OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← Neptune's Army Of Rubbish Cleaners

2023-12-31-accounts

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

==> picture [101 x 60] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [101 x 60] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [101 x 60] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [101 x 60] intentionally omitted <==

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 2023

==> picture [476 x 283] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [142 x 200] intentionally omitted <==

Winner of “Most Admired Voluntary Organisation in Wales”

==> picture [106 x 55] intentionally omitted <==

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.

==> picture [84 x 70] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [152 x 60] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [73 x 56] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [125 x 38] intentionally omitted <==

1

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

1. INTRODUCTION

This annual report has been produced to provide a progress update on 2023, 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 2000 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

Helping to keep the underwater world litter free since 2005

==> picture [148 x 111] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [148 x 148] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [148 x 112] intentionally omitted <==

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 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

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.

==> picture [332 x 126] intentionally omitted <==

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:

3

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

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

==> picture [148 x 110] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [148 x 111] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [148 x 112] intentionally omitted <==

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 NaGonal projects to celebrate 20 years of Environment Wales.

==> picture [148 x 111] intentionally omitted <==

4

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

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 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."

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 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

==> picture [520 x 693] intentionally omitted <==

6

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

4. 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

Pembrokeshire Marine SAC – April 15 & 16th

6 volunteers.

Hen & Chicks – 2 volunteers – 1 metre viz = nothing found. Brandy Bay – 2 volunteers – 1 metre viz = 1 lobster pots. Animals released = 5 crabs.

Soldier Rock – 6 volunteers – 2 metre viz = 13 lobster pots / 30m of rope. Animals released = 6 lobsters / 12 edible crab / 1 ballan wrasse / 5 velvet swimming crabs

Stackpole Quay & Barafundle – May 13th 7 volunteers. Barafundle – 3 volunteers – 5 metre viz = 10 angling weights / 20 hooks – lures / 50 metres of angling line / 1 reel / disposable vape / 60 metres of plasGc cord / 2 metre strip of aluminium. Animals released = 1 spider crab Stackpole Quay – 4 volunteers – 6 metre viz = 50 weights / 64 hooks / 500 metres of angling line / 1 reel / 2 Gn cans. Animals released = 2 spider crab

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone – May 14

10 volunteers.

Wooltack point – 8 volunteers – 5 metre viz = 50 weights / 68 hooks / 300 metres of line.

High Point – 4 volunteers – 5 metre viz = 6 lobster pots. Animals released = 8 edible crab / 16 spider crab

Milford Haven Waterway – May 25

7 volunteers.

Dako=on – 7 volunteers – 5m viz = 1 angling weight / 6 hooks / 100 metres of angling line / 100 metres of rope / 2 lost lobster pots / Electric cable. Animals released = 5 lobster / 8 edible crab. Castle Head – 7 volunteers – 5m viz = 6 lobster pots. 100 metres of angling line / 30 metres of rope / 5 plasGc bo@les / boom plate / plasGc handle. Animals released = 6 lobsters / 13 edible crab / 8 spider crab / 1 ballan wrasse

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone – May 26

6 volunteers High Point – 6 volunteers – 6 metre = 48 metres of rope / 13 lobster pots. Animals released = 7 lobsters / 13 edible crab / 32 spider crab / 1 fish.

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone & St Brides Bay – June 24 The Douglas – 5 volunteers – 2 metre viz = 1 lobster pot / 25 metres of rope. Stack Rock – 3 volunteers – 2 metre viz = 1 bait box. Low Point – 4 volunteers – 5 metre viz = 45 weights / 45 hooks / 550 metres of rope.

Milford Haven Waterway – June 25 6 volunteers.

The Collier – 2 volunteers – 1 metre viz = 3 angling weights / 5 hooks /

==> picture [158 x 688] intentionally omitted <==

7

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

200 metres of angling line / 1 beer bo@le / prawn pot insert / 16 metres of rope. Stack Fort – 2 volunteers – 1 meter viz = 2 anchors / 5 metres of rope / 3 meters of chain / grapnel hook

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone and Milford Waterway – August 26 8 volunteers. South Skomer Pinnacles – 3 volunteers – 6 metre viz – = 1 lobster pot. Animals released = 4 lobsters / 8 spider crab / 6 edible crab / 1 Bullhuss The Collier – 4 volunteers – 6 metre viz = 25 metres of rope / 20 metres of net / 1 lobster pot. Animals released = 3 edible crab / 1 ballan wrasse Behar – 4 volunteers – 6 metre viz = 3 lobster pots / 30 metres of rope. Animals released = 6 edible crab / I Bullhuss / 1 Rockling / 1 lobster Castle Head – 2 volunteers – 6 metre viz = 2 lobster pots / 20 metres of rope. Animals released = 1 lobster / 4 edible crab / 4 velvet swimming crab

Stackpole Quay & Milford Haven Waterway Aug 27 7 volunteers. Stackpole Quay – 7 volunteers – 8 metre viz = 80 angling weights / 105 hooks / 1000 metres of line / 4 cans / 1 bo@le The Collier – 2 volunteers – 5 metre viz = 1 lobster pots / 30 metres of rope. Animals released = 3 lobster / 3 velvet swimming crabs / 1 rockling

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone & Milford Haven Waterway Sept 9 6 volunteers. Wooltack Point – 2 volunteers – 4 metre viz = 11 weights / 21 hooks and lures / 4 metres of rope / 200m of angling line Lockshiel – 2 volunteers – 2 metre viz = 20 metres of rope / 200m angling line / 3 lobster pots. Animals released = 1 lobster The Collier – 2 volunteers – 3 metre viz = 1 lobster pot

Skomer Marine ConservaGon Zone – October 23

6 volunteers.

L ow Point – 6 volunteers – 4 metre viz = 180 angling weights / 184 hooks / 1600 metres of angling line / Umbrella / 5 bo@les / 6 cans / sunglasses

2023 Totals

We dived at 26 dive sites and recovered 4.8 kilometers of monofilament angling line; 430 lead weights; over 500 hooks; 300 metres of rope and over 50 lobster pots. We released over 200 marine animals.

4.1 OTHER WORK IN 2023

Displayed boards and informaGon at a number of events. ConGnue to contribute to the InternaGonal network on ghost fishing. Increased educaGon work with schools throughout the year.

8

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

==> picture [596 x 752] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
9
----- End of picture text -----

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

5. PROJECT FINANCES

5.1 Income

Funder Amount
Balance Jan 2023
£15404.74
Donations
£7593.59
Total Amount
£22998.33

5.2 Expenditure

Service Amount
Boat Hire £9750
Insurance £645.06
Publicity and Marketing £458.52
Equipment £363.01
Misc (Bank Charges) £90
Total Amount £11306.59
Balance Jan 2022 £11691.74

Neptune's Army of Rubbish Cleaners Trustees 2023. Registered charity number: 1174029

Registered address 4 Richmond Crescent, Haverfordwest, Wales, SA61 1EH NARC trustees for 2023: David Kennard, (Chairman) / David Jones, (Secretary) / 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

10

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023

WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK

CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

6. PLANS FOR 2024

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 19th 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

The group would like to thank all the sponsors, funders and members of the public who donated money and support in 2023.

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!

==> picture [222 x 167] intentionally omitted <==

NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029

==> picture [241 x 322] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [242 x 322] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [476 x 121] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [476 x 144] intentionally omitted <==

==> picture [596 x 842] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
NARC ANNUAL REPORT 2023 WWW.NARCDIVING.ORG.UK CHARITY NUMBER 1174029
----- End of picture text -----