Agriculture
Most land around the Strait and the surrounding rivers is used for cattle and sheep farming.
Agriculture affects water quality through the release of nutrients (as a result of soil management and fertilizer application) and other chemicals (e.g., pesticides) into the water environment, through biological contamination (e.g., from microbiological organisms in manure), and via soil being eroded and washed off.
The more intense rainfall we receive due to climate change, the higher sediment loss into the water course, causing habitat loss and a process called Eutrophication. Despite the tidal range in the Strait, Eutrophication can also become a critical problem and increase invasive blooms.
Use of fertiliser combined with sediment loss is increasing eutrophication in our waterways. Resulting in dead zones in rivers and seas. Sediment loss is increasing with climate change and more intensive rain.
Livestock, land use and machinery are increasing the volume of compacted soils., which in turn exacerbate nutrient runoff.
Working with farmers
The solution lies in working with landowners and farmers to help them fund and implement improvements and holding the government to account on the legislation. Ultimately this will protect the waterways entering the Strait and the banks of the Menai. Aiding farmers to meet their nitrate targets and ultimately improving the water quality.
We hope the Menai Strait Partnership Forum will involve the collaboration of landowners and farmers.