Free Oil Kits to shape the future for a stronger Cardigan Bay coast

Over recent decades, there has been an increase in oil production, transportation and consumption. The environmental impacts of oil spills include Ecological alteration, Physical smothering of organisms, Chemical toxicity and Loss of habitats or shelter through clean-up processes.

The Cardigan Bay Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG), which is administered by Ceredigion County Council, have announced a new project, which will provide free oil spill kits along the Cardigan Bay coast, from St Dogmaels to Tresaith, Aberporth to Llangrannog, New Quay to Aberystwyth, and Borth to Barmouth.

Having never been provided to communities for free before, the spill kits are a first line of defence when a spill occurs, enabling the user to boom the area where a spill has occurred. The kits will provide a quick and effective response to the accident until a larger kit, if needed, can be brought to the site.

The mobile spill kits will be housed in durable bins, which can be stored close to spill prone areas for immediate spill response. These are ideal for the control, containment and clean-up of oil and fuel spills in ponds, dams, rivers, bays, harbours, and waterways, in particular the marine spill kits are the ideal solution when protecting jetties, shorelines and riverbanks from oil contamination.

Councillor Rhodri Evans is the Cabinet member responsible for Economy and Regeneration. He said, “The Cardigan Bay FLAG work hard to support the social, economic and environmental well-being of the coast and inland waters of Cardigan Bay. We are pleased that we can support such an important project that provides a positive step in the right direction to continue to protect our fisheries communities.”

This project has received funding through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, which is funded by the European Union and the Welsh Government.