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Standing environment groups

There are 14 standing environment groups (SEGs) around the coasts of England and Wales. In addition, Northern Ireland and Scotland each have their own SEG.

SEGs are multi-agency bodies with responsibility for a particular area of coastline. Membership includes the Environment Agency, Natural England or Natural Resources Wales, local authorities, ourselves and others. During a marine pollution incident they are activated and provide environmental advice to the operational lead of the incident (usually the Maritime and Coastguard Agency or Secretary of State's Representative). SEGs also plan for incidents, and some have produced contingency plans.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have published guidance for SEGs.

Map of UK showing standing environment groups

We host SEG contingency plans on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
SEG contingency plans
SEG number Environment group Geographic description Contingency plan
1 Northern Ireland Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough and the Isles  
2 Scotland Scotland  
3 North East Berwick-upon-Tweed to Hartlepool  
4 Tees Hartlepool to Cowbar Staithes Download (PDF 1.5 MB)
5 Humber Cowbar Staithes to Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) TF 55385 57548 encompassing the Humber Estuary  
6 Norfolk and The Wash Gibraltar Point to Kessingland  
7 Greater Thames Kessingland (south of Lowestoft) to Ramsgate Download (PDF 3.4 MB)
8 Kent and Sussex Ramsgate to Selsey Bill  
9 Solent Selsey Bill to Dorset/Hampshire border Download (PDF 2.1 MB)
10 Dorset Dorset/Hampshire border to Dorset/Devon Border Download (PDF 319 KB)

Map of the SEG (PDF 264 KB)
11 Devon Devon south coast Plymouth to Lyme Regis and
Devon north coast Hartland Point to Lynmouth
 
12 Cornwall Plymouth includes port of Plymouth to Lynmouth Download (PDF 5.4 MB)

Operational guidance (PDF 3.3 MB)
13 Bristol Channel Lynmouth to Ogmore Download (PDF 1 MB)
14 West Wales Ogmore to Borth Download (PDF 864 KB) updated 19 April 2013
15 North Wales Borth, Ceregidion to West Kirby, Wirral Download (PDF 873 KB) updated 9 January 2013
16 North West Dee to Solway Download (PDF 300 KB)