30 YEARS OF COASTWATCH DATA
Digitisation and analysis of historic observations made by the Irish
Coastal Environment Group Coastwatch Ireland
Small Scale Study 2017-W-SS-32
Coastwatch Europe
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2017-W-SS-32
Digitisation and analysis of historic observations made by the Irish Coastal
Environment Group Coastwatch Ireland
This Small Scale Study was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland)
Prepared by Ángel Duarte Campos
Technical Coordinator
Coastwatch Europe
November 2017 – February 2018
Compilation of reports, floppy disk and CDs and notes on the Coastwatch Survey history and the
Survey Questionnaire
by
Karin Dubsky
International Coordinator
Coastwatch Europe
Coastwatch wishes to thank all the volunteers that participate every year giving their time and energy for free.
The Coastwatch data is distributed under a Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-SA
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Contents
1. INTRODUCITON ................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.1. Summary of Coastwatch Survey over the last 30 years .............................................................................. 4
1.2. Coastwatch Survey Aims ............................................................................................................................ 6
1.3. Coastwatch Survey Methods ..................................................................................................................... 6
2. METHODS ......................................................................................................................................................... 9
3. RESULTS .......................................................................................................................................................... 12
3.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 12
3.2. Changes of the Survey Questionnaire over time ...................................................................................... 14
A5 How well do you know your survey unit? ............................................................................................. 16
A6 From present knowledge - is this unit (or part of) an officially designated area? ................................. 16
A7 If your unit is an officially designated area, tick which nature &/or human use designations/permits
apply .......................................................................................................................................................... 17
A8 Is there direct access to your coastal unit from land down to high water? .......................................... 18
B1 What is the immediate hinterland mainly devoted to? ........................................................................ 19
B2 Inflow type and size .............................................................................................................................. 20
B2 Inflow quality indicators ........................................................................................................................ 21
B2 Testing inflows ...................................................................................................................................... 22
B3 If you know the survey unit well, estimate the frequency of sewage pollution incidents .................... 23
C1 Splash zone width ................................................................................................................................. 24
C2 What is the splash zone covered in ...................................................................................................... 25
D1 Intertidal width ..................................................................................................................................... 26
D2 What is the intertidal surface composed of? ........................................................................................ 26
D3 Which of the following plants and seaweeds did you find in the intertidal area at time of survey? .... 27
D5 Indicate which of the animals listed below you found alive or dead .................................................... 28
D5 Animal counts ....................................................................................................................................... 29
E1 Large litter items ................................................................................................................................... 30
E2 Litter counts .......................................................................................................................................... 31
E3 Small litter items ................................................................................................................................... 32
E3 Fishing litter .......................................................................................................................................... 33
F1 Has recent weather made the appearance of your coastal unit change? ............................................. 34
F2 Has the shore been cleaned within the last week? ............................................................................... 34
F4 Do you have evidence of a serious risk and/or imminent planned change for the worse? .................. 35
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3.3. Data and graphs ....................................................................................................................................... 36
A1 Coast surveyed ..................................................................................................................................... 37
A5 How well do you know your survey unit? ............................................................................................. 38
A7 From present knowledge - is this unit (or part of) an officially designated area? ................................. 39
A7 If your unit is an officially designated area, tick which nature &/or human use designations/permits
apply .......................................................................................................................................................... 40
A8 Is there direct access to your coastal unit from land down to high water? .......................................... 45
B1 What is the immediate hinterland mainly devoted to? ........................................................................ 48
B2 Inflow type and size .............................................................................................................................. 55
B2 Inflow quality indicators ........................................................................................................................ 59
B2 Testing inflows ...................................................................................................................................... 64
B3 If you know the survey unit well, estimate the frequency of sewage pollution incidents .................... 67
C1 Splash zone width ................................................................................................................................. 68
C2 What is the splash zone covered in ...................................................................................................... 69
D1 Intertidal width ..................................................................................................................................... 70
D2 What is the intertidal surface composed of? ........................................................................................ 70
D3 Which of the following plants and seaweeds did you find in the intertidal area at time of survey? .... 71
D5 Indicate which of the animals listed below you found alive or dead .................................................... 72
D5 Animal counts ....................................................................................................................................... 76
E1 Large litter items ................................................................................................................................... 81
E2 Litter counts .......................................................................................................................................... 86
E3 Small litter items ................................................................................................................................... 92
E3 Fishing litter .......................................................................................................................................... 98
F1 Has recent weather made the appearance of your coastal unit change? ............................................. 99
F2 Has the shore been cleaned within the last week? ............................................................................. 100
F4 Do you have evidence of a serious risk and/or imminent planned change for the worse? ................ 101
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................... 107
ANNEX I: LIST OF DIGITIZED DOCUMENTS ....................................................................................................... 109
ANNEX II: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 2017 ........................................................................................................ 111
ANNEX III: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 1987 ....................................................................................................... 117
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1. INTRODUCITON
1.1. Summary of Coastwatch Survey over the last 30 years
The Coastwatch Survey was first designed and tried in Ireland in 1987. It was published as an invite to Irish
Times readers on Sept 7th 19871 to get out onto any seashore on the island of Ireland at low tide with a copy
of the Irish Times and complete a survey form over roughly 500 m of shore (see the original questionnaire
printed in the Irish Times in Annex III). The form had just been designed by Karin Dubsky a TCD coastal
zoologist in collaboration with Frank McDonald, IT journalist. The form was designed as a shore audit page
where you ticked or commented on what you saw that weekend and then posted back results for analyses.
Then, 759 of the responses received were analysed part manually and part by very large computer and results
published a few weeks later2.
These came to the attention of EC DG environment staff who supported an international pilot (carried out
simultaneously in 10 counties) and development of the methodology in 1988. It was piloted on a small scale in
eight European countries that same year. The following year, 1989, saw the first large scale survey, being
carried out simultaneously in 10 countries: Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland,
Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Italy, in the same two week period and covering thousands of kilometres
of coastline. The same questionnaire was used in all countries, translated as necessary. The International
Coordination of Coastwatch Europe was (and still is) based in Dublin.
1989 to 1999: The first decade
This first synchronised survey was run in 1989 using the EC CORINE map coding of country and county, further
subdivided clockwise into 5km ‘blocks’ that were marked by hand on OS maps. In Ireland, the survey was run
by the founder, Karin Dubsky, under the auspices of the new Irish Coastal Environment Group. A structure was
set up. County coordinators were sought – local authority environment staff, school teachers, Marca groups,
boat clubs etc. These volunteers did Trojan work contacting their networks and seeking block coordinators
who would book 5 km blocks to survey and then divide them into 10 survey units of 500m length of shore.
Internationally all used the same coast divisions and survey base questions which were also numbered in the
same way and then translated by national coordinators into relevant languages. Interpretations were agreed
in annual fine tuning meetings and fieldwork and set out as guide notes. This identical shore division method
and tightly agreed survey questions, with numeric codes for each parameter, could then be used to identify
any site and answers to any question, even if one didn’t have the language. International data analyses took
place in Ireland and was fed back as raw data and summary to national coordinators who then produced
national reports. International summary reports were then published on select data with highest reliability,
which tended to be litter data. Biodiversity questions were well answered in countries where training was
provided.
1 https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/0917/Pg011.html#Ar01102
2https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/1022/Pg013.html#Ar01301
https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/1023/Pg015.html#Ar01501
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The Irish Coastal Environment Group became known by this shore audit as ‘Coastwatch’ and the international
network of environmental groups and education establishments who collaborated on the survey became
known as Coastwatch Europe.
Survey methods were refined over the next year and the questions streamlined to one international base
questionnaire, augmented by national or regional survey questions. Coastwatch Europe grew rapidly as a
‘citizen science’ project before the term became popular. Depending on country, survey forms were either
printed in the media (in Ireland that included the Irish Times, RTE guide and Inshore Ireland), or on forms
circulated via scouts, schools or a mix of individual volunteers and groups. In some countries it became
formalised in the school curriculum and booklets for fieldwork education with coastal information and survey
guide notes were produced. By 1993 Coastwatch Europe had the largest systematic annual coastal data
output with > 10 000 sites per annum and kept that going for five years running, coordinated from Ireland.
2000 - 2011: The Coastwatch network speciation phase
Coastwatch countries and regions became involved in new idea testing, follow up work using data collected
and seeking to use new social media, online forms and GIS. Young companies were becoming involved in
several countries. In Eastern European countries the fall of communism and new opportunities brought
massive changes to coastal use, law and attitude. In some countries, governments and agencies had started
paying for select data collection which would then cover other survey costs. All this led to rapid ‘speciation’
with many different experiments and major data ownership and cost issues arising as new management and
tech companies had different views in several countries.
In Ireland, as in most other countries, small pilot and test surveys and trial on-line versions were run from
2003 onward. Some focussed on archaeology, others on sewage pollution patterns in an area with
Coastwatch adapted faecal strep MPC tube test incubated in slow cookers. One larger trial to mention was
the Irish Bathing water survey 2007 and 2008. This used select questions from the Coastwatch survey
questionnaire augmented by extra sections on ‘Threat/Risk to Bathers or site’ and then introduced a whole
new Coastwatch beach rating with scores. These surveys were run during the bathing season and select data
published in the Sunday Tribune. While not suitable for this autumn survey timeline, there may be merit in
rerunning the same bathing water survey and rating this year and comparing results for 100 bathing waters a
decade on.
This means that for this period there would be little comparable autumn data to include in the timelines.
2012 - 2017: Modern phase
After several initiatives to bring the Coastwatch survey to modern GIS map and online information at costs
which are affordable to an NGO working on a shoe string, the first robust, workable and affordable online
system for identifying survey units in Ireland was designed by Angel Duarte, who worked as post graduate
intern with Coastwatch. After a pilot test the new system was used successfully in autumn 2012 and then
further refined as surveyors raised issues or made suggestions. This period has brought the most significant
advance in Coastwatch as citizen science project since the conception and first 5 years of rapid international
development.
From 2012 on, the coast was digitised and divided down to 500m survey units. Rather than having block
coordinators booking a whole 5 km survey block, dividing it up on a map, marking the code for each survey
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unit and then giving copies out to friends, pupils or colleagues, now any volunteer can go online to zoom in to
their area and click on a survey unit to get the unique code. This means that they can chose and book a survey
unit and download all the information in a fraction of time. However, the community planning and whole
block returns reduced significantly.
While survey forms are still produced in hard copy as preferred for fieldwork, surveyors are encouraged to
download them from the Coastwatch website. Guide notes, ID pictures and notes on biota can also be
downloaded but most now don’t print these but simply download them onto their phones to refer to even if
there is no internet access on the shore.
Other important change in the third decade is the way data is now presented. From bar and pie charts
supplemented with surveyor comments with the odd site pinpointed, the 2012 onward data for Ireland is now
mapped using advance GIS tools which also allows for advanced spatial analysis and overlay of Coastwatch
data on official data sets such as the EPA water data on catchments.ie. This last development also became a
gateway to volunteers becoming acquainted with this EPA website, the WFD, the MSFD, etc.
International convergence
After several years of running parallel but no longer compatible surveys and drop out of more and more
countries, Portugal, Spain, UK, Romania (and now Malta as new country) have been digitised using the new
method developed in Ireland and further countries around the Baltic sea decided to join in late 2017.
Assuming some support can be raised a first large scale pilot synchronised in 4 European seas is planned for
autumn 2018.
1.2. Coastwatch Survey Aims
1) To gather a large amount of basic data on the state of the European coastline in a form that is directly
comparable between countries.
2) To raise public awareness of their local coastline and promote a positive attitude to coastline protection.
3) To provide an indication of the problems and threats to the coastline, and instigate and advise on remedial
and protective follow up work.
4) To make use of expertise and knowledge of the coastal zone found locally, but previously little used.
1.3. Coastwatch Survey Methods
The Coastwatch autumn survey is carried out by members of the public (anyone with an interest in the
environment and the coastal zone can participate). It involves walking a chosen piece of coast (500m) once
around low tide. The surveyors are asked to fill in a questionnaire for each survey site, designed to give an
overview of the state of the coast – see www.coastwatch.org. It takes place in the months of September and
October.
A survey site or survey unit (s.u.) is a stretch of shore approximately 500m long as measured along mean high
tide mark. The width covers the sea shore from start of the hinterland down to the edge of shallow water at
low tide.
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While the basic survey method has not changed, the way in which the coast is divided into 500m survey units
and made available to surveyors has evolved. Up until 2012, the coastline was being divided into 500 metre
units by hand on paper maps. In 2012 the coast was digitized and divided using GIS in an attempt to improve
accuracy, to make the survey unit maps widely available and to allow for mapping of results.
As in previous years, each coastal unit was given a unique code based on the EC NUTCODE system, with
counties numbered in clockwise direction, and with further numerical codes for the 5 km blocks within each
county and finally the 10 units within each block. Smaller islands around Ireland have been digitised on
request.
Surveyors go online http://worldmap.harvard.edu/maps/cwsurveyunits to bring up the digitised Coastwatch
survey units and zoom in on a potential survey area. The shore is hugged by a line with marked blue and white
increments which denote a 500m s.u. Volunteers click on a chosen unit to bring up the unique survey unit
identification code. This is copied onto the survey questionnaire and is notified to Coastwatch to update the
bookings map. To avoid duplication, booked sites are marked yellow and once data is returned, they are
changed to green.
Those who do not have online facilities are helped by regional or national coordinators, who provided hard
copies of survey forms and a map of an area to survey after discussing their preferred locations over the
phone or email.
Some training sessions are provided before the survey. These are most useful where new surveyors are
involved and where a larger area may be covered and divided up between surveyor pairs, or groups in case of
school classes or scouts.
Materials
The main survey materials include the the Coastwatch Survey questionnaire, Survey guide notes and ID
posters, the Survey unit map, information about the tides, online input forms, picture submission through the
website and extra materials (such us Harbour Waste Management questionnaire, Seaweed module, Micro-
litter app…).
Nowadays, all these materials are available online and also distributed through regional coordinators, or
posted out on request.
Coordination and Communication
Regional coordinators work imaginatively to invite participants and answer surveyor questions in ‘their
county’. They support survey site allocation to those who were unable to go online and many held or even
distribute materials or run training events supported by Coastwatch HQ. Some also do extensive survey work
themselves. Surveyors are targeted through the existing network from previous surveys, as well as canvassing
via media and social media. Most years, the budget does not allow running of advertisements.
Data compilation and analysis
Surveyors returned the hardcopies of the Survey questionnaire by post or through the regional coordinators.
These were then inputted into a database by Coastwatch team members and volunteers. In most recent years
this was combined with online input forms, which have been made available to surveyors reducing the
workload for the Survey coordination.
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Verification and Follow up
Some verification work is done where doubt about the data is raised. The information given is checked and
verified through surveyor photos and/or contacting surveyors. The same is done for records of select species
(Seagrass Zostera, Honeycomb Sabellaria). This verification work depends also on availability of funds.
Follow up
Advice is provided where a surveyor discovered something which requires prompt action. Often surveyors
plan follow up action themselves, but want to know where to look for official information or who has
responsibility to enforce legislation. Most answers were provided by Coastwatch coordination, occasionally
augmented or confirmed by our legal advisor. Follow up work is conducted all year round and some of it is
publish in the results reports as case studies.
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2. METHODS
The objectives of this Small Scale Study funded by the EPA (as described in the project application) are:
1) Compilation of select historic Coastwatch Survey data, 1887 to 2017 for Ireland (output: digitized reports
and compiled database going back to 1987).
2) Tracking changes of questions over time (output: flow chart tracing changes in the questionnaire over time).
3) Analysing data trends since 1887 focusing on select parameters (output: producing some coastal status
trend data in graphics, report, and maps).
The development of the project was divided in 5 phases.
Phase 1: Compilation of hard copies and digital media
As contemplated in the project application, Coastwatch International coordinator, Karin Dubsky, set out to
gather all the available Coastwatch Survey data including hardcopies (reports and data tables) and digital
media (floppy disks and CDs). These were pulled from TCD and Coastwatch storage and obtained by
contacting former technical coordinators and regional coordinators. These materials were handed over to the
main author of this report (part in person and part by post).
Phase 2: processing files and documents
Hard copies: This included Survey reports and questionnaires. The first step was scanning all the documents
(automatically in the case of loose pages and manually in the case of bound documents). The second step was
converting these into searchable and editable documents. This was done using Optical Character recognition
Software (Tesseract). The third step was reviewing the resulting documents and making the appropriate
corrections (OCR inaccuracies and format clean-up). The resulting files were saved in .odt format.
Digital media: The files contained in the CDs and floppy disks compiled were extracted, reviewed and
classified. The necessary format changes were performed.
All the resulting files have been stored in the cloud (Dropbox) and in physical hard drives.
Phase 3: Analysing questionnaire changes
The questionnaires gathered were reviewed thoroughly and compared. The changes in the wording of
questions or parameters were noted, as well as the removal, addition or merging of parameters and
categories, in order to produce diagrams illustrating the evolution of the survey questionnaire over the years.
These diagrams mimic the structure of the latest survey questionnaire (2017). This was used as the template
from which to trace the changes. See annex II.
Phase 4: data extraction
The documents and files produced were carefully reviewed and all the numeric data was extracted:
a) Part of the data was extracted from printed data tables (that were included as an annex to the survey
reports or printed on their own):
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b) Other data was extracted from the text in the Survey reports:
c) Finally, data was also drawn from the graphs included in the survey reports. Some had data labes:
Others didn’t have data labels:
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In this second case, data was extracted using a WebPlotDigitizer (see image below). The software would take
measurements (in pixels) and calibrate them using the values in the x or y axis.
In such cases there could be an error margin of up to 0.9% (although it would normally be below 0.5%). This
error margin was calculated taking measurements of points with known values in the graph area (e.g. grid
lines or axis). These values will be marked in purple in the data tables found throughout this report.
Phase 5: Database creation
The data extracted was entered into a flat-file database. The complete database has been saved in .dbf
format.
All the parameters in this database are expressed as percentage of survey units. Thus, N would be the total
number of units surveyed each year. There are only 3 exceptions:
a) Inflow data (type, size, quality indicators) is expressed as a percentage of the total number of inflows found.
The total number of inflows found is also included in the database as a whole number.
b) Water quality results (nitrate, phosphate…) are expresses as a percentage of the number of inflows tested
(this value is also stored in the database as a whole number).
c) Counts (animals and litter) are expressed as average number of individuals/items per survey unit.
Some of the parameters found in the reports were expressed as percentage of responses (i.e. multiple choice
questions where the number of responses would be greater than the number of units surveyed). In order to
have a homogenous and comparable dataset, these were recalculated as percentage of survey units. These
values often had only one decimal place and the recalculation yielded figures that may have a small error
margin (and will be marked in blue in the data tables in the results section).
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3. RESULTS
3.1. Overview
The Coastwatch Survey dataset for the island of Ireland presented here includes information gathered by
volunteers carrying out the Survey in 20086 sites (of 500m each) in autumn (most between Sept 15th and Oct
15th ) from 1987 to 2017.
For the purpose of this study, the survey data can be divided into two groups. The first group would include
the years 2012 to 2017 for which a complete database is available (that is data for each individual survey site).
For this period data can be compared by location thanks to the introduction of a GIS based system.
The second group would include the years 1987 to 2011. This period would constitute the main subject of this
report. The effort to gather all the available Coastwatch Survey data yielded 60 hardcopies (mostly survey
reports and questionnaires). Of these, 48 documents were found relevant and were therefore digitized (see
methods and annex I). Additionally, 18 CDs and 27 floppy disks were found. Of the CDs, 8 contained data that
was somehow relevant. It was all for the period of 2004 to 2007 and it consisted of some survey pictures, two
survey unit maps from the Dublin area and questionnaires from the 2006 and 2007 spring surveys (that are
not relevant for this project). Regarding the floppy disks, 5 were unreadable and the others contained files
that weren’t survey related and data form the Spanish surveys between 1994- 97 (that is not relevant here).
Unfortunately no computerized databases could be retrieved for this period. All the data had to be compiled
from hardcopies (reports and printed data tables). This meant that only pooled data could be obtained. That is
pooled data for All Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, depending on the year. However, there were some
samples of data by county (e.g. Meath litter data, number of units survey by county in some reports, etc.) that
could be used for a case study.
There are 3 years when the survey didn’t take place: 1988, 1996 and 2006. The first one, 1988, was a year
when new materials were being tried out and an international pilot survey conducted. The second, 1996, was
a transition year dedicated to strengthening the international network and carrying out follow up work based
on the information gathered in previous surveys.
The larger amount of data was found for the decade of the 1990’s (including 1989) when financial support
from the EC and others was strongest and when survey participation was at its highest. For the years between
2004 and 2011 very little data was found. The Coastwatch team could only find two questionnaires for 2009
and 2010 and a short litter report for 2010. Data does exist for this interval of time (with the exception of
2006 when the survey didn’t take place) but this was a peak experimental period with small surveys and focus
on particular types of shore so the data might not be comparable. However there might be some other data
for that period which is not useful for trend lines but may be useful for other work, e.g. a focus on harbour
waste management in 27 harbours, 100 beach surveys augmented by scores for a range of quality parameters
on the shore and public information. In each case, core Coastwatch survey methodology was adapted to the
new task.
The table overleaf gives an overview of data included. There are some years where the survey was carried out
just in the Republic of Ireland and others when it took place in both North and South simultaneously and with
a common coordination. For the latter, the results presented in this report include pooled data for All Ireland.
The separate dataset for the Republic of Ireland has also been extracted but it is, in most cases, smaller.
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Year No of s.u. Area covered Questionnaire Report Printed data
tables Comp.
database Data included
1987 759 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
1988 - No survey
1989 2870 All Ireland Yes yes yes no All Ireland
1990 987 Rep. of Ireland yes yes yes no Rep. of Ireland
1991 1330 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes yes no Rep. of Ireland
1992 1356 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
1993 1011 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
1994 1377 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
1995 706 Rep. of Ireland Yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
1996 - No survey
1997 1304 All Ireland yes yes no no All Ireland
1998 866 All Ireland yes yes no no All Ireland
1999 1071 All Ireland yes yes yes no All Ireland
2000 1198 All Ireland yes yes no no All Ireland
2001 859 All Ireland yes yes yes no Rep. of Ireland
2002 815 All Ireland yes yes no no All Ireland
2003 28 Rep. of Ireland yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
2004 ND no no no no
2005 ND no no no no
2006 - No survey
2007 ND no no no no
2008 ND no no no no
2009 ND yes no no no
2010 121 Rep. of Ireland yes yes no no Rep. of Ireland
2011 ND no no no no
2012 401 Rep. of Ireland yes yes yes yes Rep. of Ireland
2013 547 All Ireland yes yes yes yes All Ireland
2014 610 All Ireland yes yes yes yes All Ireland
2015 564 All Ireland yes yes yes yes All Ireland
2016 525 All Ireland yes yes yes yes All Ireland
2017 538 All Ireland yes yes yes yes All Ireland
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3.2. Changes of the Survey Questionnaire over time
This section covers the changes in the survey questionnaire over time. The years in which the survey didn’t
take place (1988, 1996 and 2006) are excluded from this analysis. The results are presented through a series
of diagrams. In these diagrams a green rectangle signifies that a particular parameter or question was
included in a given year. A white box indicates that the question or parameter was not included and a grey
rectangle represents a point in time for which there is no data but it is assumed that the question or
category remained the same. Red lines show where parameters were split, merged with another or
changed. Additional notes are given to indicate for example a change in wording or other variation.
Under every diagram there is also a note indicating the nature of each question: single choice, multiple
choice, open response/number or field test/measurement.
This sections is structured in the same manner as the 2017 survey questionnaire (see annex II). The survey has
not changed in its fundamental goal of providing a fair audit on a 500m piece of coast (the Coastwatch survey
unit or s.u.). The questions are divided into 5 sections:
A – Broad context: information about the surveyor, date of survey, known shore designations and access to
the shore.
B – Immediate hinterland use and water discharging from land into the sea (inflows and water quality).
C- The character of splash zone and intertidal with some biota quality indicators.
E – Waste, Litter and oil found anywhere on the shore.
F – Zooming out and standing back: shore cleaning, recent weather and surveyor views on what is special and
threats.
When reviewing the survey questionnaires over 30 years one needs to bear in mind that societies use of
materials has changed and hence what was found as litter, laws and volunteer interests have also evolved and
our questionnaire and data reflect that.
It’s indispensable to keep in mind these changes in order to interpret the data and examine trends. Broadly
this data comes as:
(i) a small core set of parameters which have remained the same over decades.
(ii) a ‘manageable change’ set, which may still be used for a full time line, but with flags where changes
occurred, a question was rephrased or subdivided.
(iii) the shorter time series issue and event triggered set where surveyor comments and asks have contributed
most. As example it was decided to add coffee cups to the 2018 survey as they have rapidly risen in the
‘marine litter stakes’ as measured by looking at the ‘Other’ litter responses. In 3 consecutive surveys,
volunteers submitted these as ‘other’ items in the small litter question E3 and in 2017 single use cups rose to
be the top own initiative litter item counted by surveyors (question E2).
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While the data set here concerns the island of Ireland it should be borne in mind that the negotiations on the
core questionnaire involve agreement between all countries, participating in the survey at that time, with
international coordination and technical coordinator tending to try and minimise change to keep the core set
alive, while imaginative calls for new things to be added are competing for space. In some cases, necessity
dictates decisions.
To help navigation through this documents there are links under every heading. Clicking this link will take you
to data table and graphs for that particular section.
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
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A5 How well do you know your survey unit?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
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Well ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Here on 1st 2nd visit ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: single choice.
A6 From present knowledge - is this unit (or part of) an officially designated area?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
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Yes ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
No ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Don't know ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: single choice.
In 2014 the wording of this question was changed from ‘Is your coastal unit a specially designated are or part or one?’ to ‘From present knowledge - is this unit (or
part of) an officially designated area?’.
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A7 If your unit is an officially designated area, tick which nature &/or human use designations/permits apply
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UNESCO ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
RAMSAR
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Bird Directive or RAMSAR ● ● ● ●
Natura 2000 / Bird Directive ● ● ●
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
National Park
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
National Park or Nature Reserve ● ● ● ●
Nature Reserve ● ● ●
Nature Reserve or Marine Reserve
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
NHA or Area of Scientific Importance ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
CORINE Biotope ● ● ● ● ● ●
Bathing Water ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Used for bathing (not designated) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Shellfish Area1 ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
● ● ● ● ● ●
Commercial Collection of Shellfish ● ● ● ● ●
Area for aquaculture fish or shellfish2
● ● ● ● ●
Used for Aquacult. (not designated)2 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Access for vehicles ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Nitrate Vulnerable Zone ●
Phosphate Sensitive Area ●
Other (general) ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other nature designation
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other use designation ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
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Question type: multiple choice.
In 2009, a transition year where changes on the questionnaire were tried, the list of possible designations was replaced by a box to write the type of designation
surveyors believed applied.
1There have been several changes in the wording of this category: Originally ‘An EC Shellfish area’ »» 1991: ‘Shellfish area (harvested for sale/commercial)’ »» 2002:
‘Shellfish production area’ »» 2003: ‘Designated Shellfish water’ »» 2014: ‘Aquaculture’ »» 2015: ‘Aquaculture (‘Shellfish Water’ »» 2016: ‘Shellfish areas (aquaculture
or wild harvesting).
2 Since 1997 surveyors can indicate if the area is used for bathing or aquaculture, whether or not officially designated.
A8 Is there direct access to your coastal unit from land down to high water?
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Easy ● ● ● ● by vehicle
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
by foot
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
by wheelchair ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Difficult ● ● ● ●
Normally impossible ● ● ● ● Access difficult/ impossible ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Access is prohibited ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
The 4 answer options (which started as access Easy, Difficult, Normally impossible or Prohibited) was changed in 1992 to become more informative and useful.
Instead of subjective easy – there were 2 questions on direct access by foot and by vehicle from hinterland. Difficult and impossible were merged. Wheelchair access
was added in the 2000s with different wordings tried. Since 2009 the wheelchair access question was settled – as from hinterland to high water. However the data
should be used as indicative only as wheelchair users have told us that slipway gradients can be too steep for normal users.
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B1 What is the immediate hinterland mainly devoted to?
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Farmland: Intensive grazing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Farmland: Tillage, horticulture ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Farmland: Rough grazing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Park, woodland, forest ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dunes ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Wetland (bog, marsh, lagoon)3 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Rock or other bare natural sediment4 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Village or town residential ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Tourist resort ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Waste tip/dump5 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Industry, commercial area, or power station6 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Transport 7 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Construction site ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Military zone ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Golf Couse ● ● ● ●
Other hinterland (e.g. golf course) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
Up until 1994 surveyors could only tick one or two options. After 1995 they were instructed to tick up to 5 options if necessary. 3 In 1999 there is a wording change from ‘Bog or marsh’ to ‘Wetland (bog, marsh, lagoon)’. 4 Originally ‘Rock, sand, glacier’ »» 1993: ‘Rock, sand’ »» 2003: ‘Rock, sand, bare natural sediment’. 5 Originally ‘Waste tip’ »» 2010 ‘Waste tip/dump (official and unofficial)’. 6 Originally ‘Industry’ »» 1990: ‘Industry and port industry’ »» 1991: ‘Industry, port industry or power station’. 7 Originally ‘Transport, port’ »» 1990: ‘Transport: road, train, car park, port’.
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B2 Inflow type and size
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River/stream (lagoon) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Coastal lagoon ● ● ● ● Pipe ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seepage ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Drain
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Open drain
● ● Storm drain
● ● Inflow size (S,M,L)
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Volume of inflow: width ● ● ●
Volume of inflow: diameter ● ● ●
Shore level: high ● ●
Shore level: mid ● ●
Shore level: low ● ●
Shore level: subtidal ● ●
Question type: single choice.
Until 1995 details were given for up to 5 inflows, since 1997 for up to 4 inflows.
From 1992 to 1995 coastal lagoons were recorded as separate category, but merged again with rivers/streams as lagoon inflows are often mixed with river water. In
1991 the open drain and storm drain categories were merged as there were too many queries about the definitions.
Inflow width and volume data were dropped as both can vary greatly as the inflow passes over the shore and were replaced by a simple size – small – medium – large
as compared to other inflows of this type in your region. So a subjective impression of size.
The point where the inflow ended was dropped in 1990 (Shore level: high/mid/low/subtidal).
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B2 Inflow quality indicators
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Carries water ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Animal life ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Live fish ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Carried fish this year8 ● ● ● ● ●
Bad smell / Off smell ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Discolouration, scum, froth ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Discolouration ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Scum, froth ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dead fish ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dumped debris/waste9 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Visible sewage or sewage fungus10 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sewage, sewage fungus or sewage/sanitary litter
● ● ●
Sewage/sanitary litter &/or visible sewage ●
Sewage fungus &/or filamentous algae11
●
Oil, petrol or diesel12 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Invasive Alien Species13 ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice. 8 The complete question read: ‘If you know one of the above river/stream or lagoon inflows well, did it carry fish this year?’. 9 Originally ‘Dumped debris (in or beside inflow)’ »» 2014: ‘Dumped waste’ »» 2017: ‘General Waste/litter (not sewage litter) dumped or washed down’. 10 Originally ‘Sewage Fungus’ »» 1990: ‘Sewage/Sewage fungus’ »» 1997: ‘Visible sewage or sewage fungus’. 11 Surveyors can further indicate if the filamentous algae is blanketing. 12 Originally ‘Oil/petrol’ »» 1997: ‘Oil, petrol or diesel’. 13 Since 2015 surveyors can specify if the IAS are seen in water or are growing on banks around the inflow.
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B2 Testing inflows
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Nitrite (NO2) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Nitrate (NO3) 14 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Phosphate15 ● ● ● ● ● ● PH (PO4
3-) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Temperature (oC) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Faecal Streptococci16 ● ● ● ●
Question type: field test / measurement.
14 Nitrate tests were introduced in 1989 and the first year surveyors were asked whether the test was positive or negative. From 1990 to the present day the same
Merck Quant nitrate field test strips were used and surveyors asked to dip test strips into inflow water and read the nitrate level off the supplied colour charts (results
in mg/l NO3).
15 Hach field tests for inflow Phosphate levels (results in mg/l of PO43- ).
16 Faecal streptococci tests which could be incubated in bottle warmers were produced sts with Prof R Russell, Microbiology TCD. Once results were comparable to
standard laboratory 5 tube MPN tests (most probable number), they were produced and used for 4 years, but then dropped due to expense and time required for
training and spot checking for verification.
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B3 If you know the survey unit well, estimate the frequency of sewage pollution incidents
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Never ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Rare ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Occasional ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Frequent ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Usual ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seasonal ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: single choice.
This question has remained unchanged since 1989. Note it is influenced by what surveyors saw when they examined inflows but the sewage question refers to the
whole survey unit with focus on sea water quality.
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C1 Splash zone width
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0m ● ● ●
0-5m ● ● ● 0-1m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
1-5m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
5-50m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
50-250m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
>250m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
Originally, surveyors were asked to ‘Estimate dominant width in a non-uniform area’. In 1999 it was changed to ‘Tick two widths if the area is not uniform’; later, in
2003, it was changed again to ‘Tick several widths if the area is not uniform’.
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C2 What is the splash zone covered in
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Saltmarsh ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Reed bed ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sand, gravel, stones17
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Natural rock/boulder ● ● ● ●
Natural rock ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Bare rock/sand ● ● ●
Building, construction (incl. erosion control) & Rock
● ● ● ●
Building, construction (incl. erosion control) 18 ● ● ● ●
Building, construction (not erosion control)
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other local erosion control ● ●
Hard erosion control (walls, rock armour) 19 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Soft erosion control (man-made e.g. bank) ● ● ● ●
Other vegetation including dune marram, ryegrass ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dunes
● ● ● ●
Other plant habitat
● ● ● ●
Cliff ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
At first, surveyors were requested to ‘Indicate the dominant coverage’. This changed in 1995 to allow them to ‘tick up to 5 boxes’
17 Originally ‘Sand’ »» 1993: ‘Sand, gravel, stones’. 18 Originally ‘Building or construction’ »» 1990: ‘Building or construction (including breakwaters/groynes)’. 19 It was originally phrased as ‘Hard erosion control’ »» 1998: ‘Hard erosion control, incl. groynes etc.’ »» 2003: ‘Hard erosion control (walls, rock armour)’.
26
D1 Intertidal width
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
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87
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90
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91
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92
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93
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00
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01
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17
<5m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
5_50m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
50_250m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
>250m ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
At first the question read ‘If width varies greatly tick two boxes’. It was changed in 2015 to ‘If width varies thick all that apply’.
D2 What is the intertidal surface composed of?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
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7
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0
199
1
199
2
199
3
199
4
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5
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7
199
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199
9
200
0
200
1
200
2
200
3
200
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5
200
7
200
8
200
9
201
0
201
1
201
2
201
3
201
4
201
5
201
6
201
7
Solid rock ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Boulders ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Gravel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sand ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Silt or mud ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other_intertidal ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
Up until 2002 surveyors could tick maximum two categories. After 2003 they could tick up to 4 boxes.
27
D3 Which of the following plants and seaweeds did you find in the intertidal area at time of survey?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
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01
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17
Glasswort Salicornia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Cordgrass Spartina (invasive) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seagrass Zostera20 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Brown or red seaweeds
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Brown, red or green algae ● ● ●
Green algae on mudflats: Patches ● ● ●
Green algae on mudflats: extensive cover/mats ● ● ●
Green seaweed: in patches or thin band ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Green seaweed: carpet cover or thick mats ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dislodged decaying seaweeds of any kind ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other plants or seaweeds / noteworthy ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
20 Originally ‘Eelgrass (Zostera)’; it was changed in 1992 to ‘Seagrass Zostera’; Since 2014, surveyors can tick if they found Zostera ‘growing’ or ‘swept up’.
After initial experimentation with recording of seaweeds, it was settled in 1992 as one category for brown and red seaweeds ( as surveyors had be unsure which was
which earlier). Then 2 categories of green seaweed to pick up the difference between thick matts as eutrophication indicators and typical intertidal green seaweed
patches, often associated with fresh water runoff. Dislodged decaying seaweeds introduced in 1991 remained the same throughout the subsequent timeline.
28
D5 Indicate which of the animals listed below you found alive or dead
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
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89
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90
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92
19
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19
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19
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19
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99
20
00
20
01
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16
20
17
Jellyfish ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Worms or worm casts ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sea anemone ● ● ● ●
Molluscs/Shellfish (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Crustaceans (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Barnacles (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ●
Crabs (alive &/or dead)
● ● ● ●
Sea urchins (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ●
Starfish (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ●
Fish (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seabirds (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seabirds with oil (alive &/or dead)21 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seals (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dolphins (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Cetaceans (alive &/or dead)
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Rats (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Birds of prey (alive &/or dead) ●
Other/noteworthy (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
21 From 1989 to 1994 dead and live oiled seabirds where pooled in one category. In 1997 two separate categories were created for dead oiled seabirds and live oiled
seabirds.
29
D5 Animal counts
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
19
90
19
91
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92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
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00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
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07
20
08
20
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20
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20
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14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Jellyfish22 ● Seabirds alive ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seabirds dead ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seabirds with oil (alive &/or dead) 23 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Seals (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dolphins (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Cetaceans (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Rats (alive &/or dead) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Birds of prey (alive &/or dead) ●
Question type: open response (count / whole number).
22 There were 3 count categories to choose from: 1-9 individuals, 10-50 individuals and more than 50 individuals. 23 From 1989 to 1994 dead and live oiled seabirds where pooled in one category. In 1997 two separate categories were created for dead oiled seabirds and live oiled
seabirds.
30
E1 Large litter items
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
19
90
19
91
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92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
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98
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99
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00
20
01
20
02
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07
20
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20
10
20
11
20
12
20
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14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Landfill Materials (e.g. concrete, rubble, debris...) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Large metal obj. (e.g. aband. vehicles, girders, machines) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Abandoned Vehicles, Girders, Machines
● ● ● ●
Aquaculture trestles & large abandoned aquac. gear
● ● ● ●
Household furnishings ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dumped household refuse in bags or piles ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Ship wreck, or parts of ship wreckage ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dumped crops ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Tyres (half a tyre or more) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other large items ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
Until 1995 information about large litter items was collected separately for the splash zone and the tide mark/intertidal/sea. In 1997 this distinction was removed and
surveyors were instructed to take into account litter found anywhere from start of hinterland down to high water.
Large Metal objects on the shore were divided in 2013 into 2 types vehicles/machines and aquaculture gear like trestles oysters are grown on. Dumped crops were
introduced I 1990 on request of Mediterranean countries where horticulture crop dumping both as protest and to clear fields was considered to be an issue. Tyres
were introduced in 1991 and were later counted as used tyre dumping and tyre traps to catch crabs were identified as growing issues.
31
E2 Litter counts
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
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90
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91
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92
19
93
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94
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95
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99
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00
20
01
20
02
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07
20
08
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20
10
20
11
20
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14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Plastic bottles ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Metal drinks containers (cans) 24 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Glass bottles (drink containers) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Paper/lined paper drink containers 25 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cartons/Tetrapack
● ● ● ●
Bottle lids (drinks) ● ● ● ●
Can holders
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Packing straps & can holders ● Plastic shopping bags ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Lighters ● ● ● ●
Tyres (half a tyre or more=1) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Containers of hazardous ● ● Medical waste ● Other notable items ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: open response (count/whole number).
Since 2014 surveyors can choose to count items just for the first 100m of their s.u. or for the whole 500m (with the exception of tyres that are counted for the whole
500m).
24 In 1991 the items counted under the category ‘Cans’ included spray cans. 25 Originally ‘Paper or lined paper drink containers’ »» 2003: ‘Paper outer drink containers’ »» 2010: ‘Paper drink containers’.
32
E3 Small litter items
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
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05
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
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11
20
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17
Fishing or aquaculture gear 27 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Rope and String
● ● ● ●
Packing straps
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Intact packing straps & beer can holders 28 ● ● ● ● Hard plastic containers ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Foamed polystyrene or polyurethane
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Foamed polystyrene ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Sanitary waste, condoms, nappies 29 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Medical waste, syringes, plasters ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Containers of hazardous substance (not medical) 30 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Other plastics (incl. bottles & bags, but not sanitary ) ● ● Other plastics (not any of the already listed) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Tar ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Oil, petrol, diesel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Tar, oil, petrol/diesel ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Geotextile ●
Textiles, shoes, gloves and clothing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Paper, cardboard and worked wood31 ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Food, fish waste and bones ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Faeces - mammal ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Glass (including drinks) ● ● ● ● Glass (not drinks), including light bulbs ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Cans (including drinks) ● ● ● Cans (not drinks), including sprays ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Paraffin balls ● ● ● ● Other small litter items ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Plastic bottles (including drinks, oil, shampoo, etc.) ● ●
33
Question type: multiple choice.
Until 2002 information about presence of small litter items was collected separately for the splash zone and the tide mark/intertidal/sea. In 2003 this distinction was
removed and surveyors were instructed to take into account litter items found anywhere on the shore.
27 Originally ‘Plastic fishing gear (nets, lines, bags)’ »» 1990: ‘Lost or discarded plastic fishing gear (nets, lines, bags)’ »» 1997: ‘Lost or discarded plastic fishing &
aquaculture gear (nets, lines, bags »» 2003: ‘Fishing or aquaculture gear’ (nets, lines, bags). In 2000 the possibility of specifying the source was added (fishing –nets,
traps-, angling, aquaculture). See next section on ‘Fishing litter’. 28 Originally ‘Intact packing straps and beer can holders’ »» 1990: ‘Packing straps and beer can holders’. 29 Originally ‘Sanitary material’ »» 2003: ‘Sanitary waste’. 30 Containers of potentially hazardous substances (chemical, gas cylinders, etc.). 31 Originally ‘Paper, cardboard, wood’ »» 1993: ‘Paper, cardboard, wood, vegetable waste’ »» 1997: ‘Paper, cardboard, worked wood, vegetable waste’ »» 2003:
‘Paper, cardboard, worked wood’.
E3 Fishing litter
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
198
7
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9
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Fishing or aquaculture gear ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Source: Fishing (traps, nets, etc.) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Source: Traps
● ● ● ●
Source: Nets
● ● ● ●
Source: Angling gear ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Source: Aquaculture ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
34
F1 Has recent weather made the appearance of your coastal unit change?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
198
7
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199
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199
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201
7
Yes, looks cleaner than usual ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Yes, looks worse than usual ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
No, recent weather is insignificant ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Don't know ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: single choice.
This question has remained unchanged since 1989.
F2 Has the shore been cleaned within the last week?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Yes ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
No ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Don't know ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: single choice.
This question has remained unchanged since 1989.
35
F4 Do you have evidence of a serious risk and/or imminent planned change for the worse?
Click here to see data and graphs for this section
19
87
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Erosion ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Flooding ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Beach mining ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Mining/quarrying
● ● ● ● ● ●
Construction/sealing ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Dumping, tipping, infill ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Water pollution: Sewage ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Water pollution: Oil ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Water pollut.: Agricult./ industrial farming ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Water pollution: Industrial pollution ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Water pollution: Radioactivity ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Recreational abuse ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Aquaculture ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
IAS (Invasive Alien Species) ● ● ● ● ●
Loss of Biodiversity ● ● ● ●
Other threat ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Question type: multiple choice.
36
3.3. Data and graphs
This section shows the data extracted from the survey reports in data tables and graphs. All the data is
expressed as percentage of survey units. Thus, N would be the total number of units surveyed each year. This
is true for all data except for the inflow data (that is expressed as % of inflows found), the water quality tests
(that are expressed as % of inflows tested) and the litter and animal counts (that are expressed as average
number of items/individuals per survey unit).
As indicated in the methods, some figures in the data tables will be marked in purple or blue to indicate
possible inaccuracies of up to 0.9%. Throughout the data tables the reader will also find the indicators NA (not
applicable) and ND (no data available). Data tables only include the years for which there is some data.
As can be seen from the questionnaire, the data collected is wide ranging and its use later, as well as
possibility to validate, must be appreciated in that light.
There is hard and semi quantitative data as access to the shore, hinterland character, most intertidal
vegetation and sediment, larger inflows and pipes entering the shore. All should be confirmed if anyone
wanted to visit the same areas.
Results may not be reproducible, as findings can change drastically — e.g. degree of littering, mobile animals
seen, seepage, nitrate levels in inflows etc. Though here too there is some predictability. Wind, rainfall or tide
can form patterns which are liable to recur given similar environmental conditions.
Finally, there are the personal knowledge, such as designation status of the area, and perception questions,
such as threats perceived.
There is a role for each of these questions and the seeming lack of scientific value of a question can be made
up fully by the information gained about surveyor interests and possibilities to cooperate on active remedial
or protective action on a site. Some of the data collected (i.e. with and composition of splash zone or
intertidal, type of hinterland, etc.) can help put other data into context the litter and biodiversity data.
As mentioned before, all the data has been pooled into a searchable database that could be easily corrected
or expanded if needed.
37
A1 Coast surveyed
75
9
0
28
70
12
39
13
30
13
56
10
11
13
77
70
6
0
13
04
86
6 10
71
11
89
85
9
81
5
28
0
12
1
40
1 54
7
61
0
56
4
52
5
53
8
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
08
20
09
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Nu
mb
er o
f u
nit
s su
rvey
ed
38
A5 How well do you know your survey unit?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of s.u. 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Well 56.6 67.5 67.4 67.6 69.9 54.0 61.2 57.5 59.5 51.0 47.0 55.8 60.1 68.9 53.7 53.9 62.1 61.2
A little 25.6 19.7 12.0 16.2 17.0 24.0 17.4 24.2 20.2 34.2 30.0 29.0 20.2 16.1 26.9 25.2 22.1 15.1
Here on 1st 2nd visit 13.7 10.9 18.7 13.9 11.3 20.0 13.2 15.4 14.4 9.6 15.0 12.4 18.7 11.2 17.0 17.0 15.8 23.8
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Well A little Here on 1st 2nd visit No reply
39
A7 From present knowledge - is this unit (or part of) an officially designated area?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of s.u. 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Yes 27.4 21.7 24.7 25.7 22.1 23.5 17.0 32.8 48.7 34.5 47.6 51.4 8.4 53.0 58.9 50.6
No 29.4 41.0 31.1 32.4 35.9 39.0 ND 35.8 23.8 35.9 19.5 26.5 4.3 21.3 28.2 28.6
Don't know 21.9 19.7 21.3 14.1 10.9 23.7 ND 31.3 17.2 15.1 28.4 16.5 2.7 20.4 11.2 20.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 - 2004-09 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Yes No Don't know No reply
40
A7 If your unit is an officially designated area, tick which nature &/or human use designations/permits apply
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of s.u. 19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.3 ND 3.2 0.6 3.4 16.8 9.9 8.7
RAMSAR NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.6 0.9 0.4 4.8 ND 3.2 9.0 9.2 9.0 12.8 9.9
Bird directive/RAMSAR NA NA NA 3.1 6.2 3.3 5.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Natura 2000 / Bird directive 5.5 4.1 6.4 NA NA NA NA 14.9 9.7 13.5 12.5 14.3 28.2 38.0 31.3 32.4 39.6 33.8
National Park NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.7 0.0 1.1 0.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7
National Park/Nature Reserve NA NA NA 3.2 1.9 2.3 5.4 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Nature Reserve 7.4 4.5 4.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Nature Reserve/ Marine Reserve NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6.2 7.9 2.6 3.9 1.7 NA NA NA NA NA NA
NHA/Area of Scientific Importance (ASSI) 11.6 10.7 12.7 12.0 2.3 6.2 12.5 NA NA NA NA NA 12.7 12.4 NA NA NA NA
CORINE biotope NA NA NA 1.3 1.4 2.3 2.0 3.2 2.7 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Other nature designation NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 11.8 22.6 13.4 18.0 9.9 ND ND ND ND ND 14.7
Bathing Water 7.3 6.2 14.1 14.6 12.3 13.0 15.9 13.7 17.2 23.5 7.1 25.9 7.0 7.4 20.3 19.9 18.3 19.1
Shellfish Area 4.0 2.3 5.3 8.2 6.5 7.5 12.5 NA NA NA NA NA 2.5 7.6 6.2 6.2 7.6 9.1
Area where shellfish are commerc. collected NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 5.4 9.4 7.8 13.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Area for aquaculture fish or shellfish NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3.9 5.9 6.1 4.5 7.4 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Access for vehicles NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6.0 4.0 4.9 9.0 9.3 18.6
Other use designation NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND ND ND ND ND 8.9
Other (general) 3.5 4.0 5.0 5.5 9.4 8.5 18.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
41
0.5 0.3 0.0
3.2
0.6
3.4
16.8
9.98.7
0,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,0
10,0
12,0
14,0
16,0
18,0%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
UNESCO - Biosphere Reserve
1.60.9
0.4
4.8
0.0
3.2
9.0 9.2 9.0
12.8
9.9
0,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,0
10,0
12,0
14,0
% o
f su
rey
un
its
RAMSAR
5,5
4,1 6
,4
14
,9
9,7
13
,5
12
,5 14
,3
28
,2
38
,0
31
,3
32
,4
39
,6
33
,8
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
35,0
40,0
45,0
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Natura 2000 / Bird directive
42
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
RAMSAR & Natura 2000/Bird directive
RAMSAR Bird directive/RAMSAR Natura 2000 / Bird directive
0,7
0,0
1,1
0,1
0,4
0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0
0,2
1,7
0,0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,0
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,8
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
National Park
0123456789
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
National Park & Nature Reserve & Marine Reserve
National Park National Park/Nature Reserve Nature Reserve Nature Reserve/ Marine Reserve
43
11,610,7
12,7 12,0
2,3
6,2
12,5 12,7 12,4
0,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,0
10,0
12,0
14,0%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Nat. Heritage Area (NHA)/Area of Scientific Importance (ASSI)
1,3 1,4
2,32,0
3,2
2,7
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
3,0
3,5
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
CORINE biotope
7,3
6,2
14
,1
14
,6
12
,3
13
,0 15
,9
13
,7
17
,2
23
,5
7,1
25
,9
7,0 7,4
20
,3
19
,9
18
,3
19
,1
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Bathing Water
44
4,0
2,3
5,3
8,2
6,5
7,5
12
,5
2,5
7,6
6,2
6,2
7,6
9,1
0,5
5,4
9,4
7,8
13
,1
3,9
5,9 6,1
4,5
7,4
0,0
2,0
4,0
6,0
8,0
10,0
12,0
14,0%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Shellfish Areas & Commercial collection & Aquaculture
Shellfish Area
Area where shellfish are commercially collected
Area for aquaculture fish or shellfish
45
A8 Is there direct access to your coastal unit from land down to high water?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of s.u.
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Easy 71.4 77.6 63.8 77.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
by vehicle NA NA NA NA 9.5 12.4 ND 33.5 21.4 23.6 28.0 24.9 26.4 30.3 27.4 30.7 31.4 37.0
by foot NA NA NA NA 70.3 73.4 ND 48.8 62.6 61.5 54.0 60.5 78.6 76.6 91.0 87.1 91.4 89.0
by wheelchair NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 10.0 8.0 10.5 14.2 10.3 13.9
Difficult 19.6 17.0 12.8 16.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Normally impossible 5.4 3.4 6.3 6.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Access difficult/ impossible NA NA NA NA 15.4 12.6 ND 12.6 9.4 10.8 11.0 10.7 16.7 20.1 12.0 19.9 12.2 11.5
Access is prohibited 1.5 0.4 0.4 0.0 2.3 0.4 ND ND ND 1.5 ND ND 3.2 3.8 2.5 1.6 0.2 0.9
46
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1989 1990 1991 1992
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Easy Difficult Normally impossible Access is prohibited
47
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2004-09 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
by vehicle by foot by wheelchair Access difficult/ impossible Access is prohibited
48
B1 What is the immediate hinterland mainly devoted to?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Farmland: Intensive grazing 19.3 25.2 26.5 18.7 22.8 25.6 32.4 21.7 26.8 18.9 ND 18.3 15.9 11.7 15.7 15.2 15.0 22.7
Farmland: Tillage, horticulture 16.6 19.7 14.9 11.9 16.3 11.8 24.2 19.2 10.3 8.9 ND 9.8 14.4 11.3 11.9 12.5 14.8 15.2
Farmland: Rough grazing 45.4 42.9 36.4 38.6 36.4 40.8 48.7 45.6 47.3 42.2 ND 43.6 44.2 26.3 30.8 27.9 29.1 30.3
Park, woodland, forest 7.4 4.4 4.2 5.3 2.9 4.9 19.7 5.0 7.3 7.1 ND 6.0 17.5 9.3 16.0 14.1 14.6 16.2
Dunes 13.0 11.2 14.1 14.3 12.6 12.2 63.5 15.7 15.8 22.2 ND 21.9 33.7 21.2 25.0 23.2 27.2 24.7
Wetland (bog, marsh, lagoon) 6.4 7.0 9.0 8.0 4.1 4.4 9.1 9.6 12.2 15.0 ND 16.9 18.3 8.8 14.2 9.1 8.1 11.0
Rock or other bare natural sediment 6.4 8.1 6.9 4.0 9.5 11.9 6.9 26.5 26.9 36.7 ND 32.1 26.7 22.1 18.6 20.8 14.8 16.4
Village or town residential 20.3 17.0 11.2 14.0 14.8 13.9 15.0 21.7 27.0 24.3 ND 22.4 31.4 34.0 46.0 35.9 37.0 35.1
Tourist resort 9.3 7.0 5.6 6.4 6.1 5.4 6.8 10.9 17.4 17.1 ND 14.3 13.6 15.5 18.9 13.2 11.8 16.9
Waste tip/dump 2.0 1.4 1.8 0.9 1.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.8 1.9 1.3 2.3 0.7 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.9
Industry, commercial area, or power station 2.3 1.3 0.9 2.3 7.4 4.1 1.8 4.8 2.9 2.0 ND 1.7 3.9 4.6 6.8 5.6 5.0 7.2
Transport 2.6 10.1 12.9 8.7 10.1 16.0 9.8 20.7 27.9 31.0 ND 26.6 30.6 23.0 36.4 37.7 38.7 58.9
Construction site 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.2 2.5 ND 2.3 1.3 0.4 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.1
Military zone NA NA NA ND 0.1 0.4 0.1 0.8 3.9 2.8 ND 1.4 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Golf Couse NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 8.8 ND 8.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Other hinterland (e.g. golf course) 7.5 1.7 2.3 0.4 ND ND ND 4.8 4.2 NA NA NA 21.6 20.1 14.8 24.6 19.7 22.1
49
19
,3
25
,2
26
,5
18
,7
22
,8 25
,6
32
,4
21
,7
26
,8
18
,9
18
,3
15
,9
11
,7 15
,7
15
,2
15
,0
22
,7
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
35,0%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Farmland: Intensive grazing
16
,6 19
,7
14
,9
11
,9
16
,3
11
,8
24
,2
19
,2
10
,3
8,9 9,8
14
,4
11
,3
11
,9
12
,5 14
,8
15
,2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Farmland: Tillage, horticulture
50
45
,4
42
,9
36
,4
38
,6
36
,4 40
,8
48
,7
45
,6
47
,3
42
,2
43
,6
44
,2
26
,3 30
,8
27
,9
29
,1
30
,3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Farmland: Rough grazing
7,4
4,4
4,2 5
,3
2,9
4,9
19
,7
5,0
7,3
7,1
6,0
17
,5
9,3
16
,0
14
,1
14
,6 16
,2
0
5
10
15
20
25
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Park, woodland, forest
13
,0
11
,2 14
,1
14
,3
12
,6
12
,2
63
,5
15
,7
15
,8 22
,2
21
,9
33
,7
21
,2 25
,0
23
,2 27
,2
24
,7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Dunes
51
6,4 7,0
9,0
8,0
4,1 4,4
9,1 9,6
12
,2
15
,0 16
,9 18
,3
8,8
14
,2
9,1
8,1
11
,0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Wetland (bog, marsh, lagoon)
6,4 8
,1
6,9
4,0
9,5 1
1,9
6,9
26
,5
26
,9
36
,7
32
,1
26
,7
22
,1
18
,6 20
,8
14
,8
16
,4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Rock or other bare natural sediment
52
20
,3
17
,0
11
,2 14
,0
14
,8
13
,9
15
,0
21
,7 27
,0
24
,3
22
,4
31
,4 34
,0
46
,0
35
,9
37
,0
35
,1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Village or town residential
9,3
7,0
5,6 6
,4
6,1
5,4 6
,8
10
,9
17
,4
17
,1
14
,3
13
,6 15
,5
18
,9
13
,2
11
,8
16
,9
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Tourist resort
2,0
1,4
1,8
0,9
1,5
0,7 0
,8
0,8
1,4
1,8 1,9
1,3
2,3
0,7
1,2 1
,3 1,3
1,9
0
1
1
2
2
3
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Waste tip/dump
53
2,3
1,3
0,9
2,3
7,4
4,1
1,8
4,8
2,9
2,0
1,7
3,9
4,6
6,8
5,6
5,0
7,2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Industry, commercial area, or power station
2,6
10
,1 12
,9
8,7 10
,1 16
,0
9,8
20
,7 27
,9 31
,0
26
,6 30
,6
23
,0
36
,4
37
,7
38
,7
58
,90
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Transport
54
0,3 0
,4 0,6
0,1
0,4 0
,5
0,3
1,0
2,2
2,5
2,3
1,3
0,4
1,8
0,7
1,0 1
,1
0
1
1
2
2
3
3%
of
surv
ey u
nit
s
Construction site
55
B2 Inflow type and size
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of inflows
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
River/stream (lagoon) 25.6 24.5 35.1 21.3 32.0 38.8 26.8 26.8 37.6 36.2 36.0 34.3 39.8 28.1 23.3 31.7 21.4 29.7
Pipe 25.0 18.7 22.1 ND 16.0 17.7 23.2 24.2 20.8 21.5 26.0 21.1 27.3 40.1 27.9 28.5 36.0 28.2
Seepage 16.6 16.1 23.6 13.8 21.0 21.9 18.7 24.2 20.2 23.0 20.7 24.5 20.7 15.9 19.2 18.5 22.6 22.6
Drain NA NA 17.7 14.1 23.0 17.2 26.4 19.4 14.7 16.3 13.1 16.5 12.2 15.9 29.6 21.3 20.0 19.5
Open drain 15.7 15.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Storm drain 17.1 15.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Coastal lagoon NA NA NA ND 4.0 3.1 3.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Total no of inflows 2692 893 755 1202 1135 1691 697 1084 638 738 1316 478 362 416 588 432 491 532
56
26
92
89
3
75
5
12
02
11
35
16
91
69
7
10
84
63
8 73
8
13
16
47
8
0,0
0,0
36
2
41
6 58
8
43
2
49
1
53
2
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000N
um
ber
of
infl
ow
s
57
% of inflows 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Small 55.8 60.6 59.9 58.6 64.4 58.7 60.5 54.6 56.0 64.3
Medium 20.5 22.4 22.7 22.2 26.2 31.5 27.9 25.2 28.7 23.9
Large 7.5 6.4 5.9 6.1 9.4 9.9 9.4 12.0 10.8 7.3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100%
of
infl
ow
s
River/stream Coastal lagoon Pipe Seepage Drain Open drain Storm drain Unspecified
58
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f in
flo
ws
Small Medium Large Unspecified
59
B2 Inflow quality indicators
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of inflows
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Animal life NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 23.8 16.0 12.8 12.8 ND NA 6.1 13.9 6.3 10.2 7.3 6.0
Live fish NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND NA ND ND ND ND 3.7 4.3
Carried fish this year: yes NA NA ND ND 5.6 6.2 3.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Carried fish this year: no NA NA ND ND 13.7 9.6 9.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Bad smell 21.2 14.8 17.2 17.5 15.0 16.3 17.2 13.7 13.0 16.1 9.5 17.4 ND NA 3.3 10.3 5.8 7.6 5.9 4.1
Discolouration/scum/froth NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 17.4 14.9 16.5 13.0 17.6 ND NA 10.2 11.8 6.3 12.3 7.5 8.6
Discolouration 26.6 19.3 20.9 19.3 25.0 22.6 19.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Scum, froth 13.5 11.8 10.9 12.6 10.8 15.6 11.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dead fish 1.5 1.8 2.4 2.3 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.8 0.8 3.0 1.5 3.1 ND NA 0.8 2.2 0.5 0.2 0.6 0.4
Dumped debris/waste 19.6 16.8 17.9 14.0 13.8 18.0 14.3 15.9 14.1 12.5 15.3 15.3 ND NA 5.2 8.7 2.7 6.3 3.9 8.3
Sewage or sewage fungus 13.5 12.2 11.9 12.2 8.0 10.9 10.0 8.4 6.3 6.1 5.5 6.5 ND NA 1.4 3.6 NA NA NA NA
Sewage, sew. fungus or sew. sanitary litter NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3.2 2.1 1.6 NA
Sewage/sanitary litter &/or visible sewage NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3.2
Sewage fungus filamentous algae NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6.6
Oil, petrol, diesel 5.0 2.5 4.8 6.3 3.9 5.4 2.9 2.7 2.4 2.4 2.4 ND ND NA 0.3 1.9 0.3 0.9 0.4 0.2
Invasive Alien Species NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.4 2.1 0.6 2.6
60
23
,8
16
,0
12
,8
12
,8
6,1
13
,9
6,3
10
,2
7,3
6,0
3,7 4,35,6 6,2
3,8
0
5
10
15
20
25
30%
of
infl
ow
sAnimal life and Live fish
Animal life Live fish Carried fish that year
21
,2
14
,8 17
,2
17
,5
15
,0 16
,3
17
,2
13
,7
13
,0
16
,1
9,5
17
,4
3,3
10
,3
5,8 7
,6
5,9
4,1
0
5
10
15
20
25
% o
f in
flo
ws
Bad smell
61
17
,4
14
,9 16
,5
13
,0
17
,6
10
,2 11
,8
6,3
12
,3
7,5 8
,6
26
,6
19
,3 20
,9
19
,3
25
,0
22
,6
19
,8
13
,5
11
,8
10
,9 12
,6
10
,8
15
,6
11
,2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30%
of
infl
ow
sDiscolouration, scum, froth
Discolouration/scum/froth Discolouration Scum, froth
1,5
1,8
2,4
2,3
1,6
1,6
1,9
1,8
0,8
3,0
1,5
3,1
0,8
2,2
0,5
0,2
0,6
0,4
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
% o
f in
flo
ws
Dead fish
19
,6
16
,8 17
,9
14
,0
13
,8
18
,0
14
,3 15
,9
14
,1
12
,5
15
,3
15
,3
5,2
8,7
2,7
6,3
3,9
8,3
0
5
10
15
20
25
% o
f in
flo
ws
Dumped debris/waste
62
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
% o
f in
flo
ws
Sewage, Sewage fungus and Sanitary litter
Sewage or sewage fungus Sewage, sew. Fungus or sewage/sanitary litter
Sewage/sanitary litter &/or visible sewage Sewage fungus filamentous algae
5,0
2,5
4,8
6,3
3,9
5,4
2,9
2,7
2,4 2,4
2,4
0,3
1,9
0,3
0,9
0,4
0,2
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
% o
f in
flo
ws
Oil, petrol, diesel
63
1,4
2,1
0,6
2,6
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f in
flo
ws
Invasive Alien Species
64
B2 Testing inflows
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
NITRATE TESTING RESULTS
% of inflows tested 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Below detection 66.4 60.9 71.5 60.0 48.1 34.9 ND 29.0 43.0 21.8 16.7 68.5 53.1 44.0 34.8 52.5 36.0
10 mg/l NO3 ND 28.1 19.8 12.6 26.1 21.7 ND 25.0 31.0 35.3 61.1 13.0 22.2 27.0 30.4 20.9 21.5
25 mg/l NO3 ND 6.0 3.8 9.5 13.4 24.5 ND 17.0 17.0 26.3 5.6 10.5 16.0 20.0 23.2 17.5 28.5
50 mg/l NO3 ND 3.4 3.0 9.1 5.1 14.2 ND 20.0 6.0 11.5 16.7 4.3 7.4 7.0 9.2 7.9 7.0
>75 mg/l NO3 ND 1.6 1.9 8.8 7.3 4.7 ND 9.0 3.0 5.1 0.0 3.7 1.2 2.0 2.4 1.1 7.0
Number of inflows tested 250 501 ND 285 314 106 ND 336 309 156 18 162 81 304 207 177 214
NITRATE TESTING RESULTS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
% o
f in
flo
ws
test
ed
Below detection 10 mg/l NO3 25 mg/l NO3 50 mg/l NO3 >75 mg/l NO3 Nitrate positive
65
PHOSPHATE TESTING RESULTS
% of inflows 1997 1998 1999
Below detection 24.3 28.0 9.8
10 mg/l 28.0 21.0 39.0
25 mg/l 30.8 33.0 46.3
50 mg/l 8.4 11.0 0.0
>75 mg/l 8.4 7.0 4.9
No of inflows tested 107 186 41
PH TESTING RESULTS
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
PH 5 0.0 7.0 13.3 1.1 4.6 11.2
PH 5.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.3 0.0 3.4
PH 6 4.2 59.6 17.8 31.9 44.6 39.3
PH 6.5 11.1 0.0 2.2 19.8 16.9 9.0
PH 7 66.7 26.3 46.7 33.0 26.2 32.6
PH 7.5 8.3 0.0 2.2 3.3 0.0 2.2
PH 8 6.9 5.3 15.6 0.0 7.7 2.2
PH 8.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
PH 9 0.0 0.0 2.2 3.3 0.0 0.0
PH 9.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
PH 10 2.8 1.8 0.0 4.4 0.0 0.0
No of inflows tested for PH 72 57 45 91 65 89
0
20
40
60
80
100
1997 1998 1999
% o
f in
flo
ws
test
ed
Below detection 10 mg/l 25 mg/l 50 mg/l >75 mg/l
66
PH TESTING RESULTS
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f in
flo
ws
test
ed
PH 5 PH 5,5 PH 6 PH 6.5 PH 7 PH 7.5 PH 8 PH 8,5 PH 9 PH 9,5 PH 10
67
B3 If you know the survey unit well, estimate the frequency of sewage pollution incidents
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Never 25.5 29.2 28.8 24.7 30.9 24.6 25.5 21.5 18.1 21.1 17.2 26.0 28.5 19.3 24.5 19.0 29.5 22.8
Rare 12.7 14.3 9.4 14.2 10.6 13.7 14.3 15.0 22.7 14.8 19.2 15.6 19.0 26.3 23.6 17.9 27.4 17.9
Occasional 4.4 6.2 6.3 3.1 4.2 4.1 4.4 6.4 10.6 5.6 9.1 4.4 6.2 7.4 4.0 10.0 9.1 11.5
Frequent 5.7 3.7 5.7 2.7 2.7 3.5 3.8 4.2 4.0 4.1 2.6 3.4 1.0 1.6 0.8 2.5 2.9 3.8
Usual 3.6 2.8 2.6 1.7 3.2 1.0 4.8 5.0 1.8 1.2 1.9 0.9 0.5 1.2 0.8 4.9 1.7 1.3
Seasonal 1.8 1.2 0.2 3.0 0.9 1.4 2.0 1.7 0.9 0.9 0.6 1.4 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.7 0.2 0.2
Number of responses to the question ND 652 ND ND ND ND 387 ND 505 ND ND ND 217 278 329 304 372 305
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
% o
f re
spo
nse
s
Never Rare Occasional Frequent Usual Seasonal
68
C1 Splash zone width
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
0m 7.0 5.0 5.0 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
0-5m 38.2 37.3 46.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
0-1m NA NA NA 10.3 6.6 11.2 9.0 10.0 8.8 18.0 9.9 21.1 15.9 16.0 16.0 24.6 30.9
1-5m NA NA NA 33.8 29.5 42.2 45.0 49.0 47.8 42.0 53.4 46.5 51.8 55.5 50.0 57.1 61.5
5-50m 40.5 33.5 30.9 37.0 41.6 32.9 40.0 35.0 48.3 32.0 45.0 39.6 35.3 43.0 45.9 41.9 35.5
50-250m 5.2 8.7 5.8 6.1 5.7 7.2 6.0 6.0 8.0 6.0 8.4 10.3 10.4 6.6 6.4 7.2 5.1
>250m 1.8 2.0 1.7 2.5 0.8 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.9 2.0 1.0 5.9 1.8 6.3 2.1 1.5 0.8
69
C2 What is the splash zone covered in
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Saltmarsh 8.2 7.5 9.0 4.2 2.2 5.7 6.1 ND 4.6 4.9 ND 4.0 9.5 7.8 8.2 8.7 6.3 9.8
Reed bed 2.9 2.9 4.9 3.4 1.4 2.8 3.0 ND 4.6 4.7 ND 2.8 4.6 3.8 5.4 5.5 2.7 4.0
Sand, gravel, stones NA NA NA 37.8 51.7 53.7 52.4 ND 40.2 69.6 ND 69.5 82.0 70.5 75.9 57.8 69.7 71.1
Natural rock/boulder NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 44.3 35.6 33.7 43.2
Natural rock NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 18.7 39.7 ND 41.3 36.8 35.3 NA NA NA NA
Bare rock/sand 63.9 63.2 64.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Building, construc. (incl. erosion control) & Rock NA NA NA 32.3 19.8 16.7 15.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Building, construction (incl. erosion control) 7.2 5.7 9.2 NA NA NA NA ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Building, construction (not erosion control) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 5.0 9.2 7.3 8.1 5.9 8.0 9.6 9.8 6.1 10.4
Other local erosion control NA NA NA NA 0.2 3.6 3.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Hard erosion control (walls, rock armour) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 3.0 13.4 12.4 14.6 33.2 30.9 39.0 38.7 42.7 44.9
Soft erosion control (e.g. bank) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 7.9 8.0 7.8 9.1
Other vegetation incl.dune marram, ryegrass 15.4 12.6 14.1 13.0 4.2 10.5 10.8 ND 6.4 24.9 ND 23.6 33.4 20.7 NA NA NA NA
Dunes NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 24.9 23.6 24.0 22.6
Other plant habitat NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 8.2 19.7 15.2 20.6
Cliff NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 18.9 21.1 17.0 23.8
70
D1 Intertidal width
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1998 1999 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
<5m 11.8 8.3 12.2 13.5 6.0 7.9 11.5 13.1 15.6 16.5 12.2 12.5 14.1 11.2 14.3
5_50m 43.2 43.8 44.0 4.6 39.4 39.7 49.0 49.0 37.5 40.9 46.2 48.9 47.3 51.6 52.1
50_250m 27.3 31.1 28.0 33.2 39.3 31.7 26.0 31.1 35.7 39.1 36.3 34.9 35.1 34.5 35.3
>250m 17.5 12.9 13.1 21.6 15.3 20.6 11.7 12.1 14.3 19.8 19.5 24.2 21.2 20.0 18.5
D2 What is the intertidal surface composed of?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Solid rock 28.2 29.0 25.8 24.0 13.9 25.8 ND 26.7 25.6 ND 25.1 33.9 37.1 30.8 33.7 29.7 37.7
Boulders 24.4 16.2 13.2 19.2 11.1 28.0 ND 29.9 28.3 ND 22.3 36.2 34.9 40.2 35.3 35.0 39.4
Gravel 30.4 27.8 27.8 24.3 20.4 30.7 ND 26.4 34.0 ND 37.6 48.6 37.6 51.2 46.2 47.8 48.7
Sand 37.9 38.7 43.9 48.0 33.2 45.8 ND 44.0 44.4 44.8 47.7 75.6 68.3 75.9 71.7 73.7 75.3
Silt or mud 28.7 26.0 29.4 24.8 19.3 32.0 12.0 25.6 20.9 25.7 21.9 34.7 29.7 29.0 30.3 33.5 33.4
Other_intertidal 6.9 3.1 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.7 ND 4.0 5.9 ND 4.5 12.1 8.0 7.7 6.9 8.2 10.9
71
D3 Which of the following plants and seaweeds did you find in the intertidal area at time of survey?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Glasswort Salicornia NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 9.3 6.0 8.9 7.4 11.0 9.8
Cordgrass Spartina (invasive) 15.4 17.0 10.9 16.8 7.1 10.7 ND ND 6.2 3.8 ND 8.7 10.8 9.9 8.5 10.9 12.5
Seagrass Zostera (Eelgrass) 12.3 15.3 6.8 13.5 7.4 16.5 ND ND 11.1 9.1 ND 6.2 12.4 10.4 10.5 11.2 18.1
Zostera growing NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 5.8 5.8 7.4 10.2
Zostera swept up NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 7.1 6.5 6.1 11.9
Brown or red seaweeds NA NA NA 17.4 38.4 50.1 ND ND 46.3 54.0 ND 77.6 76.1 75.6 67.9 65.9 68.3
Brown, red or green algae 52.7 44.9 47.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Green algae on mudflats: Patches (up to 3m) 10.7 10.2 8.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Green algae on mudflats: extensive cover 5.4 5.6 5.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Green seaweed: in patches or thin band NA NA NA 33.8 19.9 29.6 ND ND 28.1 29.1 ND 47.3 42.2 58.5 53.3 52.4 56.6
Green seaweed: carpet cover or thick mats NA NA NA 17.4 3.7 14.7 ND ND 7.0 5.2 ND 24.2 15.5 17.0 23.6 18.1 17.7
Dislodged decaying seaweeds of any kind NA NA ND 1.5 19.5 27.2 ND ND 39.0 36.4 48.5 53.2 56.2 64.7 62.9 68.4 76.2
Other plants or seaweeds / noteworthy NA NA NA ND 4.0 12.0 ND ND 13.6 7.1 ND NA NA 5.3 13.6 12.0 15.8
72
D5 Indicate which of the animals listed below you found alive or dead
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Jellyfish 11.2 4.8 12.6 ND 11.6 14.4 ND ND 4.0 8.8 6.6 ND 5.7 19.3 16.3 9.1 15.2 10.4
Sea anemone NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 20.1 24.5 23.6 23.0
Worms or worm casts 35.6 34.9 34.4 ND 33.1 38.4 ND ND 29.6 29.0 31.8 ND 42.7 41.2 49.1 46.2 51.4 47.5
Molluscs alive 47.2 41.3 42.7 ND 36.1 40.1 ND ND 40.2 44.7 45.5 ND 44.2 44.4 47.6 46.4 49.9 49.4
Molluscs/seashells dead 30.7 24.3 26.8 ND 23.0 29.9 ND ND 33.0 40.2 40.5 ND 59.9 53.0 75.9 73.0 73.0 71.9
Crustaceans alive 31.1 29.0 36.1 ND 28.0 27.5 ND ND 24.9 32.5 30.8 ND 30.8 38.4 NA NA NA NA
Crustaceans dead 31.3 23.2 26.2 ND 31.9 35.7 ND ND 30.0 33.7 8.5 ND 51.4 49.4 NA NA NA NA
Barnacles alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 56.2 52.9 51.0 54.2
Barnacles dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 24.4 36.2 38.1 39.1
Crabs alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 22.2 23.2 28.2 29.6
Crabs dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 47.3 61.1 52.4 53.0
Sea urchins alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 2.0 2.5 2.5 1.9
Sea urchins dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 2.5 7.6 4.4 5.8
Starfish alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.6 4.0 3.8 2.3
Starfish dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.8 2.7 3.0 2.6
Fish alive 16.3 13.0 17.5 ND 11.1 13.5 ND 16.3 12.2 11.6 8.5 ND 6.7 17.5 12.0 15.2 14.3 14.2
Fish dead 5.4 4.5 5.2 ND 3.3 2.8 ND ND 4.4 4.2 3.9 ND 4.6 2.8 3.8 3.6 2.9 2.6
------------------Continues on next page------------------
73
------------------Continuation form previous page------------------
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Seabirds alive 67.2 66.0 70.8 65.3 8.8 61.7 ND ND 54.3 64.1 56.4 64.8 77.4 78.5 84.8 80.6 77.3 81.3
Seabirds dead 12.7 7.2 7.4 4.4 5.4 5.7 ND ND 9.6 7.3 8.5 8.9 10.5 11.2 2.8 6.3 6.9 5.8
Seabirds with oil alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0
Seabirds with oil dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Seals alive 9.4 4.1 5.8 3.5 2.1 3.3 ND ND 1.8 4.9 5.8 5.0 5.9 5.6 6.8 6.7 6.5 6.8
Seals dead 1.1 1.1 1.4 0.4 0.2 0.7 ND ND 0.7 0.9 1.6 1.0 1.8 1.4 0.7 1.1 1.0 1.1
Dolphin alive 0.4 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.0 0.5 ND 4.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dolphin dead 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.1 ND ND 0.0 0.3 ND 0.4 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Cetaceans alive NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.8 0.4 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.9
Cetaceans dead NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.2 1.0 0.9
Rats alive 4.6 3.1 3.1 1.7 8.6 4.6 ND ND 1.4 4.7 3.4 5.0 1.0 1.8 0.8 2.0 1.9 1.7
Rats dead 1.2 0.7 1.5 ND 5.0 1.2 ND ND 0.8 0.8 1.9 0.9 1.0 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.8 0.8
Birds of prey alive NA NA NA ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Birds of prey dead NA NA NA ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oiled birds (dead and alive) yes 1.2 0.3 ND ND 0.1 0.4 1.6 ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oiled birds (dead and alive) no 69.3 0.8 ND ND ND ND ND ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
74
11
,2
4,8
12
,6
11
,6
14
,4
4,0
8,8
6,6
5,7
19
,3
16
,3
9,1
15
,2
10
,4
0
5
10
15
20
25
% o
f s
urv
ey u
nit
s
Jellyfish
12
,68
7,2
2
7,4
0
4,4
2 5,4
4
5,6
6
9,5
8
7,2
8 8,4
9
8,9
5 10
,54
11
,24
2,8
0
6,3
4
6,8
6
5,8
5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
% o
f s
urv
ey u
nit
s
Dead Seabirds
75
9,4
1
4,1
4
5,8
0
3,5
0
2,0
8 3,2
7
1,8
5
4,8
6 5,8
0
4,9
7 5,9
1
5,6
2 6,7
5
6,7
0
6,4
8
6,7
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
% o
f s
urv
ey u
nit
s
Seals alive
1,1
1
1,0
6
1,4
0
0,4
4
0,2
0
0,7
3
0,6
9 0,9
3
1,6
0
0,9
9
1,8
0
1,4
1
0,6
6
1,0
9
0,9
5 1,1
3
0,0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1,0
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,8
2,0
% o
f s
urv
ey u
nit
s
Seals dead
76
D5 Animal counts
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
Average no per s.u. 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Live Seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 19.561 15.360 8.522 13.920 24.553 30.532 27.105 27.605 27.147 29.734
Dead Seabirds ND 0.088 0.140 ND ND 0.196 0.186 1.598 0.246 0.082 0.135 0.044 0.074 0.090 0.168
Live oiled seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.036 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.008 0.000
Dead oiled seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 0.002 0.000 0.252 0.001 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
Live Seals 0.035 0.038 0.110 ND 0.047 0.281 0.247 ND 0.207 0.252 0.149 0.079 0.181 0.137 0.117
Dead Seals 0.004 0.002 0.009 ND 0.005 0.008 0.020 0.016 0.026 0.018 0.024 0.007 0.011 0.017 0.011
Live Dolphins 0.002 0.020 0.031 ND 0.003 0.000 0.100 0.336 0.152 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dead Dolphins 0.001 0.001 0.002 ND ND 0.000 0.003 ND 0.004 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Live Cetaceans NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.015 0.004 0.005 0.005 0.013 0.015
Dead Cetaceans NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.008 0.000 0.005 0.002 0.010 0.009
Live Rats 0.017 0.153 0.115 ND ND 0.038 0.285 ND 0.206 0.013 0.024 0.012 0.014 0.029 0.055
Dead Rats ND 0.050 0.014 ND ND 0.014 0.027 ND 0.036 0.010 0.006 0.003 0.002 0.008 0.017
Live birds of prey ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dead birds of prey ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oiled seabirds (dead or alive) ND 0.003 0.018 ND ND 0.003 0.010 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
77
Total no of individuals counted 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Live Seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 16940 16451 10133 9800 9551 15205 16453 15238 14252 15759
Dead Seabirds ND 89 193 ND ND 170 199 148 173 32 67 27 41 47 89
Live oiled seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 1 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 4 0
Dead oiled seabirds NA NA NA NA NA 2 0 300 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Live Seals 48 38 152 ND 61 243 265 ND 146 98 74 48 100 72 62
Dead Seals 6 2 13 ND 6 7 21 19 18 7 12 4 6 9 6
Live Dolphins 3 20 42 ND 4 0 107 400 107 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dead Dolphins 1 1 3 ND ND 0 3 ND 3 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Live Cetaceans NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 2 3 3 7 8
Dead Cetaceans NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3 0 3 1 5 5
Live Rats 23 155 159 ND ND 33 305 ND 145 5 12 7 8 15 29
Dead Rats ND 51 19 ND ND 12 29 ND 25 4 3 2 1 4 9
Live birds of prey ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Dead birds of prey ND NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oiled seabirds (dead or alive) ND 3 25 ND ND 3 11 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
78
19
,56
1
15
,36
0
8,5
13
,92
0
24
,55
3 30
,53
2
27
,10
5
27
,60
5
27
,14
7
29
,73
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Live Seabirds
0,0
88
0,1
40
0,1
96
0,1
86
0,1
24
0,2
46
0,0
82
0,1
35
0,0
44 0,0
74
0,0
90
0,1
68
0,0
0,1
0,1
0,2
0,2
0,3
0,3
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Dead Seabirds
79
0,0
35
0,0
38
0,1
10
0,0
47
0,2
81
0,2
47
0,2
07
0,2
52
0,1
49
0,0
79
0,1
81
0,1
37
0,1
17
0,0
0,1
0,1
0,2
0,2
0,3
0,3
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Live Seals
0,0
04
0,0
02
0,0
09
0,0
05 0
,00
8
0,0
20
0,0
16
0,0
26
0,0
18
0,0
24
0,0
07 0
,01
1
0,0
17
0,0
11
0,00
0,01
0,01
0,02
0,02
0,03
0,03
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Dead Seals
80
1 0 0 0
14
0 0 0
4
02 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
44
3
25
3
11
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1987 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 - 2002-11 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Tota
l nu
mb
er o
f in
div
idu
als.
Oiled seabirds dead and alive
Live oiled seabirds Dead oiled seabirds Oiled seabirds (dead or alive)
30
0
81
E1 Large litter items
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
LARGE LITTER ITEMS IN THE SPLASH ZONE AND THE TIDE MARK/INTERTIDAL/SEA
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Landfill Materials: splash zone 22.5 18.0 15.3 22.6 18.3 18.1 23.4
Landfill Materials: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 9.7 7.0 6.2 7.3 5.0 9.9 10.3
Large metal objects: splash zone 17.5 18.2 16.4 24.6 18.8 20.3 20.3
Large metal objects: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 11.0 9.8 6.7 7.9 7.5 13.7 7.6
Household furnishings: splash zone 14.8 14.3 13.5 18.2 15.9 18.4 17.0
Household furnishings: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 8.9 6.0 4.7 5.1 5.1 7.6 6.1
Household refuse in bags or piles of rubbish: Splash zone 22.9 20.4 22.7 28.5 21.1 20.9 21.2
Household refuse in bags or piles of rubbish: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 11.6 10.0 8.6 6.0 6.5 7.9 6.9
Ship wreckage, incl. small metal parts: Splash zone 11.1 8.4 12.6 19.0 12.7 13.1 10.9
Ship wreckage, incl. small metal parts: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 9.0 7.0 7.7 7.4 5.7 5.2 5.2
Dumped crops: Splash zone NA NA 6.4 5.2 5.2 3.3 4.0
Dumped crops: Tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA 2.6 1.5 2.4 1.4 0.6
Tyres: splash zone NA NA NA 15.9 16.1 15.5 16.1
Tyres: Tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA NA 4.6 7.9 7.4 7.4
Other: Splash Zone 14.2 ND ND ND NA NA NA
Other: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 12.2 ND ND ND NA NA NA
82
LARGE LITTER ITEMS ANYWHERE ON THE SHORE
1989 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Landfill Materials 32.2 21.1 23.0 26.9 27.2 24.1 22.5 32.8 26.1 18.4 19.0 20.3 18.5 19.6 19.6 24.9
Large metal objects (abandoned vehicles, girders, machines) 28.6 24.9 28.7 24.8 25.4 23.6 20.7 32.5 24.1 17.4 18.8 13.5 NA NA NA NA
Abandoned Vehicles, Girders, Machines NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.3 8.5 8.3 9.2
Household furnishings 23.8 19.6 23.6 21.1 21.5 19.6 17.0 24.1 20.5 13.0 7.7 8.4 8.7 14.3 12.8 11.1
Dumped household refuse in bags or piles of rubbish 34.5 24.3 24.8 25.5 21.6 21.7 19.3 20.2 24.0 12.0 5.4 7.6 6.6 7.2 9.5 6.2
Tyres NA 21.1 19.4 21.4 ND ND ND ND ND ND 25.7 21.3 20.3 23.0 27.4 21.5
Aquaculture gear/trestles NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 5.4 6.9 7.0 4.7
Ship wreck, or parts of ship wreckage 20.1 16.8 16.0 13.9 14.1 12.8 13.6 15.1 15.5 8.0 6.4 3.8 4.0 5.1 7.0 ND
Dumped crops NA 6.5 4.4 4.5 4.0 2.7 3.8 2.9 4.8 1.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Other large items 26.4 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
83
32
,2
21
,1 23
,0
26
,9
27
,2
24
,1
22
,5
32
,8
26
,1
18
,4
19
,0 20
,3
18
,5
19
,6
19
,6
24
,9
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
35,0
1989 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - 2003-10 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Landfill Materials
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Large metal and aquaculture gear
Large metal objects (abandoned vehicles, girders, machines) Abandoned Vehicles, Griders, Machines
Aquaculture trestles and other large abandoned aquaculture gear
84
23
,8
19
,6
23
,6
21
,1
21
,5
19
,6
17
,0
24
,1
20
,5
13
,0
7,7 8,4 8,7
14
,3
12
,8
11
,1
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
1989 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - 2003-10 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Household furnishings
20
,1
16
,8
16
,0
13
,9
14
,1
12
,8 13
,6 15
,1
15
,5
8,0
6,4
3,8 4,0 5
,1
7,0
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
1989 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - 2003-10 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Ship wreck, or parts of ship wrekage
85
6,5
4,4 4,5
4,0
2,7
3,8
2,9
4,8
1,8
0,0
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
5,0
6,0
7,0
1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Dumped crops
21
,1
19
,4 21
,4
25
,7
21
,3
20
,3 23
,0
27
,4
21
,5
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - 2003-10 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Tyres
86
E2 Litter counts
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
Average no of items per s.u.
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
10
20
11
20
12
20
13
20
14
20
15
20
16
20
17
Plastic bottles 15.8 11.5 24.5 20.5 33.5 36.2 23.9 35.4 40.9 27.5 36.4 24.4 50.9 NA 27.0 29.9 14.4 19.4 18.1 18.1
Cans (drinks) 13.9 9.2 20.0 17.3 23.0 19.8 14.6 21.8 19.5 12.9 14.4 ND 10.1 NA 12.1 8.7 7.6 12.0 8.4 10.0
Glass bottles (drinks) NA NA 4.0 4.7 2.6 6.9 5.2 6.8 6.3 5.1 5.4 ND 10.9 NA 2.0 2.8 1.4 2.8 2.5 2.2
Tetrapack NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.5 2.2 2.3 2.3
Paper or lined paper drink containers NA 3.2 7.1 3.7 3.6 4.1 4.0 5.1 4.4 3.8 4.3 ND 1.3 NA 1.2 1.4 NA NA NA NA
Bottle lids NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 5.6 6.0 9.5 11.2
34
,5
24
,3
24
,8
25
,5
21
,6
21
,7
19
,3
20
,2 24
,0
12
,0
5,4 7
,6
6,6 7,2 9
,5
6,2
0,0
5,0
10,0
15,0
20,0
25,0
30,0
35,0
40,0
1989 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 - 2003-10 - 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Dumped household refuse in bags or piles of rubbish
87
Plastic shopping bags NA NA NA NA NA 10.4 10.9 10.2 10.9 9.2 7.7 5.5 2.6 NA 2.1 2.7 1.9 2.6 2.4 2.0
Lighters NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.5 0.4 0.6 0.8
Can holders NA 2.5 1.5 1.3 1.1 0.9 1.3 2.2 2.3 1.4 1.2 ND ND NA 0.3 0.5 NA NA NA NA
Packing straps and beer can holders count 1.3 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Cans count (including drinks, sprays, etc.) 13.9 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Tyres NA NA 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.1 0.9 1.2 1.6 1.4 2.0 ND ND NA 1.8 0.7 0.9 ND ND ND
15
,8
11
,5
24
,5
20
,5
33
,5 36
,2
23
,9
35
,4 40
,9
27
,5
36
,4
24
,4
50
,9
27
,0 29
,9
14
,4 19
,4
18
,1
18
,1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Plastic bottles
88
5,6 6
,0
9,5
11
,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Bottle lids
89
13
,9
9,2
20
,0
17
,3
23
,0
19
,8
14
,6
21
,8
19
,5
12
,9 14
,4
10
,1 12
,1
8,7
7,6
12
,0
8,4 1
0,0
0
5
10
15
20
25
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Cans (drinks)
4,0 4
,7
2,6
6,9
5,2
6,8
6,3
5,1 5,4
10
,9
2,0 2
,8
1,4
2,8
2,5
2,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Glass bottles (drinks)
90
10
,4 10
,9
10
,2 10
,9
9,2
7,7
5,5
2,6
2,1 2
,7
1,9 2
,6
2,4
2,0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 - 2004-09 - 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Plastic shopping bags
2,5
1,5
1,3
1,1
0,9
1,3
2,2 2
,3
1,4
1,2
0,3
0,5
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 - 2004-09 - 2010 2011 2012 2013
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Can holders
91
0,8
0,7
0,6
1,1
0,9
1,2
1,6
1,4
2,0
1,8
0,7
0,9
0
1
1
2
2
3
1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 - 2004-09 - 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Tyres
1,5
2,2 2,3 2,3
3,2
7,1
3,7
3,6 4
,1
4,0
5,1
4,4
3,8 4
,3
1,3
1,2 1,4
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Tetrapack & Paper or lined paper drink containers
Tetrapack Paper or lined paper drink containers
92
E3 Small litter items
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
SMALL LITTER ITEMS IN THE SPLASH ZONE AND THE TIDE MARK/INTERTIDAL/SEA
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999
Plastic fishing gear (nets, line bags): Splash zone 25.5 28.7 37.1 43.4 38.8 31.3 40.7 ND 39.7 47.2
Plastic fishing gear (nets, line bags): Tide mark, intertidal, sea 17.6 16.8 16.0 14.9 12.9 14.4 20.8 ND 22.9 14.4
Intact packing straps & beer can holder: Splash zone 18.4 23.3 25.2 36.7 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Intact packing straps & beer can holder: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 10.6 14.3 9.8 11.5 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Packing straps: splash zone NA NA NA NA 19.7 19.9 30.6 ND 20.7 21.0
Packing straps: tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA NA NA 6.5 8.5 11.6 ND 7.3 5.3
Hard plastic containers: splash zone NA NA NA NA 48.9 46.8 53.1 ND 36.4 41.8
Hard plastic containers: tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA NA NA 16.1 21.6 28.6 ND 14.4 11.3
Polystyrene: Splash zone 27.7 23.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Polystyrene: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 11.4 9.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Polystyrene or polyurethane foam: Splash zone NA NA 37.3 32.9 31.3 28.0 38.4 ND 33.6 36.5
Polystyrene or polyurethane foam: Tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA 12.0 7.0 10.5 9.1 14.2 ND 12.8 10.0
Sanitary material: Splash zone 10.9 15.0 15.5 13.4 14.5 12.4 14.0 ND 14.9 17.5
Sanitary material: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 9.4 9.4 7.7 5.9 11.1 7.1 7.6 ND 6.7 6.6
Medical Waste: Splash zone 4.3 6.5 6.6 6.7 8.6 5.0 7.2 ND 4.3 4.7
Medical Waste: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 2.6 3.7 2.2 2.1 1.6 1.9 2.3 ND 1.4 2.5
Containers ( potentially hazardous): Splash zone 7.3 7.4 10.6 13.9 8.8 9.1 11.2 ND 10.2 14.1
Containers ( potentially hazardous ): Tide mark, intertidal, sea 3.0 4.4 4.1 3.5 4.2 3.1 4.2 ND 4.2 3.6
Other plastics: Splash zone 59.8 56.8 56.9 56.7 54.9 53.0 59.3 ND 46.2 49.8
Other plastics: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 36.9 34.8 26.5 26.7 26.4 28.4 33.7 ND 22.1 14.1
------------------Continues on next page------------------
93
------------------Continuation form previous page------------------
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999
Tar: Splash zone 3.2 3.6 3.5 9.1 5.0 4.0 2.1 NA NA NA
Tar: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 1.5 3.0 2.0 3.2 73.3 1.4 2.4 NA NA NA
Oil, petrol/diesel: Splash zone 6.9 4.1 4.2 7.5 4.4 5.8 5.7 NA NA NA
Oil, petrol/diesel: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 5.6 4.2 2.9 4.4 2.3 2.9 3.1 NA NA NA
Tar, oil, petrol/diesel: Splash zone NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 3.7 8.4
Tar, oil, petrol/diesel: Tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 1.6 2.4
Textiles, shoes, gloves, clothing items: Splash zone 31.6 31.2 32.3 42.8 37.0 35.1 42.9 ND 34.6 45.1
Textiles, shoes, gloves, clothing items: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 17.4 16.8 12.5 10.5 12.6 13.8 16.1 ND 13.5 9.2
Paper, cardboard, wood: Splash zone 46.9 47.7 41.9 49.2 41.4 43.5 48.4 ND 34.1 37.9
Paper, cardboard, wood: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 30.1 33.5 18.3 17.2 18.1 25.2 25.9 ND 14.9 9.3
Food, fish waste and bones: Splash zone 11.4 7.6 12.0 14.9 8.9 10.9 13.3 ND 9.7 10.2
Food, fish waste and bones: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 8.2 6.0 6.2 5.6 3.3 5.4 6.9 ND 4.6 4.2
Faeces (dog or human ): Splash zone 10.7 8.2 6.2 11.1 7.5 8.7 7.5 ND 9.1 11.1
Faeces (dog or human ): Tide mark, intertidal, sea 5.5 6.3 2.4 3.9 1.9 3.0 3.8 ND 3.9 2.5
Glass: Splash zone 37.0 41.3 39.6 41.7 34.9 37.8 42.1 ND 20.4 23.9
Glass: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 24.7 27.1 15.9 17.8 13.1 17.0 22.8 ND 11.7 5.2
Cans: Splash zone 51.9 49.3 58.7 60.6 45.3 48.2 53.8 ND 34.1 37.2
Cans: Tide mark, intertidal, sea 32.9 34.6 24.9 20.5 18.6 21.5 28.2 ND 15.9 8.7
Plastic Bottles: Splash zone NA NA 66.5 68.1 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Plastic Bottles: Tide mark, intertidal, sea NA NA 29.5 24.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA
94
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Fishing or aquaculture gear 42.9 47.4 45.5 37.9 48.4 57.4 49.7 51.0 44.6 51.8 59.3 54.5 76.3 40.4 38.2 40.3 42.8
Rope and String NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 59.1 64.3 68.2 72.3
Packing straps NA NA 24.1 24.0 35.6 31.2 25.1 24.7 19.3 22.7 28.9 28.0 25.1 NA NA NA NA
Intact packing straps and beer can holders NA 40.2 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Hard plastic containers NA NA 56.9 55.9 62.6 49.9 44.2 47.6 51.3 53.1 51.7 51.2 39.6 38.4 46.4 46.6 43.8
Foamed polystyrene NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 26.9 37.3 43.5 35.1 37.2
Foamed polystyrene or polyurethane 41.6 33.3 38.4 32.7 44.6 47.9 39.3 41.7 49.2 41.3 41.6 38.3 NA NA NA NA NA
Sanitary waste, condoms, nappies 18.4 15.2 20.1 15.1 17.6 23.6 18.2 21.0 21.3 20.6 19.8 13.9 12.2 11.9 17.0 14.8 17.4
Medical waste, syringes, plasters 7.7 8.1 10.0 6.1 9.1 8.0 5.2 7.2 6.2 6.7 3.2 2.3 2.4 3.5 7.8 4.6 3.6
Containers of hazardous but not medical substance 12.4 15.7 11.8 11.5 13.2 13.9 13.4 16.8 20.6 16.8 14.0 12.6 9.4 5.1 8.5 8.5 6.6
Other plastics (incl. bottles and bags, but not sanitary litter) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Other plastics(not any of the already listed) 63.2 62.4 66.2 62.7 67.8 55.1 53.7 55.2 58.2 58.1 50.4 44.0 45.2 41.3 59.8 60.1 53.4
Tar 5.0 9.8 6.1 4.9 3.7 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Oil, petrol, diesel 5.9 9.8 7.0 7.3 7.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Tar, oil, petrol, diesel NA NA NA NA NA 6.8 4.7 9.6 5.9 10.2 3.7 1.5 3.2 1.5 3.8 1.9 3.2
Geotextile NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.3
Textiles, shoes, gloves and clothing 37.8 46.6 43.5 41.2 50.6 50.1 43.6 49.8 51.0 53.8 48.1 46.3 46.2 41.3 55.8 46.4 42.1
Paper, cardboard and worked wood 47.6 53.1 50.0 52.4 55.0 46.9 42.1 41.2 48.4 40.9 42.8 7.7 33.1 35.5 42.4 33.9 34.7
Food, fish waste and bones 15.0 18.0 11.5 13.6 16.6 13.4 12.9 12.4 13.5 12.6 12.0 7.7 11.4 11.2 14.1 8.3 7.0
Faeces - mammal 7.4 13.3 9.3 10.5 10.1 11.8 11.4 12.4 11.1 12.5 11.5 14.7 20.1 22.8 23.4 16.6 17.4
Glass (including drinks) 44.8 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Glass (not drinks), including light bulbs NA 45.6 37.9 44.9 50.1 30.9 27.1 26.8 31.1 28.4 19.6 31.4 12.4 8.7 17.4 12.1 11.7
Cans (including drinks) 64.6 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
Cans (not drinks), including sprays NA 63.4 54.5 57.1 61.8 46.7 44.0 41.0 44.5 45.0 31.7 18.0 24.7 14.5 20.7 19.1 14.5
95
42
,9 47
,4
45
,5
37
,9
48
,4 57
,4
49
,7
51
,0
44
,6 51
,8 59
,3
54
,5
76
,3
40
,4
38
,2
40
,3
42
,8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Fishing or aquaculture gear
18
,4
15
,2
20
,1
15
,1 17
,6
23
,6
18
,2
21
,0
21
,3
20
,6
19
,8
13
,9
12
,2
11
,9
17
,0
14
,8 17
,4
0
5
10
15
20
25
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Sanitary waste, condoms, nappies
96
12
,4
15
,7
11
,8
11
,5 13
,2
13
,9
13
,4
16
,8
20
,6
16
,8
14
,0
12
,6
9,4
5,1
8,5
8,5
6,6
0
5
10
15
20
25
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Containers of hazardous but not medical substance
37
,8
46
,6
43
,5
41
,2
50
,6
50
,1
43
,6 49
,8
51
,0 53
,8
48
,1
46
,3
46
,2
41
,3
55
,8
46
,4
42
,1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Textiles, shoes, gloves and clothing
97
26
,9
37
,3 43
,5
35
,1
37
,241
,6
33
,3 38
,4
32
,7
44
,6 47
,9
39
,3
41
,7 49
,2
41
,3
41
,6
38
,3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Foamed Polystyrene and Foamed Polyurethane
Foamed polystyrene Foamed polystyrene or polyurethane
5,0
9,8
6,1
4,9
3,7
5,9
9,8
7,0 7,3 7,6
6,8
4,7
9,6
5,9
10
,2
3,7
1,5
3,2
1,5
3,8
1,9
3,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
aver
age
nu
mb
er p
er s
.u.
Tar & Oil, petrol, diesel
Tar Oil, petrol, diesel Tar, oil, petrol, diesel
98
E3 Fishing litter
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
SOURCE OF FISHING or AQUACULTURE LITTER
2000 2001 2002 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Fishing (traps, nets, etc.) 81.0 ND 79.0 46.3 46.4 NA NA NA NA
Traps NA NA NA NA NA 10.5 10.1 8.6 10.9
Nets NA NA NA NA NA 21.9 24.3 27.0 27.9
Aquaculture 11.0 ND 16.0 8.5 10.4 6.8 7.2 12.8 12.6
Angling gear 8.0 ND 5.0 3.1 19.5 15.0 13.6 11.6 12.6
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2000 2001 2002 2003 - 2004-09 - 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Sources of fishing/aquaculture litter
Fishing (traps, nets, etc.) Traps Nets Aquaculture Angling gear
99
F1 Has recent weather made the appearance of your coastal unit change?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Yes, looks cleaner than usual 10.2 18.0 14.4 13.0 16.9 12.2 14.8 12.2 10.8 13.7 14.2 10.7 9.9 16.6
Yes, looks worse than usual 8.2 9.0 14.1 7.1 7.5 5.5 5.8 7.9 6.9 7.6 5.6 9.4 6.3 10.2
No, recent weather is insignificant 54.3 59.0 45.9 54.1 58.3 60.5 53.8 49.5 55.8 57.2 50.6 58.2 61.5 47.5
Don't know 10.1 14.0 15.0 11.3 11.9 18.7 17.9 ND 26.5 19.1 26.0 19.0 20.0 24.7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
% o
f s
urv
ey u
nit
s
Did recent weather affect the appearance fo the s.u.?
Yes, looks cleaner than usual Yes, looks worse than usual No, recent weather is insignificant Don't know No reply
100
F2 Has the shore been cleaned within the last week?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Yes 2.9 2.0 2.7 3.6 4.4 3.3 1.8 3.5 3.9 12.0 8.7 9.2 7.8 14.2
No 65.0 ND 55.3 ND ND 72.6 75.2 64.9 64.8 56.4 41.2 53.3 58.1 44.0
Don't Know 9.4 ND 13.5 ND ND ND 14.8 31.5 31.4 28.9 46.8 34.2 32.8 41.7
2,9
2,0 2
,7 3,6 4
,4
3,3
0,0
0,0
0,0
1,8
3,5
0,0
0,0
0,0
3,9
12
,0
8,7 9
,2
7,8
14
,2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Shore clean-ups
101
F4 Do you have evidence of a serious risk and/or imminent planned change for the worse?
Click here to see survey questionnaire for this section
% of survey units 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Erosion 13.8 14.9 21.0 17.7 21.1 21.3 29.3 27.3 17.0 16.4 17.2 26.7 17.2 22.8 23.7 29.1 31.2
Flooding NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1.8 2.7 3.5 5.1 6.2 7.6
Mining/quarrying NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3.3 4.9 0.3 1.3 0.2 0.9
Beach mining 4.2 1.7 2.9 2.6 2.9 3.0 1.8 1.7 2.4 1.7 2.9 NA NA NA NA NA NA
Construction/sealing 1.1 0.8 2.3 4.4 2.4 2.5 3.8 4.3 4.3 6.2 8.4 4.1 1.6 1.3 2.7 0.6 1.3
Dumping, tipping, infill 17.5 7.6 9.3 7.7 11.0 10.3 15.6 10.8 9.8 7.3 11.1 7.5 4.8 3.6 6.0 3.7 4.6
Water pollution: Sewage 16.2 9.6 11.1 10.8 7.6 8.1 17.1 10.5 11.1 8.1 5.7 1.3 4.2 6.9 11.8 4.8 9.5
Water pollution: Oil 3.8 0.7 1.3 1.0 1.0 1.9 2.4 0.5 1.4 2.8 2.6 1.3 3.0 0.8 2.9 0.4 0.6
Water pol.: Agricult/ industrial farming 5.1 2.2 6.4 3.3 0.8 2.4 4.2 3.0 3.2 3.1 1.3 8.2 3.4 4.3 3.8 3.2 4.3
Water pollution: Industrial pollution 6.6 2.0 1.7 1.5 0.6 1.0 2.7 0.7 1.4 2.2 1.3 1.3 3.2 2.1 2.2 0.8 1.1
Water pollution: Radioactivity 0.8 0.9 1.5 2.9 0.2 1.5 1.0 0.6 2.1 0.4 0.6 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 NA NA
Recreational abuse 5.5 3.5 4.5 5.8 2.3 3.8 8.6 10.9 7.6 6.0 9.7 3.1 8.4 8.4 11.6 12.4 7.4
Aquaculture NA NA 2.0 0.9 2.4 2.5 1.1 2.8 2.2 2.1 1.7 1.8 6.6 4.3 3.3 1.6 1.7
IAS (Invasive Alien Species) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA ND 5.1 6.5 2.3 4.6
Loss of Biodiversity NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 4.8 5.6 2.7 4.1
Other threat 3.0 1.6 1.7 0.9 2.4 2.0 3.1 1.3 2.5 2.1 2.7 NA NA NA NA ND ND
102
13
,8
14
,9
21
,0
17
,7 21
,1
21
,3
29
,3
27
,3
17
,0
16
,4
17
,2
26
,7
17
,2
22
,8
23
,7
29
,1 31
,2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Erosion
1,8
2,7
3,5
5,1
6,2
7,6
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Flooding
103
1,1
0,8
2,3
4,4
2,4 2,5
3,8 4
,3 4,3
6,2
8,4
4,1
1,6
1,3
2,7
0,6
1,3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Construction, sealing
17
,5
7,6
9,3
7,7
11
,0
10
,3
15
,6
10
,8
9,8
7,3
11
,1
7,5
4,8
3,6
6,0
3,7 4
,6
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Dumping, tipping, infill
104
16
,2
9,6
11
,1
10
,8
7,6 8,1
17
,1
10
,5
11
,1
8,1
5,7
1,3
4,2
6,9
11
,8
4,8
9,5
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Water pollution: sewage
3,8
0,7
1,3
1,0
1,0
1,9
2,4
0,5
1,4
2,8
2,6
1,3
3,0
0,8
2,9
0,4 0
,6
0
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Water pollution: oil
105
5,1
2,2
6,4
3,3
0,8
2,4
4,2
3,0 3,2
3,1
1,3
8,2
3,4
4,3
3,8
3,2
4,3
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Water pollution: Agricult. or Insutrial farming
106
5,5
3,5
4,5
5,8
2,3
3,8
8,6
10
,9
7,6
6,0
9,7
3,1
8,4 8,4
11
,6 12
,4
7,4
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
% o
f su
rvey
un
its
Recreational abuse
2,0
0,9
2,4 2,5
1,1
2,8
2,2
2,1
1,7 1,8
6,6
4,3
3,3
1,6 1,7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
% o
f su
rvey
un
its.
Aquaculture
107
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The aim of this project has been to collect and collate core Coastwatch Autumn Survey data over a
thirty year time span. This data is now searchable with a guide tool to advise on each question witch
has changed over time. The last six year of data also include detailed GIS maps. The analysis of some
of this data gives an impression of the range of information collected by citizen volunteers and the
changes in results over time.
Some of the questions that are included in the Survey constitute the foundation for any audit and
help set the information gathered into a frame which can be compare to known geographic and
other official data - access to the shore, hinterland character, most intertidal vegetation and
sediment data, larger inflows and pipes entering the shore. This should be replicable if anyone
wanted to visit the same areas a few weeks later, should match official data and should not vary much
from one year to the next. Any mismatch, is worth exploring. To test this, streams recorded by
surveyors discharging into Bannow Bay in autumn 2017 were overlaid on the relevant EPA
catchments.ie map showing coastal streams. Results matched broadly but highlighted three spots
where surveyors reported streams entering the shore where none were shown on the EPA map.
Further research of the old Cassini map projections (1895) confirmed past records of streams in these
locations. So here the ‘Coastwatchers’ citizen science observations brought added value of flagging
streams which had been forgotten in the EPA map. The welcoming reaction by the EPA Water unit
bedded down the benefit. Surveyors felt that their ability had been proven, their contribution was
useful and the quality of these streams mattered.
Other data provides a snapshot in time — e.g. most of the litter data, mobile animals seen, animal
strandings, inflow discolouration, nitrate levels in inflows etc. Over time we can see there is a
recurrence and predictability in many of them. Wind, rainfall and currents together with stable
seabed and shore features create environmental conditions which are likely to recur and in turn
attract biota at certain times. Inshore ray and skate spawning aggregations occur in the same areas
and hence highest densities of egg cases are reported in the same survey units. Even human
behaviour is predictable given that many fly tipping reports by surveyors are recorded in the same
survey units several years running, despite of clean ups instigated as a result of the survey.
The final goal of this report was to provide examples of data use by analysing some information
collected by citizen scientist over time. This has provided exciting results with some trends that
become apparent just glancing at the graphs. Oil pollution has decrease steadily in the 1990s in both
inflows and sea and have remained low. There are also far less containers of hazardous substance
recorded now. For the plastic bag we saw an increase followed by a sharp fall in reaction to a clear
trigger - the plastic bag tax. The slow rise and recent decrease of drinks container litter items is not as
clear cut. The initial rise is likely to be attributable to greater wealth and is in line with greater sales of
small drinks containers, especially of water, although this is free from the tap in Ireland. The decline
in number of plastic drinks bottles over the last few years is likely to have been aided by the increase
in shores cleaning as evidenced in survey data and the strong ant litter campaigns. Regarding water
quality, nitrate levels deserve further analyses with weather as possible factor but also stocking
densities which may account for the rises in the last 2 years.
In keeping with the Coastwatch core goal of ‘informed citizen participation in environmental
protection and management’ this information will be made freely available and it is hoped will be
108
widely used to support this goal. However data and further information derived from analyses is just
one key ingredient which is required to protect and manage our environment.
The EPAs introduction to the Strive research programme states: ‘The environment is a key strategic
resource and asset for Ireland, and it must be protected and managed to ensure that it remains as the
basis for a healthy society and a strong economy’. It also identifies ‘Valuing and protecting our
environment, in particular water and nature protection;’ as one of 4 most pressing and challenging
environmental priorities.
This EPA priority goal goes well beyond providing data. Over thirty years Coastwatchers and
particularly new recruits and post graduate interns have remarked on data and information that isn’t
being acted upon – by surveyors, by stakeholders and indeed by authorities. Here lies a key and rich
field of further research: how to spark and sustain constructive action, how to maximise informed
public participation to maintain a high status coastal or transitional water; how to restore and manage
a coastal cell like a bay with Zostera and kelp beds as keystone biodiversity gems.
Valuing and protecting our environment’ includes emotional factors - love, pride, a need to nurture.
These are born out of real life experience, facilitated by observations, a joy experienced and general
familiarity through fieldwork. The Coastwatch survey, training sessions and follow up fieldwork events
therefore have that dual purpose of data quality assurance (by strengthening identification skills,
sampling and reporting methods) and supporting the surveyor to find the uniqueness and values of
their shore, the magic combination of features, the issues which threaten that quality or if addressed
could restore it.
Over the next few months Coastwatch’s aim will be to disseminate the features of this data set to
maximise its use, to further analyse the data and trends presented here and to strive for a citizen
science platform/identifiable and easy to add GIS layer in official data sets (e.g. A citizen science data
module in the catchment.ie portal to comply with the WFD and similar in the MSFD).
109
ANNEX I: LIST OF DIGITIZED DOCUMENTS
110
1987
Survey questionnaire (printed in the IT 17th of
Sept.)
Irish Times article (17th of Sept. about the Survey
launch)
Irish Times article (22nd of October about Survey
results)
Irish Times article (23rd of October about Survey
results)
1988
Pilot Phase description document
1989
All Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
Newsletter (July 1989)
1990
Rep. of Ireland Survey Report
International Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
1991
International Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
UK Survey Report (including Northern Ireland)
1992
Rep. of Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
1993
Rep. of Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
International Survey Report
1994
Rep. of Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
1995
International Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
Printed data tables
1996
International Report on the status of the CWE
network
1997
All Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire (including guide notes)
International Survey Report (version 1)
International Survey Report (version 2)
1998
All Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
International Survey Report
Printed Survey data tables (All Ireland, Rep. of
Ireland and Northern Ireland)
1999
All Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
Printed Survey data tables
2000
All Ireland Survey Report
Survey Questionnaire
Printed Survey data tables (only Republic of
Ireland)
2001
Survey Questionnaire
Printed Survey data tables (incomplete)
2002
All Ireland Survey Report (only litter)
Survey Questionnaire
Survey Guide Notes
2003
Survey Questionnaire
Tag Survey Report (Meath and Dublin Bay)
2004
Dublin Area Survey Unit maps
Pictures from the Survey Launch
2006
Spring Fingal Biodiversity Survey documents
Pictures from the Spring Survey in Fingal
2007
Spring Biodiversity Survey Questionnaire
2009
Survey Questionnaire
2010
All Ireland Survey Report (litter)
Survey Questionnaire
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Full computerized database, all Survey Reports, all
Survey Questionnaires and all other materials used.
Pictures (for all year, with nearly 2000 pictures in
2016 and 2017)
111
ANNEX II: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 2017
112
113
114
115
116
117
ANNEX III: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE 1987
118
119
120
121
122