Mapping the Nation's Blue Spaces

The RYA has been part of groundbreaking research led by the Environment Agency (EA), alongside our fellow members of the Clean Water Sports Alliance (CWSA). The Exploring Recreational Water Use in England report is the most comprehensive national picture yet of how, when, and where people use our blue spaces across England, and it’s full of insights that matter for our sport.

The EA worked with 17 organisations, including the RYA, to collate over 13,500 records of swimming, paddling, rowing, sailing, and surfing from 2017 to 2024. 
These were mapped and rationalised into 3,347 distinct recreation locations across England with more than three times as many inland freshwater sites (2,521) as coastal and estuarine locations (826) identified.

In comparison, there are currently just 451 designated bathing waters, of which only 15 are rivers. 

RYA Sustainability Manager, Kate Fortnam said: “This project is a major step forward for the boating community. By identifying where open-water activities take place, we can better target efforts to protect, improve, and expand the spaces our members depend on – keeping boating vibrant in clean, accessible waters.

“The findings confirm what we and other Clean Water Sports Alliance members have long known: recreational water use is happening in far more locations – and for more months of the year – than current bathing water regulations recognise. Inland events often start in April and run into November, while some coastal activities continue even later. This shows the urgent need for stronger protections and wider policy recognition of recreational waters.

 What this means for the CWSA

1. Our voice is being heard – Our concerns and ambitions are influencing national policy conversations.
2. Smarter infrastructure planning – With a clearer picture of where recreational activity already happens, we can identify where to engage with water companies, where to support new spaces for events, and where to protect existing ones.
3. Open data for collaboration – The project leaves us with a new, open dataset of recreational hotspots across England which can support future planning and partnerships.
4. Policy momentum – The report strengthens the case for moving from a narrow ‘bathing water’ designation to a broader ‘recreational water’ status in policy, recognising the diversity of sports across the Alliance.

 We are grateful to the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s research group as with this new evidence base, we can make better-informed decisions, build stronger partnerships, and advocate more effectively for the water environments that underpin our sports.