SEA6 Technical Report: Recreational Boating Routes and Intensity in the Irish Sea

A 2005 technical report provides information on recreational boating in the Irish Sea (SEA6 area). The report details cruising routes, sailing and racing areas, anchorage points, usage intensity, and shore-based facilities. It was produced by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (now DECC) based on consultation with 143 clubs and an estimated 37,000 members.

Use Cases

• Modeling spatial conflict between offshore wind farms and recreational boating based on described routes and intensity.
• Planning marine conservation zones by identifying high-use recreational areas mentioned in the report.
• Assessing the economic value of marine recreation using the data on club membership and shore facilities.

Strengths

• Data is based on consultation with 143 clubs and an estimated 37,000 members, suggesting a broad survey base.
• Report provides multiple layers of information including routes, areas, intensity, and facilities.

Limitations

• Row count and column-level documentation are absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; the data reflects the 2004-2005 period and freshness is unverified.
• The primary data format is an HTML report, which may require extraction to be used for analysis.

Provenance

Source

UK Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change), produced with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Collection Method

Consultation with clubs, regional committees, and local experts.

Time Range

2004-2005

Freshness

2005

Geography

Irish Sea (SEA6 area)