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Shellfish Waters Directive

The Shellfish Waters Directive aims to protect shellfish populations, maintaining the high quality of shellfish in our waters. The directive sets the standard for water quality in estuaries and other areas where shellfish grow and reproduce.

Under this directive, waters that are inhabited by shellfish need to be monitored for certain substances. These substances can affect shellfish by:

  • threatening their survival
  • inhibiting their growth
  • making them too expensive to treat before they can be used as a food source.

For each substance, the directive specifies the minimum number of samples to be taken and the percentage of samples that must meet these standards.

In the UK, the directive is implemented by the EC Shellfish Waters Directive (2006/113/EEC) and the Surface Waters (Shellfish) Directions 1997. 

You can get further information about the Shellfish Waters Directive from Defra's website.

Who does this directive affect?

This directive supports the shellfish farming industry by protecting shellfish waters. Other businesses or industries that need permits to discharge to shellfish waters will need to comply with the requirements of the directive. 

What is our role?

We monitor the quality of shellfish waters, ensuring the standards of the directive are met. We produce pollution reduction plans for each of the 124 designated shellfish waters in England and Wales. These plans provide details of the quality of each shellfish water, stating whether they comply with the directive and outline any improvements that need to be made. Please call us on 0370 8506506 if you would like to see a copy of the 2008 plans.

The Water Framework Directive

The directive will be replaced in 2013 by the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD). This must provide at least the same level of protection to shellfish waters as the Shellfish Waters Directive.