There are more than 120 dolphin living in Cardigan Bay

Ceredigion Council's Cabinet agreed to provide �93,000 towards the �316,000 project which could be up and running by October if the European Objective One funds are forthcoming.

The scheme is dependent on funding under Objective One which directs grant aid to many of the poorer parts of Wales.

A water ranger and project officer will be asked to provide a recreational boating plan for the Ceredigion coastline by 2006 if the scheme wins approval.

The ranger will patrol the coast by boat to ensure that bottlenose dolphins are not endangered by other boats.

It is now a criminal offence to recklessly disturb protected species although we would rather educate boat users to behave in the right way Liz Allan, Council officer

Its estimated there is a resident population of just 127 dolphins in Cardigan Bay, but during the summer numbers can rise to 400.

"We've been monitoring the bay for the last 10 years and there is a code of conduct for recreational boat users who have council moorings," said Liz Allan, the council's coast and countryside project officer.

"But unfortunately things aren't working as well as they should and disturbance to dolphins from boating traffic has been raised as an issue."

Cardigan Bay was designated a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) because of its resident dolphin population, and is one of just three areas in Britain to gain its status because of the dolphins.

The bay was put forward as a SAC in 1997 but it was not until 2001 that a management plan for the area was put in place.

"We want to educate boat users to slow down if they see the dolphins as well as being able to enforce the law," said Ms Allan.

Borth is one of eight launch sites that will provide information

"It is now a criminal offence to recklessly disturb protected species although we would rather educate boat users to behave in the right way."

The project also aims to help boat users by providing zones where power craft and other boats can operate safely without disturbing the dolphins.

"We will have to find out which are the most popular areas used by the dolphins so we can provide areas for boat users as well," added Ms Allan.

Alison Heal, a crew member on a boat offering wildlife and coastline trips in the bay around New Quay, welcomed the move.

"Boat operators already conform to the code of conduct but I think the water ranger is a great idea for people who don't go out to sea on a daily basis such as speedboat users or canoeists," she said.

'Hotspot'

Information boards and leaflets about the code of conduct at eight launch sites in the county will also be provided.

These will be at Borth, Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay, Tresaith, Llangrannog and Cardigan.

The project officer will also aim to promote opportunities for people to watch dolphins, seals and seabirds at 'hotspot' sites on land such as Mwnt near Cardigan.

Last month a special officer was appointed to raise awareness of the bay's resident dolphin population.

Jamie Davies, will work with local agencies, residents and visitors to ensure the bottlenose dolphin population and their habitat is kept intact .