Marine Resilience Challenge Fund

The Marine Resilience Challenge Fund was a short programme which ran between January and March 2026, providing funding for projects working along Wales’ coastline to support the marine environment.

The priorities of the scheme were to:

Reduce the pressures on marine ecosystems leading to improvements in biodiversity and resilience to climate change.
Through strategic marine planning and good governance, support the sustainable use of natural resources and the delivery of marine renewable energy while recognising established uses and providing environmental safeguards.
Strengthen the resilience of marine and coastal environments through enabling actions to improve ocean literacy, blue investment and coastal capacity leading to more sustainable use of marine resources and resilient marine ecosystems.

Twelve projects were awarded across Gwynedd, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bannau Brycheiniog, Ynys Môn and Carmarthenshire. Each project was delivered by LNPs in partnership with local stakeholders.

Successful projects included a partnership with Museum Wales to create a marine taxonomy roadshow, a partnership with Tethys Oysters to develop Wales’ first oyster hatchery, developing coastal defences against erosion of sand dunes, and a partnership with Pelagos to introduce young people to careers in marine conservation.

Gwynedd AC Marine Taxonomy Roadshow

Marine Resilience Challenge Fund Gwynedd 25-26
Gwynedd LNP in partnership with North Wales Wildlife Trust and Amgueddfa Cymru delivered workshops to equip volunteers with the knowledge to feel confident identifying marine animals, allowing them to monitor our shores and record climate change indicator species and invasive non-natives.
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From River Source to Sea

Marine Resilience Challenge Fund Brecon Beacons 25-26
At first glance, a Marine Resilience project may seem an unusual fit for a landlocked national park. But the rivers, streams and waterways that flow through Bannau Brycheiniog are intrinsically linked to the health of the marine environment. Every action that takes place upstream has consequences downstream, eventually affecting estuaries, coastal habitats and the wildlife that depends upon them.
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Y Môr a Ni Springboard

Marine Resilience Challenge Fund Anglesey LNP 25-26
Marine Resilience Challenge funding was awarded by Welsh Government and administered through the Local Places for Nature Partnership from January to March 2026 to deliver the Y Môr a Ni Springboard project. Funding supported time and resource for two Project Officers hosted by North Wales Wildlife Trust
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