Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre marks 30 years of conservation

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) in New Quay is celebrating 30 years of marine research, conservation, and education. Founded in 1996 by Steve Hartley to raise awareness of the wildlife in Cardigan Bay—which hosts the UK’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins—the centre became part of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales in 2015.

Over three decades, the centre has utilized staff and volunteers to conduct extensive research. Volunteers have recorded more than 35,840 hours of land-based observations and completed over 4,330 boat-based surveys. This data, including acoustic and photo-ID tracking of dorsal fins, has been used to inform marine codes and improve the understanding of dolphin, porpoise, and seal behavior in Welsh waters.

The centre operates as a visitor hub from April to October, featuring interactive displays. To mark the anniversary, a £30,000 fundraising appeal has been launched to support its ongoing mission.