Survey warns of coastal erosion

Erosion is still the main threat to the Irish coastline, while dumping of builders' rubble and farm waste at sea has also increased.

These are among the preliminary findings of this year's Coastwatch Europe survey. Some parts of the coast are "literally being eaten away" in front of surveyors' eyes, Ms Karin Dubsky, international co-ordinator of Coastwatch Europe, said in Dublin yesterday, when she called for a North-South umbrella body to oversee coastal-zone management.

One in three monitored survey units is regarded as being under threat from erosion.

Dumping is the second major threat to the coastal environment, recorded in 19 per cent of all surveyed units. Material includes construction waste, dead animals and household rubbish.

"Recreational abuse" has also risen, from 10 per cent of units surveyed last year to 13 per cent. Sewage pollution has fallen slightly, recorded as "frequent" in 3.2 per cent of units and "usual" in 2.6 per cent. Pollution from oil and aquaculture is "stable", at 3.7 per cent, and water pollution from industry, agriculture or unspecified sources is between 2 to 3.2 per cent.

This past year was the wettest and windiest that Coastwatch Europe surveyors had experienced since it was designed in 1987, according to Ms Dubsky. No water quality test kits were distributed, but some surveyors had access to test facilities. Results from 697 sites were slightly below average, mainly due to weather, she said.

Final results will include information from just under 1,000 surveyed areas. The preliminary findings record substantial increases in drinks containers - among the highest in northern Europe - while plastic bag counts were slightly lower than last year, but as high as in 1998.

Ms Dubsky noted that there was no refill or recycling initiative here for plastic bottles.