With nights getting darker, the mornings and evenings a lot cooler and that much needed rain turning our bleached landscape into a lush and vibrant sight, there is more good news on the horizon.
This week Mr Llyr Gruffydd MS, Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability at the Welsh Government has announced the following:
Today, I am announcing my intention to publish a White Paper consultation on 21 September 2026 on proposals for a Wild Animal Welfare (Wales) Bill.
Wales has a proud record of promoting high standards of animal welfare. As our understanding of animal welfare and public expectations continue to evolve, it is important that our legislative framework keeps pace where there is evidence that improvements can be made.
The forthcoming White Paper will seek views on two targeted proposals intended to address specific animal welfare concerns relating to seals and hare in Wales.
The first proposal would create a new offence of intentionally or recklessly disturbing seals. Wales supports an important breeding population of grey seals, forming part of a UK population of international importance, with breeding sites that are readily accessible to the public. The proposal would address a gap in the current legislative framework and provide protection for seals from harm caused by intentional or reckless disturbance.
The second proposal would establish a statutory close season for hare, thereby addressing an anomaly in the current law. Unlike other game species, hare have no statutory close season and may currently be killed, injured or taken throughout the year, including during their breeding season. The proposal for a close season would protect hare, including breeding females and their young, when they are at their most vulnerable.
Although these proposals concern different species and environments, they are united by a common objective: reducing avoidable harm to wild animals and reflecting our commitment to maintaining high standards of animal welfare in Wales.
These targeted measures will enable us to act now on clear and specific animal welfare concerns in relation to seals and hare. They sit alongside wider work to bring together, simplify and modernise wildlife legislation in Wales, so that it is more accessible, coherent and effective.
The consultation on the proposals for seals and hare will open on 21 September 2026 and close at midnight on 19 October 2026. The consultation documents will be available via the Wild Animal Welfare White Paper webpage. It will not be live until the consultation opens.
I am announcing these proposals in advance of the consultation opening so that stakeholders and interested parties have as much notice as possible of the issues on which we will be seeking views. My officials will also be engaging with a wide range of stakeholders ahead of publication to ensure they are aware of the forthcoming consultation and have an opportunity to prepare their responses.
I encourage anyone with an interest in animal welfare, wildlife management and conservation, farming and land management, fishing, other coastal and marine activities, and enforcement, to engage with the consultation when it opens. The views received will help inform the future development of these proposals and any subsequent legislation.
This announcement is HUGELY significant for Wales however; it also has similar outcomes for our coasts around the entire UK.
Whilst Scotland and Northern Ireland have taken steps to protect seals from intentional or reckless disturbance, England and Wales have not.
Our Give Seals Space Campaign launched a few months ago, is urging the UK Government to review their earlier decision (taken in December 2025), not to include seals as a protected species under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
We believe this decision to be unwise and the UK Government should have taken notice of the recommendations from the JNCC and EFRA Committees that seals should be afforded better protection.
We (UK Seal Alliance) are delighted that the Welsh Government has shown incredible leadership in the pursuit of animal welfare. I sincerely hope that this is replicated throughout the UK in line with our Give Seals Space Campaign
Campaigns and Petitions are powerful public platforms where support can be clearly seen by those in positions of influence and decision making.
You as Give Seals Space supporters, have clearly turned heads and given our seals a voice; thank you.
Please continue to share our Give Seals Space Petition as every signature clearly makes a difference.
Campaign Link accessed here: https://c.org/sqtSyp28zD
We will keep you updated on developments and really hope that this momentous decision by Welsh Government will be the catalyst for the UK Government to realise they MUST follow suit.
Gareth