Latest news with #CardiganBay
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Why are these scientists trying to collect dolphin poo?
When you think of dolphins frolicking in the sea, you may be picturing a warm, sunny, tropical island somewhere. But did you know there are around 200 bottlenose dolphins living in Cardigan Bay just off the coast of Wales? Well, scientists have been studying the pod of dolphins for years, but they have come up with a new way to learn more about them. By studying their poo. The team of conservationists funded by the Nature Networks Fund in collaboration with Aberystwyth University are trying to learn more about the dolphin's relationships and movement patterns. They are therefore attempting to collect poo samples from as many dolphins in Cardigan Bay as possible using nets after the marine creatures do their 'business'. They will then be able to send the poo to Aberystwyth University to be analysed to help understand what they have been feeding on and therefore, where they are getting their food from. With enough data (poo), they will also be able to build individual profiles for each dolphin and perhaps even find similarities between biological family members. But the poop isn't the only thing they will be looking closely at. They will also attempt to match the samples with photo identification records of the dolphins gathered on camera by members of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Sarah Perry, the trust's marine conservation and research manager, said she hoped the study would "unravel the mysteries of bottlenose dolphin ecology in Cardigan Bay"."This project covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so, and we are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us."
BBC News
7 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphin mysteries to be solved by collecting poo
Conservationists are hoping to learn about a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home in Welsh waters - by studying their 200 bottlenose dolphins are said to live in and around Cardigan Bay and, although they have been studied for several years, experts want to learn more about their relationships, breeding potential and movement of samples will help them to understand what they have been feeding on and where and help build individual profiles for each will also attempt to match the samples with photo identification records of the dolphins gathered on camera by members of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. The trust secured funding for the project from the Welsh government's Nature Networks Fund in collaboration with Aberystwyth samples will be gathered by net after the dolphins defecate and then analysed by university scientists using techniques to extract detailed data about the animals' diet using environmental DNA (eDNA).Sarah Perry, the trust's marine conservation and research manager, said she hoped the study would "unravel the mysteries of bottlenose dolphin ecology in Cardigan Bay"."This project covers an area of research that we have aspired to embark on over the past decade or so and we are excited that it has come to fruition at a time when it is even more important that we build on our knowledge of the species in the waters around us."
Sky News
25-05-2025
- Science
- Sky News
What do dolphins get up to beneath the waves? Their poo has the answers
Scientists are turning detective to work out what British dolphins are up to beneath the waves - by using forensic-style DNA techniques on their poo. Conservationists have been studying the 250 or so bottlenose dolphins living in Cardigan Bay, west Wales, over many decades. Up to now, they have only been able to observe the dolphins as they surface to breathe or play, identifying the animals from the unique marks on their dorsal fins to establish which animals were hanging out together and where. But now for the first time scientists are using DNA excreted by the dolphins in their poo to build a more complete picture of their lives. It allows them to identify the sex of individuals and how they are related to other animals. Signficantly, it also shows what the dolphins have been eating. Dr Sarah Perry, marine conservation manager at The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: "In order to be able to conserve them, we need to know why they're here and a big a missing part of that is, what they're feeding on. "Is that changing at different times of the year? Are certain species of fish more important to them early on in the year, in the spring, and the summer months, and then does that change over the autumn and winter months? "Are certain species important for younger animals? We don't know that, so that kind of information, we need to find out." Catching dolphin poo involves a large element of luck. The animals occasionally eject a cloud of waste material as they swim. But it quickly sinks, so the scientists' boat needs to be close enough for them to scoop it out of the sea with a fine-meshed net. A sample is then sent to a lab at the University of Aberystwyth, where DNA is extracted for analysis. Dolphins adapting to effects of climate change Results so far suggest the dolphins are having to adapt to a change in fish species as the water warms. Dr Niall McKeown, a marine biologist at the university, said: "We are seeing large amounts of sardine, sprat, and anchovy. "This is quite interesting because these are species that are known to have increased in abundance in Welsh waters in recent years in response, we believe, to climate change." Scientists unsure why dolphin numbers are falling But questions remain about the dolphins. The number in Cardigan Bay seems to be falling, but scientists are not sure whether that's a natural cycle or a response to other factors. Boat noise and disturbance from some fishing activities, such as scallop dredging, could impact the animals, which rely on sound to communicate.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- The Sun
UK's biggest campsite is right on the beach with 800 pitches and tavern bar
IF you haven't planned your summer camping holiday yet, then we've found the biggest campsite in the UK where you can still find a spot. Shell Island is found in North Cardigan Bay in Wales, within the Snowdonia National Park. 4 4 4 It became a camping destination back in the 1960s and has been welcoming guests ever since. The 450-acre campsite has a huge 300 acres of camping grounds, which includes 800 spaces for pitching a tent. If you want something with more walls, there are even chalets and flats you can rent on-site. Adults can head straight to the Tavern Bar which serves all kinds of alcohol, or head to the Snack bar throughout the day for food. A gift shop, supermarket, off licence and camping shop is also on-site. When it comes to activities, there are loads of things to do. Kids will love the playgrounds, as well as the Mini Boat Pool and strawberry picking site. And beach lovers can try out kite-surfing. fishing, and boat sailing as well. Some previous guests said you can even spot dolphins and porpoises playing in the sea sometimes. One person called it a "camping paradise" while others raved about the sunrises and huge beer garden. Super camping holiday keeps kids and adults entertained Another said: "We love Shell Island very much, we have been going for over 10 years. "Myself and my son adore it here, he has been going since he was 5 months old (he's now 7)." A second agreed: "Best campsite in the UK. Been camping here since I was about 7 years old." Otherwise there is on-site parking, shower and toilet blocks and a launderette all part of the complex. Prices cost £11 for adults in low season, or £13 in high season per night, while kids range from £5.75 to £6.50. Dogs cost £.250 a night while trailer boats are £7.50 per night. If you want to go exploring, the seaside town of Barmouth isn't too far. The town was listed as one of the UK seaside towns that is having a resurgence by National Geographic. They wrote: "It's easy to miss little Barmouth, reclining on the edge of the Mawddach estuary. "This is the sort of town that's full of visitors-turned-residents and it's that sense of pride and community that's powering its revival." Here's how to find the town's secret beach. 4
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Telegraph
How Aberystwyth plans to revive the glory days of the British seaside
It was a hub of lead mining and shipbuilding. It boomed again thanks to genteel Victorians taking the seaside air, turning it into the ' Biarritz of Wales'. And, more recently, it provided the backdrop to a genre-defying Welsh noir. The idiosyncratic seaside resort of Aberystwyth, 'Aber' to the locals, pivots around its Norman castle and twin beaches – and maintains an isolated air thanks to its westerly position on Cardigan Bay. Proudly Welsh-speaking, it's now home to the National Library of Wales, the nation's largest arts centre, and bolstered by a lively student population during university term times. But there's also an air of faded grandeur, with some of the pastel-coloured Victorian and Edwardian resort hotels in desperate need of some love. The arrival of the railway in the 1860s transformed the town's fortunes, establishing a thriving coastal resort; the opening of the Royal Pier, the first in Wales, soon followed. The current version is somewhat shorter than its 1865 original after a series of heavy storms, but it retains a kiss-me-quick array of arcade games, attractions and bars. There are green shoots of regeneration, too. The first phase of the wave-crashed promenade's £10.8 million facelift is almost complete, although the introduction of promenade parking charges is a bugbear to locals. The renaissance of the Old College, the grand old Victorian building that first served as the first home of the University of Wales, should be completed by 2027, with a new cultural centre and a four-star hotel. Britain's only statue of Edward VIII, who abdicated, will be restored to its starring role upon reopening. The wider Ceredigion coastline, too, has plenty to offer, forming part of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path. Expect spectacular hiking, tales of smugglers and shipwrecks, and possible glimpses of bottlenose dolphins south towards Cardigan at Mwnt beach. What's it really like? Aber wears its quirks with pride, a tradition celebrated by the author Malcolm Pryce in his detective novel Aberystwyth Mon Amour. There's offbeat charm to the back streets, plus old-school seaside fun, but also stylish cafés and boutiques. It's these contrasts that struck me most of all. For every top-notch café such as the Cabin, or Driftwood Designs, with its cool Cymru souvenirs, there's a Lip-Licking Fried Chicken. And for every dive-bombing seagull after your chips, there are people sitting on the beach, fed by street-food carts, soaking up another glorious Aber sunset. Independent outlets worth checking out include Ystwyth Books, a second-hand seller, or the Bottle & Barrel for a range of Welsh craft ales. And for fans of the television series Hinterland, the original Welsh noir, it's location-spotting heaven. The programme recast the region as the murder capital of Mid Wales and made much of its folkloric back story with ominous inland visits to Devil's Bridge, located at the end of the heritage Vale of Rheidol Railway, and the spookily submerged forest at Borth to the north. What's not to like? Sunbathing is a gritty experience. The beach is more shingle than sand thanks to offshore currents – the sand ends up at Harlech. A promenade stroll is great for sea air, albeit tempered with regular wafts of rotting seaweed. It was captured in 1404 by Welsh folk hero Owain Glyndwr, but destroyed on the instruction of Oliver Cromwell so that it could not be used against him during the Civil War in the 1640s. Do this… Visitors have been strolling along the 1½-mile promenade since the time of Queen Victoria, with the tradition of kicking the iron bar at the end of Marine Terrace for good luck. Constitution Hill, at the top of visitor hub North Beach, offers widescreen bay views and glimpses of the mountains of Snowdonia on a clear day. Take the Aberystwyth Electric Light Railway, the longest electric cliff railway in Britain, to the top and visit the Camera Obscura. For a culture fix, the National Library of Wales maintains the tradition of more books than people in Aber, including the oldest existing Welsh text, the 12th-century Black Book of Carmarthen. It hosts regular events and exhibitions. Eat this… Most people make a beeline for Ultracomida, the excellent deli-café on Pier Street, with its Aladdin's cave of Iberian, French and Welsh foodie treats. But hidden-gem alternatives include the Italian coffee house Agnelli's, a bustling, family-run place for Italian coffees, pastries (try a Sicilian lemon cannoli) and a small lunch menu. Medina is a great place for all-day dining, the north African-motif venue having transformed an old spit-and-sawdust pub. It turns into a popular restaurant by night and the owners also run an open-air kiosk for snacks on the promenade. But don't do this… The Ceredigion Museum, sharing a building with the tourist information centre and the Coliseum Coffee House downstairs, documents Aberystwyth's history against an elegant backdrop of a restored Edwardian theatre. But the museum closes this May for maintenance work, with the Grade II-listed building expected to reopen in 2026/27. It plans to host pop-up displays in the interim. From a local Sean Westlake is the chairman of the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association and based in Aberystwyth. He says: 'Aber has everything you need, from cultural events via shopping to coastal walks. Yet, within 15 minutes, you're lost among waterfalls and mountains, watching the red kites circling overhead. Most of all, Aber has the best sunsets in Wales.' From a tourist Carys Mitchell, 11, and Olivia Mitchell, eight, visiting from Hamilton, New Zealand, are having a day out with auntie Ffion and nanny Vera (Mitchell). They say: 'We're having a day at the seaside, loving the ice creams and arcade games on the pier. We like the different-coloured houses. It looks very different to the North Island back home.' Chris and Jayne Maxwell are visiting from Telford, Shropshire: 'Aberystwyth is our go-to seaside day trip from Shropshire. I've been coming for years on my motorbike, but it looks on the up these days with new investment. Aber took a battering in the 2015 storm but it's cleaner and smarter these days. It's perfect for a sunny day.' Get there Aberystwyth is the terminus for Transport for Wales services with connection to Shrewsbury in two hours and Birmingham New Street in three. By car, take the A44 via Welshpool, and follow the A487 into the town centre. Stay here Gwesty'r Marine Hotel & Spa (doubles from £135 B&B) is a classic seaside hotel a short walk from the train station. Book a sea-view room and the sounds of the waves will lull you to sleep.
