Written Assembly Questions tabled on 7 March 2017 for answer on 14 March 2017
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W - Signifies that the question was tabled in Welsh.
(Self-identifying question no. shown in brackets)
Written Questions must be tabled at least five working days before they are to be answered. In practice, Ministers aim to answer within seven/eight days but are not bound to do so. Answers are published in the language in which they are provided, with a translation into English of responses provided in Welsh.
To ask the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What measures have the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales taken to combat and alleviate pollution within the Burry Inlet? (WAQ73115)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs (Lesley Griffiths): The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales have worked extensively with Dŵr Cymru to ensure they deliver a programme of works to reduce the number of spills. Dŵr Cymru is investing £113 million in this work. In addition, Natural Resources Wales are also working with farmers to assess other potential sources of pollution, for example to improve their land management and agricultural and livestock farming practices to address agricultural pollution.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What monitoring of the water quality has been carried out during the past ten years in the Burry Inlet and what steps have been taken at any time to find the source of any pollution and then act to deal with it? (WAQ73116)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Natural Resources Wales have undertaken extensive non statutory investigations to determine the source and scale of diffuse and point sources of bacterial pollution into the Burry Inlet and this work is ongoing. NRW are working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to identify and address previously unquantified sources of pollution from land management and agricultural practices. The remaining outstanding issues are complex, with no easy solutions, and will require advanced hydrodynamic modelling to characterise, and an ecosystem services approach to guide the development of proposed new active management regimes to adequately resolve any remaining issues.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): Will the Welsh Government commission a parasitology report to fully investigate the issue of cockle mortality in the Burry Inlet, following Natural Resources Wales stating that such a report would be welcome? (WAQ73117)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government has already funded a wide ranging investigation (costing in excess of £250 K) into the causes of cockle mortalities in the Burry Inlet. This included a detailed parasitology study that reported in 2012.
The report highlighted a number of possible factors linked to atypical mortalities and concluded, based on the available evidence, parasites were not solely responsible for the mortalities. The outcome of the report recommended further investigations should be undertaken to better understand their contribution, together with the increase in parasite incidence in recent years.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is maintaining an overview of the latest international scientific research on cockle health and will report progress on any recent developments which improve understanding in this area.
NRW advises any future research must form part of a wide area collaboration, especially in relation to parasites and biosecurity which do not respect international borders.
The Welsh Government is supporting the bid from NRW to become a partner of a major pan European INTERREG Atlantic Area Cockles research proposal.
The INTERREG funding bid is supported by a wide range of academic and Government supported institutions across five Atlantic area states including Spain, Portugal, France, UK and the Republic of Ireland. The group have collectively bid for 3.6 Million Euros to undertake a three year investigation into cockle health, including a better understanding of the role of parasites in atypical mortality events across Europe-including the Burry Inlet. The bid has already passed its first stage and if successful will be announced in April.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What action is the Welsh Government proposing to take to tackle the on-going issue of cockle mortality, as cockles are now spawning all year around and then dying before reaching maturity? (WAQ73118)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is supportive of the proposals from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to review the current management plan in the Burry Inlet in 2017.
A normalised management regime is anticipated due to recent stock survey evidence which suggests better survival of older, larger cockles in undisturbed areas of the estuary.
Furthermore, a number of proposed independent research initiatives are currently at application or final funding bid stage. It would be prudent to await the outcome of such proposals, which, if successful, will significantly advance knowledge and understanding of cockle health, behaviour and management over the next three years.
NRW have taken a proactive approach in proposing and facilitating a number of investigations in key areas to improve knowledge and understanding. This includes a bid to the European INTERREG Fund focussing on cockles and the development of a high resolution Hydrodynamic Model by Cardiff University to study water flow patterns.
A number of locally focussed investigations are either being developed or are at funding application stage. These include a cockle genetics PhD studentship in partnership with Aberystwyth University focusing on the Burry Inlet, and an MSc KESS studentship in partnership with Swansea University to collate historical stock survey datasets to study trends over time. The investigations are supported and part funded by the fishing industry.
A further investigation examining geomorphological sediment changes in the Burry Inlet over time may explain changes to cockle population distribution and dynamics. This was funded by the National Oceanographic Institute and Liverpool University. Unfortunately, whilst this did not attract any suitable candidates this year, this will remain under review to identify future funding and partnership opportunities.
Suzy Davies (South Wales West): What action is the Welsh Government taking to ensure that the number of sewage spillages is reducing in the Burry Inlet, to take into account the European Court of Justice ruling that Dŵr Cymru is only permitted ten sewage spills a year? (WAQ73119)
Answer received on 17 March 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales are working closely with Dŵr Cymru to ensure they undertake a programme of works to deliver best outcomes consistent with the requirements of Directive 91/271/EC concerning urban waste water treatment. Dŵr Cymru comply with all existing permit requirements.