A centuries-old tradition of coracle fishing on the River Tywi in Wales is facing an uncertain future due to pollution, with fishers reporting a severe decline in fish numbers. One fifth-generation coracle fisherman described the situation as "dire" after catching only one fish during the three-month season between May and July 2026.
Campaign group Save the River Tywi has conducted testing that showed evidence of industrial, agricultural, and human waste pollution. Fishers have also reported seeing dead fish in the water. Andrew Davies, Chairman of Carmarthen Coracle and Netsman Association, estimated that the four coracle men on the Tywi caught a total of 12 fish in the entire 2026 season, a number he stated would have been caught in a single night a few years ago.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) stated it takes all pollution reports seriously and has "a number of ongoing enforcement and compliance investigations within the Tywi catchment." Welsh Water, which was reportedly responsible for some pollution incidents on the nearby River Teifi, said it is investing £889m on storm overflows between 2025 and 2030, including six projects to reduce their impact on the Tywi.
Local residents have shared videos online of discharge they claim is from Mekatek, an electronics recycling company with a discharge licence from NRW. Mekatek stated it shares concerns about the drop in sewin and has spent over "40 years developing and improving our processes to ensure we are not a factor in that reduction."
Carmarthen Mayor Russell Sparks noted that the annual Tywi River Festival in July had to be cancelled due to pollution, which he said left people "absolutely devastated." Carmarthenshire MP Ann Davies has called for "firmer action taken" against polluters and highlighted a collective responsibility among farmers, businesses, and individuals.