Reflecting on Two Years of Action and Impact for the Menai Strait Partnership Forum
Founded in 2023 as a joint initiative between MSFOMA and North Wales Rivers Trust, and in close collaboration with the LNP Coastal Capacities team in Ynys Môn, the Menai Strait Partnership Forum (MSPF) was created to respond to the mounting pressures facing our precious freshwater and marine environments.
Over the past two years, the Forum has grown into a trusted and transparent platform that brings together community voices, scientific expertise, and environmental stewardship.
With support from partner organisations and the local community we have:
Engaged communities across the Menai Strait
Launched a People’s Plan shaped by local priorities
Built strong partnerships with local businesses and organisations
Delivered development workshops to share knowledge and skills
Supported community-led water quality monitoring
Carried out wildlife surveys to inform conservation efforts
Organised regular beach cleans to protect our coast
What’s next for the Menai Strait Partnership Forum?
Now, with a solid foundation and extensive research behind us, we are moving into the action phase. The Braint, Cegin, Gwyrfai and Ogwen catchments have been identified as priority zones, through rigorous data analysis and community consultation. For the Cegin/Ogwen, we have identified, through extensive research, the freshwater sources that have the greatest impact on the mussel fisheries within the Menai. This forms our Phase 1 catchment, where we aim to tackle the spikes in poor water quality. This area has been prioritised through community support, with the goal of restoring livelihoods and boosting the local economy, which, at one time, was home to one of the largest aquaculture sites in the UK. Alongside this we are intending to put forward projects created with the community that will target both raising awareness regarding rules and regulation within and around the Menai but also continue working with the Menai communities to ensure its sustainability.
This is a pivotal moment for the Menai Strait. Together, the community is shaping its future.
