RARE red algae has been found in Tremadog bay.

The red algae means that there is a good water quality in the bay and undisturbed muddy gravel and pebbles at the site which is still good enough to meet the needs of the algae.

This is the only place in the whole of the UK where ‘bearded twig weed; or Anotrichium barbatum can be found, which was thought to be extinct around 100 years ago.

The Natural Resources Wales (NRW) team found the algae whilst monitoring the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation on board their boat.

A spokesperson for NRW said: “NRW have been undertaking biological monitoring in Tremadog Bay and the rest of the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) since the 1990s.

“In 1998 whilst surveying seabed habitats in Tremadog Bay with UK seaweed specialists as part of the team, the small red seaweed Anotrichium barbatum was discovered.

“This was a very exciting find as it was the first record of the 20th century (previous records being from the 1800’s off the south coast of England).

“This seaweed is very rarely recorded, making its presence in Tremadog Bay particularly interesting, and NRW now includes surveying for it within its monitoring programme for the bay.

“The seaweed grows on small stones in an area of mixed muddy gravel not far from Pwllheli.

“Rare species like this add to the overall diversity of marine life in an area. The importance of the species is recognised by its listing as a species of principle conservation importance in Wales and it is a species of the bay feature of the SAC.”