ABSTRACT
The biological productivity of Irish coastal waters is reasonably high, supporting commercial pelagic, demersal and shell fisheries. The maritime boundary in the Irish Sea is relatively simple, comprising an equidistant line between Ireland and Britain. The main fishing grounds are in the Irish Sea, with a lesser concentration to the north and west, particularly in spring and summer. The surficial sediments of the Irish Sea are mainly sands, gravels and clays of glacial origin. The largest volume of radionuclides in the Irish Sea originate from the British Nuclear Fuels re-processing plant on the Cumbrian coast at Sellafield, opposite Co. Down. The attractions of the Irish coast for the leisure industry are manyfold, including sailing, surfing, angling and bathing, as well as more passive pursuits. The loss of land through marine erosion is to some extent inevitable given the 'soft' nature of much of the Irish coast, formed of glacial and glacigenic sediments.
