Transitional waters, which are more commonly referred to as estuaries, are positioned at the interface between land and sea and as such are exposed to a wide range of human pressures. These pressures can include discharges from industrial and municipal waste water treatment plants, inputs from diffuse agricultural sources, morphological alterations associated with harbour and port activities and discharges from marine vessels. A total of 79 transitional water bodies were assessed between 2013 and 2018. Of these, 38% are in good or high ecological status, accounting for 42% of the total area assessed. The remaining transitional water bodies were classed as moderate or worse ecological status.
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