Index of coastal eutrophication potential

Last updated: 2025

The UK Biodiversity Indicators have been reviewed in response to the latest goals and targets agreed under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The GBF is accompanied by a monitoring framework, which includes indicators to measure progress. The ‘Index of coastal eutrophication potential’ is an agreed headline indicator within this framework, with particular relevance to Target 7 ‘Reduce Pollution to Levels That Are Not Harmful to Wildlife’. Information on the methodology for this indicator is available at: https://www.gbf-indicators.org/

Eutrophication is the process occurring when excess nutrients are released into the environment, causing an imbalance in biogeochemical processes, often with adverse consequences for wildlife. In common with many countries, although a lot of data relevant to eutrophication is recorded, the UK currently does not record all of the necessary data to report the specific measure required by the index of coastal eutrophication potential.

Work is planned or ongoing in the UK and internationally to address this, and JNCC, in collaboration with the Devolved Governments and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, intends to report this indicator within the UK Biodiversity Indicator suite in the future.