Conservation Society’s State of Our Beaches Report showed drinks-related litter found on 99% of Welsh beaches surveyed. Glass bottles were found on nearly half of these.

We are calling for the Welsh Government to introduce a DRS that includes glass and reuse in line with the October 2027 deadline set for the schemes in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill is a piece of legislation that will protect Welsh nature, including the marine environment.

It will do three main things:

Put environmental principles into law: This would mean that when government or other public authorities create or change policies, they must not just think about money or growth- they must also actively protect nature
Create an Independent nature watchdog: This would create a new group that would watch over the Welsh Government and make sure they are looking after the environment properly
Set targets to help nature recover: The Welsh Government must set clear targets that improve nature. The Welsh Government must also check back regularly to see if those targets are being met.

We want the next Welsh Government to make this legislation as effective as possible when protecting nature.

We are asking the next Welsh Government to consult on and set strong biodiversity targets to reduce water pollution effectively in Welsh seas, and protect Wales’ native marine species two years after the Bill achieves Royal Assent.

Ensure Welsh Government funding supports marine recovery by using the Sustainable Investment Principles and work with the Marine Conservation Society and Crown Estate regarding ‘nature leasing’ areas

Wales has the chance to lead a new era of investment- one where every pound spent by the Welsh Government actively drives ocean regeneration and supports thriving coastal communities. We want the next Welsh Government to apply the Sustainable Investment Principles to each of its spending decisions to ensure that all projects deliver long-term benefits to people and marine ecosystems.

The Welsh Government can also team up with the Crown Estate to lease areas of the seabed just for nature. These offer us a chance to protect ecologically vital areas that fall outside the criteria of Marine Protected Areas. These include blue carbon hotspots like seagrass meadows, oyster beds, and fish spawning grounds- the living engines of our ocean that help to keep the whole sea healthy and full of life.

Marine Spatial Planning is a planning tool that policymakers can use to make sure that everyone who uses the sea can share it fairly and safely whilst protecting our ocean. Lots of different people and industries use the ocean. But if everyone uses the same space without careful planning it could cause harm to sensitive marine ecosystems.

The Welsh Government have already announced that they plan to create a ‘Spatial Assessment of Welsh Seas.’ Now we need the next Welsh Government to get on and act on the policies proposed in the Assessment.