Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation

[1] Located between Ceibwr Bay in Pembrokeshire and Aberarth in Ceredigion, and extending almost 20 km from the coast, the SAC protects the wildlife of some 1000 km² of sea.

[2][3] The protected area supports a large variety of marine animals and plants, from reef-building worms to bottlenose dolphins—Europe’s largest population of the latter, there being few places where they are more easily seen in the wild.

[4][5] There are seven features for whose conservation the area has been designated:[6] "Cardigan Bay’s Big Three" include bottlenose dolphins, harbor porpoises and Atlantic grey seals.

The aim of the SAC is to maintain its rich and varied marine life (biodiversity) in at least as good a condition as when the site was first designated – ideally to bring it into ‘Favourable Conservation Status’.

[3]: pp.45–48  Special attention is paid to ensuring that human activities carried out in the area are done so sustainably.