NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 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 2021 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. 1 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **1. INTRODUCTION** This annual report has been produced to provide a progress update on 2021, 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 leN 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 oNen having a negaGve impact on the habitat and the wildlife it supports. Divers descend in buddy pairs armed with scissors, bags, trays, liNing 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 oNen 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** **----- 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. 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: 2 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 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 craN 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 soN-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 soN drink can. The second shows it aNer fiNeen 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 3 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 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 - Is a working group member of Global Ghost Gear IniGaGve - • Is a 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 4 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 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. ANer 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 oNen 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.” 5 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 t. Yij NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **4. 2021 HIGHLIGHTS** ## **Skomer MCZ – June 3rd** Departed Dale with 8 volunteers. _**Wooltack Point**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 sac / 1 tyre / 10 angling weights / 6 hooks 4m x 2.5m of neeng found on reef. _**Low Point**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 28 weights / 23 hooks / 100 metres of monofilament line / 1 can / 1 bo@le. Animals released = 1 spider crab. _**Soldier Rock**_ – 2 volunteers – 1 metre viz – 1 lobster pot. Animals released = 2 spider crab. _**Chapel Bay**_ – 4 volunteers – 1 metre – 2 lobster pots / Animals released = 6 spider crab / 1 lobster. _**Collier Wreck**_ – 3 volunteers – 1 meter viz – 2 lobster pots / 1 prawn pot / Animals released = 2 spider crab / 1 lobster / 1 brown crab. ## **Tusker Rock & Milford Haven – June 4** 8 volunteers. _**Mill Bay**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 10 lobster pots. Animals released = 3 brown crab / 1 lobster / 16 spider crab. _**Castlehead**_ – 5 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 9 lobster pots. Animals released = 12 spider crab / 1 Ballan Wrasse / 4 scorpion fish ## **Ramsey Island and Milford Haven Waterway – June 19** 8 volunteers headed out to look for pots reported by local fishers. _**Dale Fort**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 12 angling weights / copper cable / 1 glass bo@le / 1 pint glass / 1 keep pot. _**Castle Head**_ – 4 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pot / 6 plasGc cable pieces / metal cable / fibreglass pieces. Animals released = 5 spider crabs. _**Ramsey Wrecks**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 angling weight. _**Stack Rocks**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 part of lobster pot. ## **Milford Haven Waterway – June 20** 8 volunteers working with local fishers. _**West Blockhouse**_ – 2 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 3 lobster pots / 3 pot boys / 200 mtetres of rope . Animals released = 2 Lobsters / 1 Spider Crab. **The Thor Wreck** – 4 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 fuel filter / 20 metres of rope. _**West Angle Bay**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pots / 1 end weight / 1 buoy / 30 metres of rope. Animals released = 1 Lobsters / 3 spider crabs. 7 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **Hobbs Point – June 24** As part of the Western Eco Tour NARC dived with 16 volunteers at Hobbs Point. _**Hobbs Point**_ – 16 volunteers – 2 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 shopping trolley / 1 large keep net / 1 small mesh keep bag / 14 angling weights / 12 hooks / 2 spark plugs / 1 ba@ery / 1 mobile phone / 100 metres of angling line / ceramic plates / 2 drink cans / 4 green drums / 1 scooter. ## **St Brides Bay July 17** 10 volunteers. _**Caerbwdy**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 2 metres or rope. _**The Cradle**_ – 5 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 bo@le top. _**Soldier Rock**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Nothing found. _**Collier**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 mug. ## **– Skomer MCZ & Milford Haven Waterway July 18** 10 volunteers working with local fishers. _**Wooltack Point**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 28 weights / 13 hooks / 2 cans / broken rod Gp / 50 metres of line. _**West Hook**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 14 weights / 9 hooks. _**BuCs Bay**_ – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 2 lobster pots. _**Castlehead**_ – 2 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 4 lobster pots. _**Stack Fort**_ – 4 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 3 lobster pots. Animals released = 1 spider crab / 2 lobsters / 1 velvet swimming crab. ## **– Ramsey Island and East Hook August 2** 10 volunteers. _**Moseley Wreck**_ – 2 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 60 mins = 1 lobster pot. Animals released = 2 lobsters. Animals deceased 2 wrasse. _**Juncos Rock**_ – 4 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Nothing Found. _**East Hook**_ – 3 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 40 mins = 32 weights / 8 hooks / 1 rod and reel. _**Pilot Boat Wreck**_ – 4 volunteers – 0 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Lost pots found and doors opened to stop ghost fishing, could not be retrived due to silt and bad condiGons. _**Castlehead**_ – 5 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 3 lobster pots / 55 metres of rope. Animals released = 2 lobsters / 1 velvet swimming crab. ## **Skokholm and Skomer MCZ – August 3** 8 volunteers. _**Skokholm SE Pinnacles**_ – 4 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Located string of missing pots but did not liN. _**Paris Rock**_ – 3 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 40 mins = Nothing found. _**Garland Stone**_ – 2 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 5 pots. Animals released = 9 lobsters / 14 velvet swimming crab / 88 spider crab / 9 brown crab. _**Landing Bay**_ – 7 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 40 mins = Nothing found ## **– Milford Haven Waterway August 19** 8 volunteers and media crew. _**Chapel Bay**_ – 3 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 230 metres of rope. _**Chapel Bay**_ – 3 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 2 lobster pots / 1 can / 1 black bag. Animals released = 3 lobsters / 2 velvet swimming crab / 6 spider crab / 7 brown crab / 1 conger eel / 3 wrasse. _**Behar**_ – 3 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 coil of plasGc coated cable (15 metres). _**Collier**_ – 3 volunteers – 3 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 1 lobster pots / 1 can / 2 bo@les 8 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **– Solva / Hen & Chicks September 4** 8 volunteers. Report of inkwell pots and liNed over 2 days. 9 on first day and 8 on the second day. _**Solva/ Caer Bwdy/Green Scar**_ – 8 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = Nothing found. _**Hen & Chicks (Stack Rock)**_ – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz – dive Gme of 50 mins = 9 Inkwell Pots / 300 metres of rope. Animals released = 21 spider crab / 2 brown crab / 13 Velvet swimming crabs / 1 Conger Eel. ## **– Hen & Chicks / Low Point September 5** 8 volunteers. _**Low Point**_ – 5 volunteers – 6 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 32 hooks / 400 metres of angling line / 1 can / 2 spark plugs / 1 torch. _**Hen & Chicks**_ – 2 volunteers – 6 metre viz – dive Gme of 30 mins = 1 angling weight / 1 hook / 2 metres of angling line / 1 lobster pot. Animals released = 1 spider crab. _**Stack Rock**_ – 3 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 8 remaining Inkwell pots from 4th September/ 15 metres of rope and buoy. Animals released = 45 spider crab / 1 brown crab. _**Sleepy Cove / Behar Reef**_ – 3 volunteers – 5 metre viz – dive Gme of 45 mins = 3 lobster pots / 250 metres of rope. Animals released = 2 lobster / 7 spider crab / 5 brown crabb / 1 bull huss. **A Summary of dive activity for 2021** Total sites dived = 45; Angling weights recovered = 173; Metres of monofilament line = 650; Lobster pots recovered = 74; Shellfish released = 298; Fish released = 15 9 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **4.1 OTHER WORK IN 2021** Displayed boards and informaGon at a number of events. ConGnue to contribute to the InternaGonal network on ghost fishing, GGGI and became a working group member to exchange knowledge on worldwide soluGons Raised awareness through naGonal media including Wonders of the CelGc Deep screened in Autumn 2021. Increased educaGon work with schools throughout the year. 10 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **5. PROJECT FINANCES** ## **5.1 Income** |**Funder**|**Amount**||| |---|---|---|---| |**Balance Jan 2021**|||£5708| |**Groundwork - Tesco Community Grant**|||£1000| |**Folly Farm**|||£1392| |**Economy**|||£250| |**Expedition Wet**|||£397| |**Postcode Community Trust**|||£9935| |**Donations**|||£9403| |**Total Amount**||£22377|| ## **5.2 Expenditure** |**Service**|**Amount**||| |---|---|---|---| |**Boat Hire**||£6579|| |**Insurance**||£547|| |**Publicity and Marketing**|||£0| |**Equipment and air flls (Donated HDS)**|||£0| |**Total Amount**||£7126|| |**Balance Jan 2022**||£20959|| ## **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) / Ceri Jones, (Safety and Diving Officer) / Blaise Bullimore, (Data Officer) / Andy Davies, (Treasurer) / Miles Be@ridge / Mari Williams / Mark Collins 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 11 NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 ## **6. PLANS FOR 2022** 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 17th 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 and a website refresh. NARC will conGnue to raise awareness of marine li@er and its impacts using associated social media playorms and conGnue to collect and add underwater footage to our library. |**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** NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2021 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029 The group would like to thank all the sponsors, funders and members of the public who donated money and support in 2021. This work has been made possible by an award from Postcode Community Trust,a grant-giving charity funded enGrely by players of People’s Postcode Lo@ery, Folly Farm, Tesco Community Bags for Life Funding, Groundwork and ExpediGon Wet. **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!** PqOPL•ry POSTCODE Q)MMIINirY •LOTTEWVB •TRUSTa