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The Guardian
04-07-2025
- The Guardian
‘Dizzying coastal paths, quiet beaches and dolphins': readers' highlights of the UK coastline
Between Aberystwyth and Cardigan the quiet coastline is sublime, with incredible sunsets, dizzying and spectacular coastal paths, gorgeous quiet beaches and dolphins. Start in Dylan Thomas's old stomping ground, New Quay, and follow the coastal path south along cliffs and past Cwmtydu beach before finishing at gorgeous Llangrannog, where you get two beaches for one (perfect Cliborth beach requires a lower tide to access). Kayaking and surfing are great, and the Pentre Arms provides refreshments with a Lunt The Leas near South Shields (a few miles north of Sunderland) is a beautiful stretch of limestone cliffs and coastal grassland that is a haven for sea birds and wildflowers. There are footpaths and bridle paths across the Leas, so it attracts cyclists, dog walkers and runners all year round. The local parkrun uses the paths and it must be one of the most scenic in the country. The rock stacks along the coast are a great place for spotting cormorants, fulmars and kittiwakes among others. No matter the weather I love to walks these paths and feel the fresh sea breeze through my hair. A wonderful Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - Fife is a glorious peninsula bordered by a brilliant coastal path that takes in a variety of beaches, fishing villages and is an area rich in wildlife and diverse landscapes. The area from Crail to St Andrews is of particular beauty, with several gorgeous places to stop for lunch, such as Cambo Gardens cafe near Kingsbarns and the Cheesy Toast Shack at East Sands in St Andrews. There are loads of places to stay and use as a base to explore the region. The larch-clad cabins at Kinkell Byre offer the opportunity to rest in style. And farther north are the wonderful forest trails and sand dunes of Tentsmuir. Stevie Kirkwood Wander the banks of the River Fal and Helford River in south Cornwall, through ancient Celtic rainforest, where the trees meet the sea. This rare habitat gives us a glimpse of prehistory, with lichen-laden branches, crisp, damp air and some of the UK's rarest wildlife. It feels otherworldly, yet oddly familiar. Amy Penmon Point on the easternmost point of Ynys Môn is a great place to watch for sea birds. The stunning Trwyn Du lighthouse looks out to Puffin Island, and if you're lucky, one might fly right past you. But we have seen even more magic there when it gets dark. If conditions are just right, the waves light up electric blue with bioluminescent plankton as they crash over the pebbles. For refreshments, the Pilot House Cafe is nearby and has a fantastic view from its garden. Chris Jones You need to consult your tide tables before visiting Sunderland Point on Morecambe Bay. This extraordinary place of sea-sucked mudflats, salt marsh and vast skies is cut off daily at high tide. I cross the causeway in May when the sea pinks (sea thrift) are flowering and the air is bright with the cries of birds – oystercatchers, curlew and redshanks. It feels remote, but in the 18th century Sunderland Point was a bustling port for Lancaster's transatlantic trade, which brought prosperity but also inhumanity. A walk round the peninsula leads to the grave of an unknown child slave abandoned here in 1736, now adorned by visitors with painted stones. Its bleak beauty will break your Reavley Sign up to The Traveller Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays after newsletter promotion I've been walking my dog on the same stretch of coast for four years and I never tire of the sheer strangeness of it. Culmore Point is where Derry's River Foyle meets the North Atlantic. Some days you can see a line in the water where the silt-filled Foyle meets the sea. Beautiful old-money houses look out across the water to a power station and chemical plant. Farther downstream the weird treeless landscape of the reclaimed land of Eglinton Embankment catches the eye. Spare a thought too for the young men who trained on these river beaches in May 1944 for the Normandy assaults a month From West Kirby on Wirral, you can walk across the tidal flats of the Dee estuary to the red sandstone formations of Little Eye, Middle Eye, and Hilbre Island, a string of uninhabited islands offering naught but spectacular nature. In summer you can spot grey seals hauling themselves on to sandbanks, and three types of terns (common, little and sandwich) darting past. Listen out for skylarks and meadow pipits too. For an extra challenge, search for the Triassic-era Chirotherium footprint. Always check tide times carefully, and for extra awe, time your return to the sun setting low, framed by the distant Welsh Cycling along the North East Coastal Trail from Portsoy to Macduff in Aberdeenshire is my idea of heaven. In stunning coastal countryside you cycle through charming fishing villages with historic harbours. I've spotted dolphins, porpoises and seals on the route. On a rocky coastline just beyond Macduff, there's an old tidal pool at Tarlair. Though no longer used for swimming, its beautifully restored art deco tea pavilion is the perfect spot to refuel before your journey back. While there, take a short wander to the secluded Salmon Howie beach tucked behind the cliffs – it's such a beautiful Diender When, as a child, I read Z For Zachariah, I imagined a landscape with the exact fin-du-monde energy of the East Yorkshire beach from Ulrome to Bridlington. On this stretch of Holderness, you'll find neither the Norfolk chalk boards of iced latte and shakshuka nor the monastic ghosts of farther north. But if six miles of uninterrupted beach walk – in the company of nothing more glamorous than pure air, weather and proper decay (not the genteel sort) – is your thing, this is a place you should visit. Morcheeba soundtrack optional. Tired legs and a cleansed soul Ainley
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Crash closes A40 in both directions near Canaston Bridge
Case reignites debate over tradition, conservation and the future of Welsh river fishing A TRADITIONAL fisherman from Cilgerran has admitted to illegally catching and selling a protected Atlantic salmon from the River Teifi — one of Wales' most ecologically sensitive waterways. Prosecuted: Mark Dellar Mark Dellar, 51, of High Street, appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to handling fish in suspicious circumstances, contrary to Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986. The offence stemmed from his failure to correctly identify and release the salmon, a protected species whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. The incident came to light after a July 2024 Facebook post from the Pentre Arms pub in Llangrannog advertised a 16lb 'locally caught sewin' — the Welsh name for sea trout — as a featured dish on its menu. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforcement officers, concerned that the fish was in fact a salmon, began investigating. The Pentre Arms' owner and chef fully cooperated, providing the fish cutlets, a receipt showing they had paid £135 for the fish, and a commercial carcass tag which traced the catch back to Dellar. The fish had been legally tagged — suggesting Dellar believed it to be a permitted catch — but subsequent analysis by NRW confirmed it was a salmon, not a sea trout. Caught between law and tradition Dellar, who has fished the Teifi for more than 20 years using a coracle — a centuries-old boat unique to west Wales — said in a voluntary police interview that he had believed the fish was a sewin when he landed it on July 5. Magistrates imposed an absolute discharge but ordered Dellar to pay £85 in costs. While the sentence was lenient, the case has reignited a broader debate around the clash between traditional fishing practices and modern environmental protections. Coracle fishing has been practised in Wales for generations, with fishermen using lightweight, round-bottomed boats woven from willow and covered with tar or canvas. The Teifi, along with the Tywi and Taf rivers, has long been home to this unique heritage — but fishers say the tradition is on the brink of extinction. In 1975, there were over 50 licensed coracle netsmen on the Teifi. Today, just a handful remain. The season has been drastically reduced, now running only from May to July, and strict byelaws introduced in 2020 require all salmon — whether caught by rod or net — to be released immediately and unharmed. The sale or retention of salmon is banned altogether, a measure aimed at saving the species from collapse. Conservation in conflict Jeremy Goddard, who leads NRW's enforcement team in mid Wales, said the case highlighted the importance of respecting conservation rules, regardless of fishing experience. 'The killing and sale of a prime adult salmon shows clear disregard for the law and for the health of our rivers,' he said. 'Mr Dellar, with his years of experience, would know how to tell a salmon from a sea trout. With salmon numbers in serious decline, all netsmen and anglers are expected to release every salmon they catch. It's not just a legal requirement — it's a crucial step to protect the species. Every spawning fish matters.' Further analysis showed the salmon had spent two years in the Teifi as a juvenile before migrating to sea, where it spent another two years feeding before returning to its native river to spawn — a journey that underscores the ecological significance of every individual fish. Heritage under pressure While NRW says its enforcement actions are necessary to protect the future of wild salmon, coracle fishers argue that their ancient craft is being regulated out of existence. Many say they are being punished for mistakes while industrial pollution and large-scale farming runoff continue to degrade river habitats with little consequence. 'This is our heritage — not just a job, but our way of life,' one local netsman told The Herald. 'We've followed the rules, bought the tags, shortened the season, but now even a simple mistake can lead to court. Meanwhile, slurry pours into the river and nobody is held accountable.' Indeed, the Teifi has suffered from repeated pollution incidents in recent years, with sewage overflows and agricultural discharge blamed for reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life. The river is designated a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive due to its internationally important salmon population. Yet recent monitoring data from NRW shows that wild salmon numbers remain critically low, with fewer than 1,000 returning to the Teifi in some years — down from tens of thousands in the 1980s. Is NRW focusing on the wrong target? While NRW has emphasised the need for strict compliance from netsmen and anglers, critics argue that such prosecutions miss the bigger picture — and that the real threats to Welsh rivers come from far larger sources than a handful of coracle fishers. Farming runoff, sewage discharges, deforestation and bank erosion have all been cited by environmental groups as leading contributors to the sharp decline in water quality across Wales. Data from NRW and third-party groups like River Action and Surfers Against Sewage show regular breaches of water safety limits, with phosphates, nitrates and slurry regularly entering protected river systems like the Teifi. Despite this, enforcement against major polluters remains rare. According to NRW's own reports, only a small fraction of reported incidents result in prosecution — and fines, when issued, are often minimal. 'What's happening is a kind of environmental scapegoating,' one local conservationist told The Herald. 'You've got ancient fishing practices with deep cultural roots being criminalised, while industrial agriculture and water companies carry on polluting with virtual impunity.' This sense of injustice is echoed in local fishing communities. While coracle fishers have drastically cut back their activity, embraced tagging schemes, and complied with shortened seasons, they say NRW is failing to hold powerful polluters to the same standard. A question of balance NRW insists that its approach balances conservation with cultural heritage. Goddard said the agency would continue to inspect restaurants, fishmongers, and coastal buyers as part of its 'Buyer Beware' campaign, aimed at preventing illegal salmon sales and educating businesses on the byelaws. But for many in west Wales, Dellar's case is a sign of a deeper unease — that a way of life is slipping away under the weight of bureaucracy and ecological crisis. 'Once the coracle netsmen are gone,' said another local, 'they'll be gone for good. And we'll have lost something you can't bring back — not just a fish, but a tradition.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Cilgerran coracle fisherman fined after catching protected salmon
Case reignites debate over tradition, conservation and the future of Welsh river fishing A TRADITIONAL fisherman from Cilgerran has admitted to illegally catching and selling a protected Atlantic salmon from the River Teifi — one of Wales' most ecologically sensitive waterways. Prosecuted: Mark Dellar Mark Dellar, 51, of High Street, appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to handling fish in suspicious circumstances, contrary to Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986. The offence stemmed from his failure to correctly identify and release the salmon, a protected species whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. The incident came to light after a July 2024 Facebook post from the Pentre Arms pub in Llangrannog advertised a 16lb 'locally caught sewin' — the Welsh name for sea trout — as a featured dish on its menu. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforcement officers, concerned that the fish was in fact a salmon, began investigating. The Pentre Arms' owner and chef fully cooperated, providing the fish cutlets, a receipt showing they had paid £135 for the fish, and a commercial carcass tag which traced the catch back to Dellar. The fish had been legally tagged — suggesting Dellar believed it to be a permitted catch — but subsequent analysis by NRW confirmed it was a salmon, not a sea trout. Caught between law and tradition Dellar, who has fished the Teifi for more than 20 years using a coracle — a centuries-old boat unique to west Wales — said in a voluntary police interview that he had believed the fish was a sewin when he landed it on July 5. Magistrates imposed an absolute discharge but ordered Dellar to pay £85 in costs. While the sentence was lenient, the case has reignited a broader debate around the clash between traditional fishing practices and modern environmental protections. Coracle fishing has been practised in Wales for generations, with fishermen using lightweight, round-bottomed boats woven from willow and covered with tar or canvas. The Teifi, along with the Tywi and Taf rivers, has long been home to this unique heritage — but fishers say the tradition is on the brink of extinction. In 1975, there were over 50 licensed coracle netsmen on the Teifi. Today, just a handful remain. The season has been drastically reduced, now running only from May to July, and strict byelaws introduced in 2020 require all salmon — whether caught by rod or net — to be released immediately and unharmed. The sale or retention of salmon is banned altogether, a measure aimed at saving the species from collapse. Conservation in conflict Jeremy Goddard, who leads NRW's enforcement team in mid Wales, said the case highlighted the importance of respecting conservation rules, regardless of fishing experience. 'The killing and sale of a prime adult salmon shows clear disregard for the law and for the health of our rivers,' he said. 'Mr Dellar, with his years of experience, would know how to tell a salmon from a sea trout. With salmon numbers in serious decline, all netsmen and anglers are expected to release every salmon they catch. It's not just a legal requirement — it's a crucial step to protect the species. Every spawning fish matters.' Further analysis showed the salmon had spent two years in the Teifi as a juvenile before migrating to sea, where it spent another two years feeding before returning to its native river to spawn — a journey that underscores the ecological significance of every individual fish. Heritage under pressure While NRW says its enforcement actions are necessary to protect the future of wild salmon, coracle fishers argue that their ancient craft is being regulated out of existence. Many say they are being punished for mistakes while industrial pollution and large-scale farming runoff continue to degrade river habitats with little consequence. 'This is our heritage — not just a job, but our way of life,' one local netsman told The Herald. 'We've followed the rules, bought the tags, shortened the season, but now even a simple mistake can lead to court. Meanwhile, slurry pours into the river and nobody is held accountable.' Indeed, the Teifi has suffered from repeated pollution incidents in recent years, with sewage overflows and agricultural discharge blamed for reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life. The river is designated a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive due to its internationally important salmon population. Yet recent monitoring data from NRW shows that wild salmon numbers remain critically low, with fewer than 1,000 returning to the Teifi in some years — down from tens of thousands in the 1980s. Is NRW focusing on the wrong target? While NRW has emphasised the need for strict compliance from netsmen and anglers, critics argue that such prosecutions miss the bigger picture — and that the real threats to Welsh rivers come from far larger sources than a handful of coracle fishers. Farming runoff, sewage discharges, deforestation and bank erosion have all been cited by environmental groups as leading contributors to the sharp decline in water quality across Wales. Data from NRW and third-party groups like River Action and Surfers Against Sewage show regular breaches of water safety limits, with phosphates, nitrates and slurry regularly entering protected river systems like the Teifi. Despite this, enforcement against major polluters remains rare. According to NRW's own reports, only a small fraction of reported incidents result in prosecution — and fines, when issued, are often minimal. 'What's happening is a kind of environmental scapegoating,' one local conservationist told The Herald. 'You've got ancient fishing practices with deep cultural roots being criminalised, while industrial agriculture and water companies carry on polluting with virtual impunity.' This sense of injustice is echoed in local fishing communities. While coracle fishers have drastically cut back their activity, embraced tagging schemes, and complied with shortened seasons, they say NRW is failing to hold powerful polluters to the same standard. A question of balance NRW insists that its approach balances conservation with cultural heritage. Goddard said the agency would continue to inspect restaurants, fishmongers, and coastal buyers as part of its 'Buyer Beware' campaign, aimed at preventing illegal salmon sales and educating businesses on the byelaws. But for many in west Wales, Dellar's case is a sign of a deeper unease — that a way of life is slipping away under the weight of bureaucracy and ecological crisis. 'Once the coracle netsmen are gone,' said another local, 'they'll be gone for good. And we'll have lost something you can't bring back — not just a fish, but a tradition.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Milford Haven man fined for failing to attend drug assessment
Case reignites debate over tradition, conservation and the future of Welsh river fishing A TRADITIONAL fisherman from Cilgerran has admitted to illegally catching and selling a protected Atlantic salmon from the River Teifi — one of Wales' most ecologically sensitive waterways. Prosecuted: Mark Dellar Mark Dellar, 51, of High Street, appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to handling fish in suspicious circumstances, contrary to Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986. The offence stemmed from his failure to correctly identify and release the salmon, a protected species whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. The incident came to light after a July 2024 Facebook post from the Pentre Arms pub in Llangrannog advertised a 16lb 'locally caught sewin' — the Welsh name for sea trout — as a featured dish on its menu. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforcement officers, concerned that the fish was in fact a salmon, began investigating. The Pentre Arms' owner and chef fully cooperated, providing the fish cutlets, a receipt showing they had paid £135 for the fish, and a commercial carcass tag which traced the catch back to Dellar. The fish had been legally tagged — suggesting Dellar believed it to be a permitted catch — but subsequent analysis by NRW confirmed it was a salmon, not a sea trout. Caught between law and tradition Dellar, who has fished the Teifi for more than 20 years using a coracle — a centuries-old boat unique to west Wales — said in a voluntary police interview that he had believed the fish was a sewin when he landed it on July 5. Magistrates imposed an absolute discharge but ordered Dellar to pay £85 in costs. While the sentence was lenient, the case has reignited a broader debate around the clash between traditional fishing practices and modern environmental protections. Coracle fishing has been practised in Wales for generations, with fishermen using lightweight, round-bottomed boats woven from willow and covered with tar or canvas. The Teifi, along with the Tywi and Taf rivers, has long been home to this unique heritage — but fishers say the tradition is on the brink of extinction. In 1975, there were over 50 licensed coracle netsmen on the Teifi. Today, just a handful remain. The season has been drastically reduced, now running only from May to July, and strict byelaws introduced in 2020 require all salmon — whether caught by rod or net — to be released immediately and unharmed. The sale or retention of salmon is banned altogether, a measure aimed at saving the species from collapse. Conservation in conflict Jeremy Goddard, who leads NRW's enforcement team in mid Wales, said the case highlighted the importance of respecting conservation rules, regardless of fishing experience. 'The killing and sale of a prime adult salmon shows clear disregard for the law and for the health of our rivers,' he said. 'Mr Dellar, with his years of experience, would know how to tell a salmon from a sea trout. With salmon numbers in serious decline, all netsmen and anglers are expected to release every salmon they catch. It's not just a legal requirement — it's a crucial step to protect the species. Every spawning fish matters.' Further analysis showed the salmon had spent two years in the Teifi as a juvenile before migrating to sea, where it spent another two years feeding before returning to its native river to spawn — a journey that underscores the ecological significance of every individual fish. Heritage under pressure While NRW says its enforcement actions are necessary to protect the future of wild salmon, coracle fishers argue that their ancient craft is being regulated out of existence. Many say they are being punished for mistakes while industrial pollution and large-scale farming runoff continue to degrade river habitats with little consequence. 'This is our heritage — not just a job, but our way of life,' one local netsman told The Herald. 'We've followed the rules, bought the tags, shortened the season, but now even a simple mistake can lead to court. Meanwhile, slurry pours into the river and nobody is held accountable.' Indeed, the Teifi has suffered from repeated pollution incidents in recent years, with sewage overflows and agricultural discharge blamed for reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life. The river is designated a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive due to its internationally important salmon population. Yet recent monitoring data from NRW shows that wild salmon numbers remain critically low, with fewer than 1,000 returning to the Teifi in some years — down from tens of thousands in the 1980s. Is NRW focusing on the wrong target? While NRW has emphasised the need for strict compliance from netsmen and anglers, critics argue that such prosecutions miss the bigger picture — and that the real threats to Welsh rivers come from far larger sources than a handful of coracle fishers. Farming runoff, sewage discharges, deforestation and bank erosion have all been cited by environmental groups as leading contributors to the sharp decline in water quality across Wales. Data from NRW and third-party groups like River Action and Surfers Against Sewage show regular breaches of water safety limits, with phosphates, nitrates and slurry regularly entering protected river systems like the Teifi. Despite this, enforcement against major polluters remains rare. According to NRW's own reports, only a small fraction of reported incidents result in prosecution — and fines, when issued, are often minimal. 'What's happening is a kind of environmental scapegoating,' one local conservationist told The Herald. 'You've got ancient fishing practices with deep cultural roots being criminalised, while industrial agriculture and water companies carry on polluting with virtual impunity.' This sense of injustice is echoed in local fishing communities. While coracle fishers have drastically cut back their activity, embraced tagging schemes, and complied with shortened seasons, they say NRW is failing to hold powerful polluters to the same standard. A question of balance NRW insists that its approach balances conservation with cultural heritage. Goddard said the agency would continue to inspect restaurants, fishmongers, and coastal buyers as part of its 'Buyer Beware' campaign, aimed at preventing illegal salmon sales and educating businesses on the byelaws. But for many in west Wales, Dellar's case is a sign of a deeper unease — that a way of life is slipping away under the weight of bureaucracy and ecological crisis. 'Once the coracle netsmen are gone,' said another local, 'they'll be gone for good. And we'll have lost something you can't bring back — not just a fish, but a tradition.'
Pembrokeshire Herald
06-05-2025
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pensioner fined over 23 nuisance calls and assault on officer
Case reignites debate over tradition, conservation and the future of Welsh river fishing A TRADITIONAL fisherman from Cilgerran has admitted to illegally catching and selling a protected Atlantic salmon from the River Teifi — one of Wales' most ecologically sensitive waterways. Prosecuted: Mark Dellar Mark Dellar, 51, of High Street, appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to handling fish in suspicious circumstances, contrary to Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986. The offence stemmed from his failure to correctly identify and release the salmon, a protected species whose numbers have plummeted in recent years. The incident came to light after a July 2024 Facebook post from the Pentre Arms pub in Llangrannog advertised a 16lb 'locally caught sewin' — the Welsh name for sea trout — as a featured dish on its menu. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) enforcement officers, concerned that the fish was in fact a salmon, began investigating. The Pentre Arms' owner and chef fully cooperated, providing the fish cutlets, a receipt showing they had paid £135 for the fish, and a commercial carcass tag which traced the catch back to Dellar. The fish had been legally tagged — suggesting Dellar believed it to be a permitted catch — but subsequent analysis by NRW confirmed it was a salmon, not a sea trout. Caught between law and tradition Dellar, who has fished the Teifi for more than 20 years using a coracle — a centuries-old boat unique to west Wales — said in a voluntary police interview that he had believed the fish was a sewin when he landed it on July 5. Magistrates imposed an absolute discharge but ordered Dellar to pay £85 in costs. While the sentence was lenient, the case has reignited a broader debate around the clash between traditional fishing practices and modern environmental protections. Coracle fishing has been practised in Wales for generations, with fishermen using lightweight, round-bottomed boats woven from willow and covered with tar or canvas. The Teifi, along with the Tywi and Taf rivers, has long been home to this unique heritage — but fishers say the tradition is on the brink of extinction. In 1975, there were over 50 licensed coracle netsmen on the Teifi. Today, just a handful remain. The season has been drastically reduced, now running only from May to July, and strict byelaws introduced in 2020 require all salmon — whether caught by rod or net — to be released immediately and unharmed. The sale or retention of salmon is banned altogether, a measure aimed at saving the species from collapse. Conservation in conflict Jeremy Goddard, who leads NRW's enforcement team in mid Wales, said the case highlighted the importance of respecting conservation rules, regardless of fishing experience. 'The killing and sale of a prime adult salmon shows clear disregard for the law and for the health of our rivers,' he said. 'Mr Dellar, with his years of experience, would know how to tell a salmon from a sea trout. With salmon numbers in serious decline, all netsmen and anglers are expected to release every salmon they catch. It's not just a legal requirement — it's a crucial step to protect the species. Every spawning fish matters.' Further analysis showed the salmon had spent two years in the Teifi as a juvenile before migrating to sea, where it spent another two years feeding before returning to its native river to spawn — a journey that underscores the ecological significance of every individual fish. Heritage under pressure While NRW says its enforcement actions are necessary to protect the future of wild salmon, coracle fishers argue that their ancient craft is being regulated out of existence. Many say they are being punished for mistakes while industrial pollution and large-scale farming runoff continue to degrade river habitats with little consequence. 'This is our heritage — not just a job, but our way of life,' one local netsman told The Herald. 'We've followed the rules, bought the tags, shortened the season, but now even a simple mistake can lead to court. Meanwhile, slurry pours into the river and nobody is held accountable.' Indeed, the Teifi has suffered from repeated pollution incidents in recent years, with sewage overflows and agricultural discharge blamed for reducing oxygen levels and harming aquatic life. The river is designated a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive due to its internationally important salmon population. Yet recent monitoring data from NRW shows that wild salmon numbers remain critically low, with fewer than 1,000 returning to the Teifi in some years — down from tens of thousands in the 1980s. Is NRW focusing on the wrong target? While NRW has emphasised the need for strict compliance from netsmen and anglers, critics argue that such prosecutions miss the bigger picture — and that the real threats to Welsh rivers come from far larger sources than a handful of coracle fishers. Farming runoff, sewage discharges, deforestation and bank erosion have all been cited by environmental groups as leading contributors to the sharp decline in water quality across Wales. Data from NRW and third-party groups like River Action and Surfers Against Sewage show regular breaches of water safety limits, with phosphates, nitrates and slurry regularly entering protected river systems like the Teifi. Despite this, enforcement against major polluters remains rare. According to NRW's own reports, only a small fraction of reported incidents result in prosecution — and fines, when issued, are often minimal. 'What's happening is a kind of environmental scapegoating,' one local conservationist told The Herald. 'You've got ancient fishing practices with deep cultural roots being criminalised, while industrial agriculture and water companies carry on polluting with virtual impunity.' This sense of injustice is echoed in local fishing communities. While coracle fishers have drastically cut back their activity, embraced tagging schemes, and complied with shortened seasons, they say NRW is failing to hold powerful polluters to the same standard. A question of balance NRW insists that its approach balances conservation with cultural heritage. Goddard said the agency would continue to inspect restaurants, fishmongers, and coastal buyers as part of its 'Buyer Beware' campaign, aimed at preventing illegal salmon sales and educating businesses on the byelaws. But for many in west Wales, Dellar's case is a sign of a deeper unease — that a way of life is slipping away under the weight of bureaucracy and ecological crisis. 'Once the coracle netsmen are gone,' said another local, 'they'll be gone for good. And we'll have lost something you can't bring back — not just a fish, but a tradition.'
