New remit for GoSafe
WELL known marine expert Frankie Hobro, who runs one of North Wales’ most popular tourism attractions at Anglesey Sea Zoo, has been honoured by Bangor University.
The Gwynedd university has over 80,000 alumni living all over the world, working in every field and industry imaginable.
The University is proud of the achievements of its former students and, to highlight this, every year the University’s Alumni Advisory Board chooses an Alumnus of the Year, honouring a graduate who has excelled in his or her field and has remained engaged with their alma mater.
Previous Alumnus of the Year recipients include Gwilym Rees-Jones (Maths, 1963), Dr Ross Piper (Zoology, 1998) and Ray Footman (History & Philosophy, 1961).
Now Bangor have named Frankie Hobro (Marine Environmental Protection, 2002) - who owns Anglesey Sea Zoo as 2019 Alumnus of the Year.
Following a BSc at Lancaster University and work for the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Frankie came to Bangor to gain her MSc in Marine Environmental Protection from the School of Ocean Sciences.
She went on to work on island conservation and marine projects abroad before settling back on Anglesey 12 years ago when she bought the Anglesey Sea Zoo.
The Anglesey Sea Zoo and Marine Resource Centre in Brynsiencyn focuses on sustainability, education, marine conservation and captive breeding and release programmes for endangered native species such as seahorses and lobsters.
Under Frankie’s leadership, the Sea Zoo collaborates with community groups for environmental activities including beach clean-ups and interactive educational packages.
Frankie has set up a successful bilingual education and outreach programme at the Sea Zoo, as well as a voluntary marine animal rescue centre, with the capacity to rescue and rehabilitate all kinds of stranded or injured marine animals, including mammals, sea birds and turtles.
Frankie was presented with her award during a graduation ceremony on 15 July, with a citation given by Professor David Thomas, Head of School of Ocean Sciences.
Frankie said: “My time at the University has enabled me to create my dream job in a place I love.
“It’s great being able to continue to support the University and the local community through my work at the Anglesey Sea Zoo.” SPEED camera operator GoSafe could have its remit changed so it can catch drivers who race through neighbourhoods with polluted air.
In June last year, the Welsh Government introduced 50mph limits to cut air pollution from major roads in Wales, but most drivers failed to cut their speed to 50mph.
The Government responded by placing “emissions reduction” notices beside the roads, in the hope drivers would show consideration for people near the roads.
Compliance remains so poor the Government is talking to police and GoSafe about compelling drivers to comply – including deployment of average speed cameras around the clock. GoSafe is currently authorised to use speed cameras only at sites with poor safety records or where residents are particularly concerned.