Stretching from Ceibwr Bay in Pembrokeshire to Aberarth in Ceredigion and extending almost 20km out to sea, Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation protects the wildlife found in around 1000km2 of sea. Established under the Habitats Directive, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are designated to protect Europe’s most important wildlife sites. Southern Cardigan Bay is home to an amazingly rich variety of marine animals and plants, but perhaps most famous is the bottlenose dolphin. The area is home to the continent’s largest population of these spectacular animals and there are few places where they are more easily seen in the wild. 

            Cardigan Bay SAC is about more than just dolphins however; its reefs, sandbanks and caves are recognised as being important in their own right, and its population of grey seals and lampreys are also of international importance. The aim of the SAC is to maintain its rich and varied marine life in at least as good a condition as when the site was first designated. This doesn’t mean that we cannot continue to use and enjoy the natural resources of the area, but that any activities have to be carried out sustainably. 

             The Ceredigion Marine Code has been developed as part of this process and can be found in the county’s tourist information centres, harbour offices and on the SAC website. We actively encourage coastal users to familiarise themselves with it to ensure that they are acting within the laws set up to protect wildlife.