Coasts and Seas

The region is bordered on its east side by the ‘Gateway to Europe’; the North Sea, parts of which are already designated as Marine Areas to maintain its environmental quality, protect its biodiversity, conserve stocks of the famous and economically- important fish populations, and stimulate tourism.

Apart from the regional seaside resorts, the coast features a number of landscape types including spectacular high chalk cliffs, eroding soft cliffs, and sand dunes; two Heritage Coasts - Flamborough (chalk cliffs with a significant sea-bird colony and gannetry) and Spurn Point (a constantly -shifting sand and shingle bar) at the entrance to the Humber Estuary, which is itself now the largest single designation Site of Special Scientific Interest in England, and because of its birds, fish and wetland habitats is designated as a Special Area of Conservation – this is an  important part of the UK contribution to the pan- European ‘Natura 2000’ network of designated protection and conservation areas.

The regions coasts and seas thus are host to significant proportions of the UK’s bird populations, being on the East Atlantic Flyway, a globally important migratory route. They also contain biologically (and often economically) important fish populations, significant numbers of whales, dolphins seals etc. Most important of all the underlying ecosystem provides the food for all these groups, and thus dictates not only the balance between their population levels, but the carrying capacity of the whole system, and its ability to secure our quality of life, by adapting to changes in climate and water-level now and in the future.