2020-12-31-accounts - Neptune's Army Of Rubbish Cleaners

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NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

THE DIVERSITY OF OUR RECORD IS 730 ON ALMOST EVERY DIVE LOST LOBSTER POTS IN LITTER IS STAGGERING. ANGLING WEIGHTS IN 1 NARC RELEASES SKOMER MARINE WE HAVE EVEN FOUND DIVE AT STACKPOLE ENTANGLED MARINE NATURE RESERVE THE KITCHEN SINK! QUAY WILDLIFE

NEPTUNE’S ARMY OF RUBBISH CLEANERS

ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Winner of “Most Admired Voluntary Organisation in Wales”

Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) is an award winning registered charity, made up of volunteer divers with a passion for keeping the underwater world li@er free. Since 2005, the group has carried out over 2000 underwater clean-up dives and been involved in a number of educaGonal and awareness raising projects.

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

1. INTRODUCTION

This annual report has been produced to provide a progress update on 2020, provide a background to NARC and highlight our work since 2005. The report covers our underwater clean-up events, our efforts in raising awareness of marine li@er, other work, and our collaboraGve future plans. The finance secGon is included, primarily for our funders but also to demonstrate what can be achieved with modest funding and huge volunteer effort.

1.1 ABOUT US

While the impacts of li@er washed up or leM on our shoreline can easily be seen, the same cannot be said for marine li@er that is below the surface of the ocean. NARC is a voluntary group of divers and non divers with a passion for keeping the underwater environment li@er free. Since its incepGon in 2005 by local diver Dave Kennard and Keep Wales Tidy, the group has carried over 1000 underwater clean-ups and a number of awareness raising events. This makes NARC the longest, most acGve underwater clean-up group in the UK.

NARC can be found at a number of sites along the coastline throughout the diving season, collecGng li@er that is oMen having a negaGve impact on the habitat and the wildlife it supports. Divers descend in buddy pairs armed with scissors, bags, trays, liMing bags and a great belief in what they are doing. Dives can last almost an hour in which li@er is collected, bagged and sent to the surface for retrieval by a support boat.

The diversity of li@er found on dives is staggering with mobile phones, shopping trolleys, bicycles, revolving chairs, skate boards, ba@eries and quite literally the kitchen sink! Li@er type is dependant on the diving locaGon and aim e.g. mainly angling li@er at popular angling spots, commercial fishing equipment when working with local fishermen and fly Gpped li@er where there is easy access to estuarine locaGons.

The impacts upon wildlife are only too apparent with fishing line oMen cut from spider crabs and lobsters, dog fish released from hooks and lost crab pots ghost fishing. The li@er can also be a hazard to divers and other water users. Once retrieved the various items are cleaned, sorted, recorded and recycled where possible.

1.2 THE BENEFITS

The group is doing its best to reduce the amount of li@er in the underwater environment. By removing foreign objects from the sea bed NARC helps make the underwater environment a cleaner and safer place for wildlife and other water users. We believe the following benefit from NARC’s acGons:

----- Start of picture text -----
Helping to keep the
underwater world
litter free since 2005
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NARC have carried out over 2000 clean-up events. We have worked with angling coaches to develop tackle tips leaflets aimed at reducing tackle loss and regularly work with local fishers to locate and return fishing gear.

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

Marine wildlife - less entanglement potenGal/ decrease in potenGal ghost fishing from lost commercial fishing gear
Bathers - less sharp and entangling hazards
Divers - less entanglement hazards from lost line, ropes, nets
Leisure craM users - Less chance of entanglement to propellers etc
Anglers - a reducGon in seabed li@er decreases the chance of further entanglement
Commercial fisher - retrieval of lost gear and less impact upon fishery

It is not only the obvious marine wildlife such as seabirds and seals that benefit from less marine li@er. Pink seafans are a warm water soM-coral at the northern limit of their geographical distribuGon in Pembrokeshire. They grow at less than 5mm per year and can live for over a hundred years. They are specially listed for conservaGon acGon in the Wildlife and Countryside Act and the UK Biodiversity AcGon Plan.

Two of the pictures below show a seafan covered in lost angling line which had been trapped by a discarded soM drink can. The second shows it aMer fiMeen minutes effort to cut it free of lost line.

2. RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT UNDERWATER LITTER

NARC was formed by concerned divers who had become aware of the increasing amount of li@er they found underwater and the damage caused to marine habitats and wildlife. Whilst also carrying out underwater clean-up events the group are always looking for proacGve ways to limit the amount of marine li@er.

Raising awareness of the issue is an important part of the work.

Since its incepGon NARC has:

Produced leaflets which are available from most dive centres in Pembrokeshire
Keeps a project website updated with data, informaGon and news – www.narcdiving.org.uk/
Given mulGple educaGonal talks about marine li@er to community groups and schools
Visited Ireland, to promote the idea to Irish dive clubs
Visited Greece and Sri Lanka to assist in clean-up dives

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

Produced 8 awareness raising videos
Produced two ground breaking site specific leaflets providing visiGng anglers with tackle Gps on how to minimise tackle loss and underwater maps
Assisted the Marine ConservaGon Society with the “hang on to your tackle campaign” sieng on the working group and providing advice on tackle bin placement
Linked in with wider iniGaGves e.g. Ghost Fishing, PlasGc Oceans, School projects, World Animal ProtecGon
Working group member of Global Ghost Gear IniGaGve
Member of a Welsh Government Marine Li@er Task Group

The group also uses local and naGonal media to help raise awareness of marine li@er and has had coverage on the BBC NaGonal UK news at ONE, BBC The One Show, BBC Countryfile, BBC Wild UK, HTV Coast and Country, HTV Welsh News, Newyddion, BBC Wales Today, BBC XRAY, Channel 4 Born to be Wild, BBC Wildlife DetecGves, Sky News and a number of NaGonal radio staGons and newspapers.

3. RECOGNITION OF NARC’S WORK

In its first year, NARC won the Beach Improvement category and the Peter Cambridge Trophy for voluntary organisaGons and schools working to improve their local environment in Keep Wales Tidy’s Tidy Wales Awards 2006.

In 2009 NARC were voted the “Most Admired Voluntary OrganisaGon in Wales” by the Welsh Council for Voluntary AcGon. This is one of the most presGgious awards for the voluntary sector.

In 2010 NARC were finalists in the Keep Wales Tidy Awards in the “Long Term Effort” category and in 2012 were chosen as one of 20

Endorsements of NARC’s work from NARC supporters

Sue Burton (Pembrokeshire Special Area of ConservaGon Officer)

" Not only are the members of NARC doing their individual bit to help make the marine environment a cleaner and more natural place to be, for themselves and fellow users (divers/fishermen.), but they are also improving the environment for the wildlife.”

Simon Preddy (KEEP WALES TIDY)

"NARC has made an invaluable contribuGon to the Pride in Our CommuniGes project within Pembrokeshire. They have raised the awareness of the problem of fly-Gpping around our waterways

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

and undertaken acGviGes to clean up the mess. The divers have willingly and consistently given their Gme to help improve our local environment."

John, Local Fisher

“I have been collaboraGng with NARC for a number of years now and we have worked together mulGple Gmes to help find and recover gear which is helping the environment and our fishery .”

Mark, Local Fisher

“NARC have assisted me on a number of occasions and inspired me to look at a number of adaptaGons to my gear to ensure any impacts from lost gear are minimised.”

Chrysanthos Chormpas and George Spyropoulos Loutraki Divers, Greece

“We loved diving with the volunteers from Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners. AMer seeing so much debris and man-made li@er under the sea here in Greece, we knew we had to do something to help. The team from Wales has shared their experience with us and we know this is only the beginning of a great unique partnership.”

Fiona Howie, Campaign for NaGonal Parks Chief ExecuGve

‘We have had some excellent, innovaGve projects which have shown how working in partnership with others can have a real and lasGng posiGve impact on communiGes across our NaGonal Parks. Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners is tackling an unglamorous and largely unseen but very harmful blight on the li@oral fringes of a coastal park.”

Kate Lock (Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone)

“NARC volunteers do a superb job of clearing the sea bed of li@er including miles of angling line, bucket loads of lead weights and fishing pots. The li@er if not cleared kills and damages marine life.I n the Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone we are parGcularly grateful of the efforts of NARC where the quanGGes of lost tackle below popular angling sites is of concern."

Gill Bell (Marine ConservaGon Society)

"NARC has been very supporGve of M.C.S. acGviGes within Wales and in addiGon to promoGng marine conservaGon, B.A.P. species recording and sustainable fishing through the Good Fish Guide, they have also carried out underwater clean surveys as part of the M.C.S. Beachwatch weekends"

David Jones, (Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum & NARC Secretary)

“As someone who not only enjoys and appreciates the marine environment in my spare Gme I’m lucky in that my career involves me in Coastal Management. Marine policy and projects can take a long Gme to develop, where the outputs and outcomes are oMen Gme consuming and difficult. One of the many things I love about volunteering with NARC is that your work is instant, graGfying and really does make a difference. In just one dive you can free entangled wildlife and improve the habitat. I’m really proud of our partnership working, especially with the Welsh FederaGon of Angling Coaches in producing site specific tackle Gps leaflets for anglers.”

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 t. Yij

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

4. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

Sri Lanka – April

NARC were honoured to be invited to Sri Lanka to carry out a number of clean-up and educaGonal events. It was a fantasGc 2 weeks and much warmer than our usual weather at the beginning of the diving year. Please note all volunteers contributed to to their own travel costs and NARC funding was not used for the trip.

The 2020 was impacted significantly by COVID19 where only a limited number of dives were carried out. COVID guidance and risk assessments were followed during all clean-up dives.

– Stackpole Quay & Milford Haven August 15

Stackpole Quay – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 4m x 2.5m of neeng found on reef.

Collier – 6 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 182 weights / 50 hooks / 750 metres of monofilament line / 1 can / 1 bo@le. Animals released = 1 ling.

Skomer Island Marine ConversaGon Zone – August 16

Low Point – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 5 lobster pots returned to fisher. Animals released = 8 brown crab / 1 lobster / 1 bull huss.

Wooltack point – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot.

– Skokholm island and Milford Haven Waterway Sept 12

SE Skokholm – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot returned to fisher.

N Middleholm – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot returned to fisher.

Protheroes – 4 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 green plasGc bo@le / 1 cardboard box.

Dudley Pole – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 2m long tube / 3 angling weights.

The Collier – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 5 prawn pots / 4 lobster pots / 2 boat anchors / 3 pieces of neeng / 6m of rope / 2 plasGc bo@les / 1 tennis ball. Animals released = 1 lobster / 1 pollack. Skomer MCZ and Milford Haven Waterway

- Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone and Milford Haven Waterway Sept 13

South Mewstone – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 10 lobster pots . Animals released = 4 Lobsters / 6 Brown Crab / 3 Spider Crab. Pots returned to Stevie James.

The Bury – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Nothing found.

The Behar – 7 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 10 lobster pots. Animals released = 6 Lobsters / 5 Brown Crab. Pots returned to Neil Evans.

Behar Reef – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Nothing found.

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

A Summary of dive activity for 2020

Total dives = 10; Angling weights recovered = 248; Metres of monofilament line = 1200; Lobster pots recovered = 15; Shellfish released = 15; Fish released = 4

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

4.1 OTHER WORK IN 2020

COVID19 had significant impact on NARC plans to a@end events and raise awareness of marine li@er.

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

5. PROJECT FINANCES

5.1 Income

Funder	Amount
Balance Jan 2020		£3296
Barti—Du		£1354
Donation		£1240
Folly Farm		£1750
Sea changers		£1000
Picton		£45
Total Amount		£8,686

5.2 Expenditure

Service	Amount
Boat Hire		£1650
Insurance		£547
Publicity and Marketing		£45
Equipment and air flls (Donated HDS)		£0
O2 Kit		£653
Peilicase		£82
Total Amount		£2,978
Balance Jan 2021		£5,708

Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners Trustees 2021. Registered charity number: 1174029

Registered address 4 Richmond Crescent, Haverfordwest, Wales, SA61 1EH NARC trustees for 2021: David Kennard, (Chairman) / David Jones, (Secretary/Fund Raising) / Ceri Jones, (Safety and Diving Officer) / Blaise Bullimore, (Data Officer) / Andy Davies, (Treasurer) / Miles Be@ridge /

Mari Williams / Mark

The NARC consGtuGon can be viewed on the website h@p://www.narcdiving.org.uk/other-stuf/policies/ consGtuGon/ which details how the trustees manage the CIO. PotenGal trustees can be nominated or selfnominated for a term of 2 years passed by a resoluGon at a convened trustee meeGng.

Annual Report by David Jones

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

6. PLANS FOR 2021

We hope this report shows our exisGng sponsors the value of NARC’s work and how their contribuGons are acGoned throughout the year.

NARC plans to celebrate its 16th year with a conGnued programme of clean-up events and to conGnue our collaboraGon with local fishermen. There will be an update and reprint of the tackle Gps leaflets aimed at being proacGve in reducing lost tackle using educaGon.

NARC will conGnue to be an acGve member of Global Ghost Gear IniGaGve exploring soluGons for what is a global issue.

NARC will conGnue to raise awareness of marine li@er and its impacts using associated social media playorms.

Clean-up events	Education and awareness	New schemes
10 events booked with more TBC	Reprint angling tackle tips leafets	Update awareness raising videos
	and new general leafet
Funded dives to recover lost	Update website with images and	Work with other initiatives around
commercial fshing gear	video rich improvement	the UK
	Continue to increase social media	ID relevant recycling projects,
	and communications. Work with	particularly for monoflament line
	schools

7. THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The group would like to thank all the sponsors, funders and members of the public who donated money and support in 2020.

NARC would also like to thank Tim Gosling and all the dive clubs who kindly offer their ribs and divers.

Lastly and most importantly many, many thanks to all the NARC volunteers who freely give up their Gme for this good cause. Thanks to everyone for another fantasGc year!

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ".11 UNDERWATER CIEAN UP N.AR.C. . IN OPERAIION N¢PTLJMP8 AfWYOF •, RUBBIYH CLErtNERY -VPATFAry. FAfFA¢

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2020 CHARITY NUMBER 1174029