September 11, 2026 - 220 views
People across Conwy and the North Wales coast are being invited to have their say on proposals that could give greater protection to seals at popular wildlife sites including Angel Bay near Llandudno.
A four-week Welsh Government consultation will open on September 21, seeking views on proposed changes to the law covering seals and hares.
One of the proposals would make it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb seals.
That could have particular significance at Angel Bay, which is an important grey seal site and attracts large numbers of local residents and visitors hoping to see the animals.
The seals use the area to rest, moult and raise their pups. However, getting too close, particularly to mothers and young seals, can cause serious disturbance and can sometimes result in a mother and pup becoming separated.
North Wales Police says its officers regularly deal with reports of seals being disturbed at sites such as Angel Bay.
Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison, who is the national policing lead for wildlife and rural crime, said a specific offence would give officers a clearer way of responding when seals are disturbed or harmed.
The proposed change would not prevent people from enjoying Angel Bay or watching the seals. Instead, the intention is to provide clearer legal protection around behaviour which causes unnecessary disturbance.
The consultation is also proposing a close season for hares in Wales.
At present, unlike some other game species, hares do not have a legally protected breeding season in Wales. The proposal would introduce a period during which it would be illegal to intentionally or recklessly injure, take or kill a hare.
The Welsh Government says the changes are intended to reduce avoidable harm to wildlife and address gaps in existing protection.
Farmers, land managers, conservation organisations, fishermen, wildlife groups and members of the public are among those being encouraged to respond.
For people in Conwy, the consultation provides an opportunity to comment on how wildlife at sites such as Angel Bay should be protected while continuing to allow responsible public access.
The Welsh Government says the proposals form part of a wider programme to modernise and simplify wildlife legislation in Wales.
Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability Llyr Gruffydd said the aim was to ensure people could continue enjoying Wales's wildlife while doing so responsibly.
The consultation opens on Monday, September 21, and will run for four weeks. No changes to the law have been made at this stage.
Details of how to respond will be published when the consultation opens.
