Glossary

Eelgrass (Zostera) is a flowering plant which grows on soft seabeds down to 10 metres deep. It forms dense beds comparable to terrestrial grasslands. Eelgrass beds are recognized at international and European level as remarkable habitats for their great ecological, heritage and economic value, as well as for their functions as reservoirs of biodiversity, breeding grounds and nurseries.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacteria that lives in the digestive tract of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most strains of E. coli are harmless; only a few are pathogenic. E.coli is monitored as an indicator of faecal contamination. The higher the level, the more likely it is that pathogenic germs are present.