Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners (NARC) get ‘Tidy’ boost    

A bid by NARC to improve the local environment has been given a boost thanks to a cash injection by environmental organisation Keep Wales Tidy. 

While the impacts of litter washed up or left on our shoreline can easily be seen, the same cannot be said for marine litter that is below the surface of the ocean. Neptune’s Army of Rubbish Cleaners or N.A.R.C for short are a voluntary group of divers with a passion for keeping the underwater environment in Pembrokeshire as pristine as it should be. We can be found at a number of sites along the coastline throughout the diving season collecting litter that is often having a negative impact on the habitat and the wildlife it supports. Everything from shopping trolleys, car batteries, bikes, fishing tackle and quite literally the kitchen sink are removed by divers before being cleaned and recycled where possible.  

 Divers descend in buddy pairs armed with scissors, bags, trays, lifting bags and a great belief in what they are doing.  Dives can last almost an hour in which litter is collected, bagged and sent to the surface for retrieval by a support boat. The highest presence of litter is from recreational fishing with weights, rods, hooks and endless amounts of line retrieved from dives all around the county.  

The impacts upon wildlife are only too apparent with fishing line often cut from spider crabs and lobsters, dog fish released from hooks and lost crab pots ghost fishing.  The litter can also be a hazard to divers and other water users. We are also involved in awareness raisng with educational material important in getting the message out about marine litter. Quite simply without the assistance and support from KWT we could not carry out our clean-up dives and continue to help keep the marine environment free of litter. 

Through the Green Communities Project, Keep Wales Tidy is able to offer financial assistance to community groups who have demonstrated a commitment to restoring their communities to their former glory.  

The cash support has been made possible by funding from the Welsh Assembly Government and European Regional Development Interreg 4A Ireland Wales Programme and will be used by volunteer groups to help cover the costs of insurance, tools, equipment, publicity and training.   

Additional support for communities is offered by Keep Wales Tidy appointed project officers who are on hand across Wales to offer help and advice on forming groups, holding events and applying for grants. The officers are funded via the Welsh Assembly Government’s Tidy Town’s project and the Interreg 4A Green Communities Project. 

For more information on Keep Wales Tidy’s small grants scheme or to get contact details of your local project officer please call 029 20381 721 or email: greencommunities@keepwalestidy.org

 
NARC volunteers with their cheque before their clean-up at Milford Docks on the opening day of Fish Week.