How to Create / Enhance to a "Good" condition

Indicator

Good (3 points)

Moderate (2 points)

Poor (1 point)

A

Coastal processes

Coastal processes are functioning naturally. No evidence of human physical modifications which are clearly impacting the habitat.

Artificial structures present, for example groynes, that are impeding the natural movement of sediments or water, affecting up to 25% of the habitat.

Artificial structures present, for example groynes, that are impeding the natural movement of sediments or water, affecting more than 25% of the habitat.

B

Presence and abundance of invasive non-native species

Not more than one invasive non-native species is ‘Occasional’ on the SACFOR scale or is occupying more than 1% of the habitat. No high-risk species indicative of suboptimal condition present, see Footnote 1 for details.

No invasive non-native species are present above ‘Frequent’ on the SACFOR scale or they occupy between 1-10% of the habitat. No high-risk species indicative of suboptimal condition present, see Footnote 1 for list.

One or more invasive non-native species present at an ‘Abundant’ level on the SACFOR scale; they occupy more than 10% of the habitat; or a high-risk species indicative of suboptimal condition is present – GB Non-native Species Secretariat should be notified, see Footnote 1 for details.

C

Water Quality

No visual evidence of pollution. There are no nuisance algal growths that are likely to be attributable to nutrient enrichment. Consider seasonality of survey timing2.

Visual evidence of low to moderate levels of pollution. Elevated algal growth with increases in cover that may indicate nutrient enrichment.
Consider seasonality of survey timing2.

Visual evidence of high algal growth that is indicative of nutrient enrichment. Signs of eutrophication that would impede bird feeding.
Consider seasonality of survey timing2.

D

Non-natural structures and direct human impacts

No evidence of impacts from direct human activities, or they occupy <1% of the habitat area (for example, pontoons, moorings, boats, crab tiles, bait digging or anchoring scars).

Evidence of impacts from direct human activities occupies 1-10% of the habitat area (for example, pontoons, moorings, boats, crab tiles, bait digging or anchoring scars).

Evidence of impacts from direct human activities occupies >10% of the habitat area (for example, pontoons, moorings, boats, crab tiles, bait digging or anchoring scars).

E

Litter (when examining a beach strandline, mean high water line or intertidal rocky shore)

Following the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) beach litter survey method, the number of items of litter does not exceed 0.0036 m−1 min−1 person−1, equivalent to up to 20 items per person per 100 m per hour. See Footnote 3 for details.

Following the MCS beach litter survey method, the number of items of litter does not exceed 0.0078 m−1 min−1 person−1, equivalent to between 21 and 47 items of litter per person per 100 m per hour. See Footnote 3 for details.

Following the MCS beach litter survey method, the number of items of litter exceeds 0.0078 m−1 min−1 person−1, equivalent to more than 47 items of litter per person per 100 m per hour. See Footnote 3 for details.

TOTAL SCORE 12 - 15 (75-100%) = GOOD CONDITION

TOTAL SCORE 8 - 11 (50-75%) = MODERATE CONDITION

TOTAL SCORE 5 - 7 (0-50%) = POOR CONDITION

Footnote 1 - Abundances estimated using SACFOR scales details available here: JNCC (No date) SACFOR abundance scale used for both littoral and sublittoral taxa from 1990 onwards [online]. Available from: sacfor.pdf (jncc.gov.uk)

Use the non-native species list available here: Microsoft Word - UK_Marine_NIS_priority_list_2020 (nonnativespecies.org)

DEFRA (2022) UK Marine Non-Indigenous Species Priority List (updated 2020) [online]. Available on: Marine Pathways Group » NNSS (nonnativespecies.org)

High-risk species indicative of suboptimal condition at time of publication include:
• Didemnum vexillum – Carpet sea squirt
• Hemigrapsus spp. – Asian Shore crabs (H. sanguineus, H. takanoi or H. penicillatus)
• Eriocheir sinensis – Chinese mitten crab
Please check for updates of high-risk species.
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Footnote 2 - Peak bloom time is July – September.
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Footnote 3 - Please use the method as set out in Nelms et al (2017) to identify litter m−1 min−1 person−1, which is summarised below:
Collect litter along a linear transect parallel with the strandline, located between the back of the beach and the strandline. The transect should be 100 m long. Assign gathered items of litter to one of 101 item categories, and further classify them into 12 material groups (plastic, polystyrene, rubber, cloth, metal, medical, sanitary, faeces, paper, wood, glass, pottery or ceramic) using MCS classifications. Following this, record and sum all anthropogenic litter items and remove them from the beach. Litter identification guides may be useful, please see Nelms et al (2017) for more details on the method:

NELMS, S.E. ET AL. (2017) Marine anthropogenic litter on British beaches: A 10-year nationwide assessment using citizen science data. Science of The Total Environment [online], 579. Available from:

(PDF) Marine anthropogenic litter on British beaches: A 10-year nationwide assessment using citizen science data (researchgate.net)

The indicator thresholds for litter are based on the methods in Van Loon et al (2020), which is guidance developed within the Common Implementation Strategy for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) by the MSFD Technical Group on Marine Litter.
VAN LOON, W. ET AL. (2020). A European Threshold Value and Assessment Method for Macro Litter on Coastlines. EUR 30347 EN, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. [online] Available from:

(PDF) A European Threshold Value and Assessment Method for Macro Litter on Coastlines (researchgate.net)