This topic covers the coastal and marine environment which is vital to the economy, health and well-being. While some aspects of coastal management have improved – such as reduction in pollution from sewage – other impacts such as climate change, coastal erosion, habitat loss and unsustainable exploitation of resources are an increasing threat to the marine environment.

Government policy on coastal and marine waters.

Key facts

Bathing water surveys, mandatory standards 

Bathing water surveys, guideline standards

North Sea fish stocks and stocks of North East Atlantic mackerel: 1964 to 2008

Sustainability of fish stocks around the UK: 1990 to 2009 

Additional datasets

• For information on tidal water abstractions see abstractions key facts
• Five year record of compliance with EC Bathing Water Directive for mandatory coliform standards
• Bathing Waters Survey – compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) for microbiological mandatory, guideline and Commission guideline standards
• Bathing Waters Survey – compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) for coliform mandatory standards (coastal)
• Bathing Waters Survey – compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) for coliform mandatory standards (inland)
• Bathing Waters Survey – compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) mandatory standards for other parameters (coastal)
• Bathing Waters Survey – compliance with Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC) mandatory standards for other parameters (inland)
• North Sea fish stocks biomass index

Further resources

Further resources on bathing water and fish stocks : Data.Gov
The UK’s Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN)
Marine Management Organisation
Bathing water quality in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive
European Marine Observation and Data Network
Bathing water quality in Europe
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)

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