NRW releases 2023 annual regulation report

Article summary

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has published its 2023 annual regulation report, highlighting a significant increase in environmental incidents and regulatory activities. The report indicates a 17% increase in reported incidents, totalling 8,505, with water-related issues accounting for 39% of cases. NRW expanded its compliance checks, with water discharge inspections rising by 37% and intensive farming checks by 48%. The agency opened 831 new enforcement cases and secured 85 successful prosecutions, resulting in £648,320 in fines. NRW emphasises the need for agile regulatory approaches to address challenges posed by climate change, nature decline, and emerging industries in the transition to net zero. The report underscores NRW's commitment to effective environmental protection whilst acknowledging the need for innovative resource allocation and prioritisation of actions to achieve optimal outcomes for both people and nature.