Voluntary flying-ring ban gets conservationist's seal of approval

The council is working with local schools and businesses on Gower to introduce a voluntary ban on its beaches of doughnut-shaped flying rings that can snare and kill seals.

The move comes after the council passed a notice of motion that aims to see an end to the use of the rings anywhere near wildlife along the area's coastline.

The motion, passed unanimously, supports the Gower Seal Group's campaign aiming to raise awareness of the dangers posed by flying rings to seals and encourage the use of safer alternatives like solid disc frisbees.

Gower businesses Pitton Cross Caravan and Camping, Kennexstone Camping and Touring Park, and Surfside Café, Langland, have already voluntarily stopped selling them.

Gower Seal Group has visited schools in the area to talk to youngsters about seals and other marine life, spotlighting how they can support the effort.

It's also working with the council to launch a broader campaign, with signage being put up at beaches to support the voluntary ban as well as further lobbying of local businesses and communities about what they can do to help.

Gareth Richards Founder of Gower Seal Group and Vice Chair of the UK Seal Alliance Executive said: "Nobody buys a flying ring with the intention of causing pain and suffering to seals. But that's what can happen if a flying ring is lost or discarded at the beach.

"A seal's natural curiosity and playfulness when finding a flying ring in the water can become a nightmare when, very quickly, they find themselves trapped by one around their neck. There's no way they can remove them.

"That's why we are extremely grateful to councillors in Swansea for supporting this campaign and shown leadership to protect our visiting seals from suffering by not supporting the sale or use of flying rings in our area."

"We are now committed to making the whole of Wales a flying ring free zone with Swansea Council paving the way for other Councils to show that they too, value and want to protect wildlife"

Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said the council is now also introducing a voluntary ban of flying rings on council-owned beaches.

He said: "We fully support what Gower Seal Group efforts to protect our seals. We are so lucky to have seals near many of our beaches in Swansea and Gower.

"Earlier this summer we ran a joint campaign with the group to discourage people from getting too close to the seals for fear of frightening them away. Now we're asking beach visitors to enter into the spirit of the voluntary ban on flying rings at our beaches as well.

"The vast majority of the many thousands of people who visit Gower every year treat the area, its wildlife and its coastline with respect. Along with the Gower Seal Group we are urging visitors to play their part to protect our seal population as well."

Rocky coastal spots such as Limeslade and Bracelet Bay, as well as Port Eynon and Langland Bay have all been known to provide resting spots for groups of seals as well as thousands of visiting public every year.

Seals spend around 80 percent of their time at sea and come ashore along Gower to rest, sleep and digest their food. The short time they are on land is vital to their health, but also makes them vulnerable to human interactions.

The UK is home to a third of the entire world population, making Swansea's grey seals very special.