A campaign has been launched in Pembrokeshire aimed at cleaning up hundreds of miles of Welsh coastline.

Careless fishermen are being urged to take care of their tackle to protect wildlife and the environment.

Thousands of seabirds are injured

Surveys have revealed more than a third of the litter found along Wales' 750 miles of coastline contains discarded fishing lines and netting.

This latest project to clean-up the coast targets commercial fishermen as well as anglers and is expected to have a particular impact in south west Wales where the Pembrokeshire coast alone extends for around 200 miles.

On Wednesday fishermen and environmentalists gathered at Stackpole Quay in Pembrokeshire for the launch of a series of awareness-raising events.

Environmental campaign group Keep Wales Tidy (KWT) says most fishermen are natural environmentalists.

Spokesman Wynne Williams said: "Inexperience and thoughtlessness by some is leading to wildlife being harmed and beaches strewn with colourful but potentially dangerous hooks and gut.

A poster advertising the campaign

"Millions of fishermen enjoy their sport, we are now asking for their support to make our coastline a cleaner and safer place for everyone to enjoy."

The scheme has the support of the RSPCA which, every year, comes across thousands of birds caught on fishing hooks or marine animals that have become ill after swallowing weights.

Kate Jones, manager for the RSPCA in Wales said: "We accept that the majority of anglers are responsible and clear away all their rubbish.

Help

"They are also our eyes and ears, often drawing our attention to injured wildlife.

"But, as with most things, a minority of people can give the rest a bad name.

"If people thought carefully before discarding their rubbish, many animals and birds would be saved from horrific injuries or death," she said.

Volunteers are involved in the clean-up operation while divers are also searching the seabed for litter.