Why this giant fish sculpture is touring Welsh beaches

In the seaside village of Amroth, visitors can expect to see a picturesque coastline, quaint little pubs and shops and more recently a fourteen by seven foot sculpture of a fish.

The giant fish affectionately known as ‘Bertie the Bass’ appeared in Amroth last summer and has been delighting visitors and residents ever since. Bertie has been making a storm around social media with visitors and residents who’ve been urged to stop and take a selfie with the piece.

But this summer ‘Bertie’ has also been travelling from his permanent home in Amroth popping up all along the West Wales coastline in areas such as Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Saundersfoot.

But despite the sculpture’s popularity, its main purpose is more than a means of attracting tourists and selfie-takers but as part of a larger campaign to ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic.'

The sculpture is filled with plastic bottles that were collected by local school children (Sarah Batty)

Designed by local sculptor Gideon Petersen, the piece was constructed by stainless steel and filled with plastic bottles and is designed to highlight the current crisis regarding plastic and the terrible effect it is having on our oceans.

Take a look at the WalesOnline Wales Against Plastics campaign

The project is led by Amroth and Saundersfoot Community Councils with support from Arwain Sir Benfro, PLANED and Valero. Bertie is designed to make an impact on school children and tourists who have been visiting the areas and encourage people to stop the use of single use plastics in a bid to combat plastic pollution around West Wales beaches.

Rachel Jones' nine month old sausage dog insisted on stopping for a picture (Rachel Jones)

Sculptor Gideon Petersen has been tasked with the responsibility of moving the 14 foot fish from place to place with a purpose-made trailer for the bass but now Bertie is back in his home village of Amroth and residents are delighted.

Amorth community councillor Pauline Davies says: “Bertie has been very busy, he has been travelling the coastal communities around the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

"In each place there has been an educational leafley for schools giving ideas on environmental curriculum for teachers.

"There has been much interest in him wherever he has gone. He is now home for the summer in Amroth," adds Ms Davies.