10 sites are monitored on a monthly basis from Barassie Shore in the north of the district to Finnarts Bay in the extreme south of the area.

Macroalgae and seagrass taxonomy-related counts; Radioactivity in biota; Fish abundance in water bodies; Fish taxonomy-related abundance per unit area of the bed; Macroalgae and seagrass infection and damage; Stable isotopes in biota; Stable isotopes in sediment; Radioactivity in water bodies; Stable isotopes in water bodies; Geological sample radioactivity; Solar Radiation; Stable isotopes in sediment pore waters

Radiometers; discrete water samplers; sediment grabs; manual biota samplers

Ten sites within South Ayrshire are monitored on a quarterly basis to obtain background readng levels from cosmic radiation and from naturally occurring isotopes in the earth's crust. The radiation monitoring scheme is run in conjunction with Glasgow Scientific Services. As part of the monitoring programme, the following samples were taken in 1999: Seaweed - 4 samples Seawater - 5 samples Sediment - 8 samples Fish - 4 samples Shellfish - 1 sample Although radioactive pollutants were found in all but 2 of these samples, the levels obtained were well below limits laid down by recognised bodies.

South Ayrshire Council, Environmental Health Service
Town Hall 5/9 High Street
Ayr
Scotland
KA7 1LU
United Kingdom