The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has only recommended 10 out of 23 beaches tested in Northern Ireland (NI), in its Good Beach Guide this year. Five beaches were graded as guideline and other five beaches met the basic criteria of the guide.

The guide says that these beaches had excellent water quality during the summer of 2010 and are not affected by badly treated, continuous sewage discharges. The MCS said that this year they have tested few beaches keeping in mind the budget cuts.

Meanwhile, the MCS has given top "recommended" award to 461 UK beaches, for having excellent bathing water quality. The number is the third highest number in the guide's 24-year history. The tests conducted by the MCS has revealed that 46 UK beaches failed to meet even the basic standards of water quality, set in European law 35 years ago.

The MCS has said that the numbers of beaches included in the guide are likely to decrease because of the stricter standards coming into force from 2015. The MCS tests 758 beaches around the UK and the Channel Islands, and the cleanest spots are given the "recommended" status.