Latest news with #CardiganBay
BBC News
a day ago
- Science
- BBC News
Rare angel shark spotted off Welsh coast
One of the world's rarest species of shark has been spotted off the coast of Cardigan Bay in Wales. The angel shark is critically endangered and conservationists have described the sight as "rare and exciting".It was recorded by underwater cameras that were being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins. The last time this species was seen off the Welsh coast was in 2021 and dives are planned for later this year to see if there are more in the area. Angel sharks - also known as a flat shark - are usually found in coastal areas in the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas and Wales is thought to be a key habitat. They spend a lot of their time camouflaged with the seabed where they wait for a fishy feast. But according the IUCN red list, the angel shark is critically endangered. It's partly because they are slow growing and are slow at reproducing too. But it's also because fishing techniques like bottom trawling not only disturb their habitat, but can also catch the sharks or injure them while they lie in wait for their prey. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
One of the world's rarest sharks captured on camera in UK 'dream sighting'
One of the world's rarest shark species has been captured on an underwater camera as it swam through a Welsh bay. The angel shark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angel sharks are critically endangered, having suffered "significant decline" as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. The footage came as part of National Marine Week, which runs from July 26 to August 10. The angel shark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said: 'We were thrilled to record an angel shark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. 'Before this project started, angel sharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. 'This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. 'Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. The Largest National Parks in the UK 'These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angel shark. The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities. How have people reacted online? Quick to comment on the news on social media, Facebook users shared their delight on Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre's post. One user wrote: "So wonderful to see." While another said: "What awesome footage!" A third commented: "A dream sighting!!!!!" Recommended Reading: Where to find great white sharks - are there any in the UK? Great white sharks could be found in UK waters soon according to marine experts 400-year-old carnivorous sharks found lurking in the depths of British waters What is an angel shark? Angel sharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
One of world's rarest sharks captured on camera in Welsh bay
Underwater cameras have captured the incredible moment one of the world's rarest shark species swam through a Welsh bay. The angelshark was caught by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales' (WTSWW) underwater cameras in Cardigan Bay. Angelsharks are flat-bodied sharks which can grow up to 2.4m in length and are normally found submerged in sandy habitats in coastal waters. They are well camouflaged to ambush flatfishes, crustaceans and molluscs. Angelsharks are critically endangered, having suffered significant decline as a result of fishing and habitat degradation. Living on the seabed makes the sharks vulnerable to being caught in trawl nets, which along with their slow reproduction rate, puts them at a high risk of extinction. READ MORE: The Welsh market town that 'used to be brilliant' but traders say has been ruined by the perfect storm READ MORE: Boy, 13, found dead in school playground To mark National Marine Week, July 26 to August 10, the Wildlife Trusts are uncovering our seabeds, which are vital habitats full of incredible wildlife, but are threatened with destruction by industrial scale fishing in many areas. The Angelshark was captured on WTSWW's Baited Underwater Remote Video Systems (BRUVS) which had been deployed by a research team investigating dolphin diets and marine diversity in Cardigan Bay. The cameras were deployed in a range of habitats and left to record for just one hour at each location. They have captured a huge range of wildlife both inside and outside of marine protected areas, including spider crabs, wrasse, and most recently, the angelshark. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here The WTSWW say that even marine protected areas, of which there are 139 in Wales, are not yet fully protected from destructive fishing activities such as bottom trawling, where huge nets and chains are dragged along the ocean floor, bulldozing anything in their way. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation and research manager at WTSWW, said "We were thrilled to record an Angelshark in Cardigan Bay, a rare and exciting encounter. "Before this project started, Angelsharks hadn't been captured on film in Cardigan Bay since 2021. "This sighting comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK Government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas. "Our Dolphin Diet Detectives project, funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Fund, uses underwater cameras to reveal the incredible diversity of life on the seabed. These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling.' The UK Government is currently running a consultation on the practice of bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, which you can see here.
Daily Mail
19-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Dig this! Tiny beach hut buried deep into sand dune will set you back £150,000 - and you can't sleep there overnight
A tiny beach hut buried deep into a sand dune has been listed for an eye-watering £150,000 despite its new owners being unable to sleep there overnight. The beach-side shelter is smaller than a standard parking space at just 10ft by 8ft and stands on stilts driven into the sand on Abersoch beach in North Wales. With no running water, gas or electricity, the hut has no furniture inside and is surrounded by sand, with sturdy sleepers to the rear preventing it from being swallowed up entirely. There are also no steps up to the tiny 'garden shed' meaning that the new owners will be forced to trudge up the sandbank in order to get to it after having a sea dip. And sleepovers are also banned, meaning that its owners will be restricted to simply daytime use. It does, however, offer stunning views of the seascape on the sandbanks, alongside the picturesque Cardigan Bay. Described in the listing as offering 'beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach', estate agents Beresford Adams, who are managing the sale, described it as a 'fantastic opportunity' for buyers. They added: 'This is a modern constructed hut built some four years ago lying about 200 yards towards the Yacht club end of the beach from Footprints Cafe down Golf Road. There are also no steps up to the tiny 'garden shed' meaning that the new owners will be forced to trudge up the sandbank in order to get to it after having a sea dip. It does, however, offer stunning views of the seascape on the sandbanks, alongside the picturesque Cardigan Bay 'The hut lies along the sand dunes just slightly set back from the front line huts, enjoying magnificent views across Cardigan Bay to the Moorings and the St Tudwals Islands.' Alongside the asking price of £150,000 the new owners will have to pay £450 a year in rates to the local council. While seemingly expensive, the cost appears to be just £8,000 less than the average cost of a terraced home in Gwynedd, according to figures by the Office of National Statistics. Meanwhile, in 2023 a 8m by 3m hut long the same stretch of beach sold for £250k, valued at £50,000 more than the average house price in the country while also exceeding the average price for entirety of Wales. The plot the small shack resides on has been owned by the same family for generations. It has been listed by the current owners, who have had it for 40 years, as they use it a limited amount. Martin Lewthwaite, of Beresford Adams, described Aberscoch as an 'affluent area' comprising of several holiday homes by residents from Manchester and across Cheshire. Its frequent visitors include the likes of Coleen Rooney who in October 2023 posted several pictures of both her and her children with the caption: 'Always the best time in Abersoch'. Mr Lewthwaite added: 'There are about 150 huts on the beach and they are a bit like garden sheds.. You can't stay overnight in them so they are for storage really. The plot the small shack resides on has been owned by the same family for generations. It has been listed by the current owners, who have had it for 40 years, as they use it a limited amount 'They are very accessible by car and this hut is about 200 yards from the car park. 'This hut is set back from the beach and built on stilts into the dunes. 'There are big sleepers behind it to keep the weight of sand back but with strong winds the sand can gather around the sides. The hut was only built four years ago and comes with a timber balcony to the front.' In May, a tiny patch of sand nestled between beach huts on Porth Mawr in Abersoch went on sale for £100,000, the price of a flat or even a small house in parts of the country. The location had previously housed a wooden shack too but this was damaged in storms and pulled down by the owner. Planning permission has been secured from Cyngor Gwynedd for a new beach hut despite it being branded an 'overdevelopment' by Llanengan Community Council. The piece of land is on the market with Elvins Estate Agents who say it 'beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach'. In May, a tiny patch of sand nestled between beach huts on Porth Mawr in Abersoch went on sale for £100,000, the price of a flat or even a small house in parts of the country They said: 'An exciting opportunity to acquire a beach hut plot on Abersoch main beach with planning permission to build a new hut. 'Benefit from owning your own part of Abersoch beach with the convenience of storage and shelter at the waters edge. Beautiful panoramic views across the bay towards St Tudwals Islands and Machroes Beach.' Meanwhile just last year, one of Britain's most expensive beach huts sold for £485,000. The turquoise-coloured shed on Mudeford Sandbank in Christchurch, Dorset, measured just 215 sq ft. This means the hut was worth £2,255.81 per sq ft. A square inch in the hut cost £15.60. The average price in London's most expensive area, Knightsbridge, is £1,557 per sq ft, according to HM Land Registry. The UK average is £300 per sq ft, meaning the Mudeford beach hut is 651 per cent more expensive than the average British home. The beach hut's per-foot volume even beats the average in expensive cities globally, including Manhattan and Hong Kong. Per sq ft, the Dorset beach hut is worth almost double the Manhattan average of £1,100 and is more expensive than the Hong Kong average of £1,612. 'This is where it starts to become bonkers', says Marc von Grundherr, at London estate agent Benham & Reeves. 'We're talking about some of the most expensive property in the world.' Increased demand for beach huts in areas such as Abersoch (pictured) is understood to be driving up the extortionate prices of the hut. In 2024 alone, the price of beach huts increased by 7.9 per cent While it has the benefit of direct sea access, the hut's new owners will not have running water or gas in the huts. 'Beach huts are just wooden sheds, which wouldn't cost more than £2,000 or £3,000 to build,' says Bob May, of May's real estate agency in West Sussex. 'It's the location that gives it value.' Increased demand is understood to be driving up the extortionate prices of the hut. In 2024 alone, the price of beach huts increased by 7.9 per cent. The year before that the average price rose by 37.1 per cent, according to property firm eXp UK. By contrast, house prices saw an average 4.7 per cent rise last year. Describing the huts as 'quintessentially English', Von Grundherr added that they often have 'long-term value because people want to own something by the sea'.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Best beaches in Wales in the Times 2025 guide
Eight beaches in Wales are among the best in the UK, according to the Times' list for publication rounds up the most stunning coastal landscapes each year and says it sent an expert on 5,858-mile trip, inspecting 756 spots to "find the perfect swathe of sand".Top spot in the 17th edition of the guide was awarded to Portstewart Strand, Co Derry, several Welsh beauty spots were also featured, including regional winner Shell Island in Gwynedd. The area boasts views of Harlech and beyond into Eryri National Park, also known as Snowdonia, and across Cardigan Bay to the Llyn Peninsula, and spans 450 other Welsh beaches to make the list were:Dunraven Bay, Vale of GlamorganThree Cliffs Bay, SwanseaSaundersfoot, PembrokeshireWhitesands, PembrokeshireMwnt, CeredigionAberdaron, GwyneddLlanddwyn, Gwynedd
