Coastwatch Ireland hopes to survey all of Ireland's shoreline, to analyse the data and establish how polluted or pollution free each stretch is.
Each county has been coded and the coastline has been divided into blocks of about three miles each, which also have a code. Each block is subdivided into 500-metre stretches.
Volunteers carrying out the survey are asked to:
1. Check tides for chosen area and go out to the shore one or two hours before low tide in the fortnight of October 1st to 14th. 2. Get a map, for example a regional ordnance survey two inch map of the locality. 3. Phone the regional co-ordinator for the area (as listed on this page) who will allocate a particular stretch of coast, taking account of preferences and will give the county and beach code. 4. Ask for clarification from the co-ordinator of any question that is not easily understood. 5. Arrange for collection from co-ordinator, of water quality test kits which test for nitrates.
Fieldwork equipment: questionnaire(s) on a clipboard, a plastic bag and a empty photo film cartridge in case oil is found, a map and pens. Optional extras: test kits, a camera and a field guidebook.