The latest ten-year comparison figures show a clear trend that seems to have more or less stabilized in recent years. The number of beaches that meet the WQO has stayed fairly steady at 34 or 35 since 1999 (in 2002 it dropped to 33). In the same period, the number of beaches ranked ‘Poor’ or ‘Very Poor’ has remained consistent at 6 or 7, again excepting 2002 when it swelled briefly to 8. In 2004, however, more beaches were ranked ‘Good’ than in any other year in the 10-year scale, a number translating to 61% of all beaches.