Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig y Cynulliad a gyflwynwyd ar 7 Mawrth 2017 i'w hateb ar 14 Mawrth 2017
R - Yn dynodi bod yr Aelod wedi datgan buddiant.
W - Yn dynodi bod y cwestiwn wedi'i gyflwyno yn Gymraeg.
(Dangosir rhif gwreiddiol y cwestiwn mewn cromfachau)
Mae'n rhaid cyflwyno Cwestiynau Ysgrifenedig o leiaf bum diwrnod gwaith cyn y maent i gael eu hateb. Yn ymarferol, bydd Gweinidogion yn ceisio ateb o fewn saith neu wyth diwrnod ond nid oes rheidrwydd arnynt i wneud hynny. Caiff yr atebion eu cyhoeddi yn yr iaith y maent yn cael eu darparu, gyda chyfieithiad i'r Saesneg o ymatebion a ddarperir yn Gymraeg.
Gofyn i Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa fesurau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru a Chyfoeth Naturiol Cymru wedi'u cymryd i fynd i'r afael â llygredd yng Nghilfach Tywyn, a lleddfu'r llygredd hwnnw? (WAQ73115)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 17 Mawrth 2017
Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Amgylchedd a Materion Gwledig (Lesley Griffiths): The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales have worked extensively with Dŵr Cymru to ensure they deliver a programme of works to reduce the number of spills. Dŵr Cymru is investing £113 million in this work. In addition, Natural Resources Wales are also working with farmers to assess other potential sources of pollution, for example to improve their land management and agricultural and livestock farming practices to address agricultural pollution.
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa waith monitro ansawdd y dŵr sydd wedi digwydd yn ystod y deng mlynedd diwethaf yng Nghilfach Tywyn a pha gamau sydd wedi'u cymryd ar unrhyw adeg i ganfod ffynhonnell unrhyw lygredd a gweithredu i fynd i'r afael â'r llygredd hwnnw? (WAQ73116)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 17 Mawrth 2017
Lesley Griffiths: Natural Resources Wales have undertaken extensive non statutory investigations to determine the source and scale of diffuse and point sources of bacterial pollution into the Burry Inlet and this work is ongoing. NRW are working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to identify and address previously unquantified sources of pollution from land management and agricultural practices. The remaining outstanding issues are complex, with no easy solutions, and will require advanced hydrodynamic modelling to characterise, and an ecosystem services approach to guide the development of proposed new active management regimes to adequately resolve any remaining issues.
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): A wnaiff Llywodraeth Cymru gomisiynu adroddiad parasitoleg i gynnal archwiliad llawn i'r broblem o farwolaethau cocos yng Nghilfach Tywyn, yn dilyn datganiad Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru y byddai'n croesawu adroddiad o'r fath? (WAQ73117)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 17 Mawrth 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government has already funded a wide ranging investigation (costing in excess of £250 K) into the causes of cockle mortalities in the Burry Inlet. This included a detailed parasitology study that reported in 2012.
The report highlighted a number of possible factors linked to atypical mortalities and concluded, based on the available evidence, parasites were not solely responsible for the mortalities. The outcome of the report recommended further investigations should be undertaken to better understand their contribution, together with the increase in parasite incidence in recent years.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is maintaining an overview of the latest international scientific research on cockle health and will report progress on any recent developments which improve understanding in this area.
NRW advises any future research must form part of a wide area collaboration, especially in relation to parasites and biosecurity which do not respect international borders.
The Welsh Government is supporting the bid from NRW to become a partner of a major pan European INTERREG Atlantic Area Cockles research proposal.
The INTERREG funding bid is supported by a wide range of academic and Government supported institutions across five Atlantic area states including Spain, Portugal, France, UK and the Republic of Ireland. The group have collectively bid for 3.6 Million Euros to undertake a three year investigation into cockle health, including a better understanding of the role of parasites in atypical mortality events across Europe-including the Burry Inlet. The bid has already passed its first stage and if successful will be announced in April.
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r broblem barhaus o farwolaethau cocos, gan fod cocos bellach yn silio drwy gydol y flwyddyn ac yna'n marw cyn cyrraedd eu llawn dwf? (WAQ73118)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 17 Mawrth 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government is supportive of the proposals from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to review the current management plan in the Burry Inlet in 2017.
A normalised management regime is anticipated due to recent stock survey evidence which suggests better survival of older, larger cockles in undisturbed areas of the estuary.
Furthermore, a number of proposed independent research initiatives are currently at application or final funding bid stage. It would be prudent to await the outcome of such proposals, which, if successful, will significantly advance knowledge and understanding of cockle health, behaviour and management over the next three years.
NRW have taken a proactive approach in proposing and facilitating a number of investigations in key areas to improve knowledge and understanding. This includes a bid to the European INTERREG Fund focussing on cockles and the development of a high resolution Hydrodynamic Model by Cardiff University to study water flow patterns.
A number of locally focussed investigations are either being developed or are at funding application stage. These include a cockle genetics PhD studentship in partnership with Aberystwyth University focusing on the Burry Inlet, and an MSc KESS studentship in partnership with Swansea University to collate historical stock survey datasets to study trends over time. The investigations are supported and part funded by the fishing industry.
A further investigation examining geomorphological sediment changes in the Burry Inlet over time may explain changes to cockle population distribution and dynamics. This was funded by the National Oceanographic Institute and Liverpool University. Unfortunately, whilst this did not attract any suitable candidates this year, this will remain under review to identify future funding and partnership opportunities.
Suzy Davies (Gorllewin De Cymru): Pa gamau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn eu cymryd i sicrhau y caiff nifer y gollyngiadau carthion yng Nghilfach Tywyn eu lleihau, er mwyn cymryd i ystyriaeth ddyfarniad Llys Cyfiawnder Ewrop mai dim ond 10 gollyngiad carthion y flwyddyn a ganiateir ar gyfer Dŵr Cymru? (WAQ73119)
Derbyniwyd ateb ar 17 Mawrth 2017
Lesley Griffiths: The Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales are working closely with Dŵr Cymru to ensure they undertake a programme of works to deliver best outcomes consistent with the requirements of Directive 91/271/EC concerning urban waste water treatment. Dŵr Cymru comply with all existing permit requirements.