A CHARITY has warned that the UK’s decision to leave the European Union could impact on Cardigan Bay’s fishing industry and clean beaches.

The Marine Conservation Society said it is “hugely disappointed” that the UK will be leaving the EU and said areas like Ceredigion, where a protected marine environment is integral to the tourist economy, could suffer.

MCS said that membership of the European Union has brought “substantial benefits for the protection of the marine environment”, with the majority of environmental legislation governing our seas emanating from the EU.

“Being in the EU has, over time, enabled MCS and our supporters to defend the things we love from loss and damage, and lead towards achieving our charitable objectives to protect the marine environment,” the charity said.

“For example, European Direct­ives for bathing waters and sewage treatment have been instrumental in cleaning up water quality at UK beaches.

“Prior to this, many UK beaches were impacted by continuous untreated sewage discharges and the UK merited its reputation as ‘the Dirty Old Man of Europe’.

“The Common Fisheries Policy has been radically reformed to ensure our fisheries are sustainable by 2020 and the Habitats Direc­tive provides for many of our Marine Protected Areas.

“We must now work to ensure that the laws which safeguard our seas are upheld in national UK legislation going forward."

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