Cleanliness and Litter
7.42 A total of 61 beaches in the South West were surveyed during Beachwatch 2006, covering a total length of 26.24km (an additional 4 beaches and 0.63km on 2005). Marine Conservation Society, 2007
7.43 At least one item of litter is found on every 50 cm of beach surveyed, and the quantity of litter on UK beaches continues to be a significant problem. Within England, as in previous years, the South West recorded the most litter (3,185.7 items/km), followed by the North West (1,926.5 items/km), North East (1,620.6 items/km), and the South East (1,604.4 items/km).
7.44 A total of 100,808 items of litter were collected by volunteers in the region, over 46% of the total items found in England and the highest of the English regions. On average 3,185.7 items of litter/km were found on the region's beaches, much higher than the average density for the UK (1,988.7/km) and the highest for any region in the UK. This density is however lower than that found in 2005 (3,936.1/km).
7.45 Since 2004, there has been just over a 5% decline in the total items of litter found on the South West's beaches. However, this is much less than the average decline of 25% for England as a whole.
7.46 The South West still has by far the most litter per km dropped by beach visitors than anywhere else in the UK. Between 2005 and 2006, beach visitor litter found on the region's beaches declined increased by 1 percentage point from 30% (1,180 items/km) to 31% (988 items/km) of all litter found. However, this was proportionately the lowest amount found in the English regions, below the average of 35.9% and the UK average of 33.9%.
7.47 With 498.5 items per km, the South West had the by far the highest amount of fishing related litter found in any region of the UK, accounting for 15.6% of all litter found on the region's beaches. However, between 2005 and 2006, the amount of fishing related litter on the South West's beaches declined by 5 percentage points from 21% to 16%.
7.48 With 153.2 items per km, the South West had the highest amount of sewage related debris out of the English regions, higher than the English average of 91.8 items. Only Scotland had more items per km of this litter type. Between 2005 and 2006, sewage related debris in the region increased by 2 percentage points from 3% to 5%.
7.49 With 44.1 items per km, the South West also had the highest number of fly-tipped waste found during the 2006 survey, higher than the England average of 20.5 and the UK average of 18.4 items. Proportionately, fly-tipped waste only accounted for 1.4% of the regional total.
7.50 There were 85 Blue Flag Award beaches and 3 marinas in England in 2007 (5 more than in 2006). The South West has the highest number of Blue Flag awards of any region in England, with 42% (36) of the national total. There are now 10 additional blue flag awarded beaches and marinas in the region than there were in 2005. Awarded locations are are reasonable well distributed throughout Cornwall (10), Devon (16) and Dorset (10). Blue Flag, 2007
7.51 The South West had the highest number of Good Beach guide recommended beaches in the UK, with 155 out of a total 195 sampled (79%). This was just under 2% higher than in 2006. No beaches failed the European Mandatory standard. The South West is the top-performing region in this year’s guide, hitting a new record for recommended beaches. The region has enjoyed the double benefit of South West Water’s £1 billion ‘Clean Sweep’ coastal sewage treatment improvement programme, and the driest summer weather in Britain, particularly in Cornwall. Marine Conservation Society, 2007
7.52 More information about marine litter, Blue Flag Awards and is available from the South West Observatory Environment website. Bathing water quality, visitor pressure and waste are also indicators used to monitor progress of the Regional Environment Strategy.