Morecambe Bay Water Body
Moderate ecological status
Get Morecambe Bay data
Attributes
- Water Body IDGB641211171000
- Water Body TypeCoastal Water
- Hydromorphological designationheavily modified
- NGRSD3166560036
- Surface area36371.087 ha
- Surface area363.711 km2
- Surveillance Water BodyNo
Classifications
| Classification Item | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Ecological | Moderate |
| Biological quality elements | Moderate |
| Angiosperms | High |
| Seagrass | High |
| Invertebrates | Moderate |
| Imposex | Good |
| Infaunal Quality Index | Moderate |
| Macroalgae | High |
| Opportunistic Macroalgae | High |
| Phytoplankton | Moderate |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Moderate |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Moderate |
| Dissolved oxygen | High |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good |
| Specific pollutants | High |
| Chromium (VI) | High |
| Chemical | Fail |
| Priority hazardous substances | Fail |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Fail |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Fail |
| Priority substances | Good |
| Fluoranthene | Good |
| Other Pollutants | Does not require assessment |
Investigations into classification status
No data to show
Reasons for not achieving good (RNAG) and reasons for deterioration (RFD)
All reasons (RFDs and RNAGs) attributed to the classification elements in this water body.
| Reason Type | SWMI | Activity | Category | Classification Element | More information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (continuous) | Water Industry | Phytoplankton | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Sewage discharge (intermittent) | Water Industry | Invertebrates | Details |
| RFD | Method Change (RFD Only) | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Invertebrates | Details |
| RNAG | measures delivered to address reason, awaiting recovery | Not applicable | No sector responsible | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
| RNAG | Point source | Misconnections | Industry | Mercury and Its Compounds | Details |
Reasons for not achieving good status by business sector
The issues preventing waters reaching good status and the sectors identified as contributing to them. The numbers in the table are individual counts of the reasons for not achieving good status with a confidence status of 'confirmed' and 'probable', where the latest classification is less than good status. There may be more than one reason in a single water body. Note, table does not include reasons for deterioration.
| Significant water management issue | Physical modifications | Pollution from waste water | Pollution from towns, cities and transport | Changes to the natural flow and level of water | Invasive non-native species | Pollution from rural areas | Pollution from abandoned mines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and rural land management | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Industry | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mining and quarrying | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Navigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Urban and transport | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Water Industry | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Local & central government | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic general public | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Recreation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Waste treatment and disposal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No sector responsible | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sector under investigation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Objectives
| Classification Item | Status | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecological | Good | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Biological quality elements | Good | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Angiosperms | Good | 2015 | |
| Invertebrates | Good | 2015 | |
| Macroalgae | Good | 2015 | |
| Phytoplankton | Good | 2015 | |
| Physico-chemical quality elements | Good | 2015 | Disproportionately expensive: Disproportionate burdens |
| Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen | Good | 2015 | |
| Dissolved oxygen | Good | 2015 | |
| Hydromorphological Supporting Elements | Not assessed | 2015 | |
| Supporting elements (Surface Water) | Good | 2015 | |
| Mitigation Measures Assessment | Good | 2015 | |
| Specific pollutants | High | 2015 | |
| Arsenic | High | 2015 | |
| Chromium (VI) | High | 2015 | |
| Copper | High | 2015 | |
| Iron | High | 2015 | |
| Zinc | High | 2015 | |
| Chemical | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Priority hazardous substances | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Good | 2015 | |
| Cadmium and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Heptachlor and cis-Heptachlor epoxide | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorobutadiene | Good | 2015 | |
| Hexachlorocyclohexane | Good | 2015 | |
| Mercury and Its Compounds | Good | 2040 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS) | Good | 2015 | |
| Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) | Good | 2063 | Natural conditions: Chemical status recovery time |
| Priority substances | Good | 2015 | |
| Atrazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Fluoranthene | Good | 2015 | |
| Lead and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Nickel and Its Compounds | Good | 2015 | |
| Simazine | Good | 2015 | |
| Other Pollutants | Good | 2015 | |
| Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin & Isodrin | Good | 2015 | |
| DDT Total | Good | 2015 | |
| para - para DDT | Good | 2015 |
Protected areas
| PA Name | Id | Directive | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morecambe Bay And Duddon Estuary | UK9020326 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Morecambe Bay | UK11045 | Ramsar Site | Natural England |
| Morecambe Bay | UK0013027 | Special Area of Conservation | Natural England |
| Lune (Wyre Estuary) | UKSW113 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Walney_E | UKSW116 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Liverpool Bay | UK9020294 | Special Protection Area | Natural England |
| Roosebeck_E | UKSW117 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Fleetwood | UK43000 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Morecambe South | UK43260 | Bathing Water Directive | |
| Morecambe Bay East_E | UKSW115 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Morecambe Bay (Leven) | UKSW129 | Shellfish Water Directive | |
| Lune (Broadfleet and Plover Scar)_M | UKSW114 | Shellfish Water Directive |
Monitoring sites which have been used to classify this water body
Shows which sites were used for classification for which years within each cycle.