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.
Mapping of ocean literacy partners and projects in Wales
To understand what ocean literacy projects were being delivered across Wales, the two Project Officers created and distributed bilingual online surveys to the sixty Welsh Ocean Literacy Coalition (WOLC) partners. The survey was based upon the national ocean literacy survey in 2021-2022 and was designed to obtain an understanding of the geographical spread of WOLC partners across Wales and which of the six Y Môr a Ni Action Areas those partners were delivering projects against. Additional audience and sector data was also collected.
‘Four designs’ were contracted to produce the map wireframe and to embed it onto the upcoming Wales Coasts and Seas Partnership (CaSP Cymru) website. The Project Officers compiled all data collected through the online survey and mapped WOLC partners, their ocean literacy-related projects, their most relevant Action Areas, the project’s target audience and which sector the project works within (Figure 1). Only projects currently being delivered or those that concluded since the launch of the Y Môr a Ni strategy in early 2025 were included. The map was designed so that once the user is prompted by a map pin, information regarding the chosen organisation and project is displayed, with links to that partner’s external website (Figure 2).
The interactive map scopes the range and breadth of ocean literacy projects being delivered across Wales and helps identify geographical and societal gaps between projects and currently engaged audiences. The map increases visibility and accessibility of ocean literacy projects, potentially reducing duplication of efforts and helping to facilitate wider collaboration between WOLC partners. The map is a fully updatable tool which will gain new data points from WOLC partners, and beyond, as new projects are formed and current work programmes evolve. The map is hosted on the CaSP Cymru website and will launch imminently.
Developing an Y Môr a Ni Communications Plan
It was identified that a shared narrative and standardised messaging was required for Y Môr a Ni as an increasing number of WOLC partner organisations and projects were directly referencing Y Môr a Ni in their delivery and outreach. MRCF funding has enabled the two Project Officers to develop and design an Y Môr a Ni Communications Plan to be utilised by marine practitioners across Wales whilst delivering work programmes which action the Y Môr a Ni strategy. The Communications Plan outlines Y Môr a Ni and its short- and long-term objectives and shares its ways of working based upon CaSP Cymru’s shared narrative.
The plan identifies key audiences with tailored examples of how WOLC partners can engage most efficiently with them, as well as using key messages to ensure that Y Môr a Ni is representative and inclusive of all communities in Wales. Advice is provided on the use of Welsh language on all communications, and what ought to be included on public facing content like social media.
Promoting Y Môr a Ni at local and national events
The two Project Officers attended fifteen local and national events led by WOLC partners and local community groups, spanning six counties across Wales. The Officers presented Y Môr a Ni, spread awareness of marine and coastal issues and engaged audiences with ocean literacy at the local and national levels at public talks, engagement events, festivals, art and storytelling workshops, beach cleans, hands-on habitat restoration and guided walks.
Across the three funded months of events, 850 people actively engaged with Y Môr a Ni of all ages, ranging from young people to older generations, and those living both inland and within coastal communities. Underrepresented communities or those who have previously had less engagement with Y Môr a Ni were approached to help co-design events with the two Project Officers. Youth groups, a local Christian society and an asylum seeker group engaged with Y Môr a Ni and helped create accessible, equitable and representative activities for their communities. Once asked what Welsh seas and coasts mean to them, attendees at Y Môr a Ni events quoted:
It was identified that lack of branding and visibility was a significant barrier to engagement and understanding of Y Môr a Ni for the public and community groups. Therefore, some funding was allocated to produce engagement resources to enhance Y Môr a Ni’s presence at events and to create resources to be used long-term. The two Project Officers assisted the Ocean Literacy Co-ordinator in liaising with Team Wales to create an inclusive schedule of WOLC-led events as part of The Commonwealth Games’ King’s Baton Relay.
2026 LNP Cymruwebsite by WiSS