21 images capture Paddle-Out protests in Wales and across the UK to demand sewage pollution action

Wales Online

17-05-2025

Thousands of passionate water users gathered at beaches, rivers, and lakes across the UK to take a stand against sewage pollution today (Saturday, May 17) The nationwide Paddle-Out protests, organised by environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), was a powerful visual demonstration of public frustration — with people of all ages, from surfers to swimmers, kayakers to bathers, uniting to demand urgent action on one of the UK's most pressing environmental crises.
Over 40 locations, from the sunny shores of Bournemouth to the windswept sands of Broad Haven Beach, saw crowds paddle out into the water, their voices raised against the pollution that is choking the life out of the nation's blue spaces.
The protests come at the start of the official bathing season in Wales and England — a time when the UK's waters should be a safe haven for those seeking summer fun, not a source of worry about their health. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Ahead of the protests, WalesOnline spoke with several Welsh protesters who are taking part in the movement. For Alun Moseley, a lifelong surfer and surf instructor from Baglan, the issue of sewage pollution is personal.
"I've been lucky enough to surf all over the Welsh coastline and beyond," Alun shared. "But there's always this nagging feeling that the water is polluted. Having spent so much time in the sea, I've experienced sickness and skin irritation myself. And as an instructor, I've had to cancel so many classes for kids who are eager to surf, just because the water isn't safe."
For Alun and countless others, the fight against sewage pollution is not just about cleaner waters — it's about reclaiming a space that should be safe, healing, and enjoyable for everyone.
Yet, it's not just surfers and swimmers feeling the effects. Across the country, concern is growing over the impact of sewage pollution on local communities, wildlife, and the economy.
Kate Evans, one of the protest organisers, expressed her deep concern: "What horrified me was the fact that the orcas of Scotland can no longer reproduce — and that's because of the sewage going into the sea," she said. "If the orcas can't reproduce, it won't be long before other creatures can't reproduce either. The worrying part is if we're going off statistics, it's not going to take very long."
In Pembrokeshire, where the issue hits especially close to home, organisers Ella Staden, Kate Beardsmore, Lloyd Nelmes, Kate J, and Kate Evans are calling for urgent action to protect the region's fragile ecosystems, coastal way of life, and the tourism industry so vital to the area.
"People here have had enough," said Ella Staden, SAS's regional rep. "This coastline is our pride and joy — it's where we live, work, and play. But between cancelled beach days, illnesses, and the damage to wildlife, we're seeing the effects of pollution first-hand. And we're not staying silent about it anymore."
Andy Drumm, who grew up in Broad Haven and now lives in the village once again, spoke emotionally about the long-term damage to the area's rich coastal life. "What started me on the path to becoming an environmentalist was a school trip to explore the rock pools on Broad Haven beach," he said. "They were teeming with life — sea potatoes, molluscs, sea hares — an entire universe of creatures I'd never imagined."
Now, he says, that biodiversity has all but vanished. "The diversity of species in those rock pools has been dramatically reduced. It breaks my heart. I've seen the change with my own eyes over decades, and I truly believe it's down to the declining water quality flowing into the sea around Broad Haven."
Lucy Jones, who is leading the protests in Newton Bay, Porthcawl, also shared that her connection to the sea goes back to childhood. "I try to go by the sea every day," she said. "I try to go there when I can, sometimes after work. I'm an avid swimmer, and I've learned to paddleboard. I work quite a stressful job, and the sea has become an outlet for me — it's like the fountain of youth."
However, Lucy's passion for the water has also made her acutely aware of the growing concerns surrounding its safety. She's encountered many who've had negative experiences that have left them hesitant to return to the sea.
"I know people who have gone swimming and then in the evening have felt unwell — gastroenteritis-type symptoms, even though they haven't eaten anything bad or done anything differently other than going into the sea. We can't definitively say it was that, but we can't say it wasn't either."
While there are some precautions, like bringing a bottle of water or showering after swimming, Lucy stresses that these shouldn't be necessary. "We shouldn't have to do that. The sea should be a place of enjoyment and health, not a source of worry," she added.
Below are some images from today's display at Porthcawl's Newton Bay.