OSPAR request for further development of guidance on integrated monitoring and assessment of chemicals and biological effects

Scientists associated with ICES and OSPAR have been working for several years on the development of biological effects methods for monitoring contaminants in marine ecosystems. While there have been discussions relevant to the design of surveys for integrated monitoring it is not possible to provide guidance on the selection of stations until the exact purpose of the monitoring and assessment programme is defined. This will have to await the acceptance of the criteria and methodological standards for the determination of Good Environmental Status under the MSFD. While it is now apparent that the spatial scale of the assessment will be “OSPAR regional” as for the OSPAR QSR, the metrics to be determined and associated reference points will have to be known before guidance on survey design for integrated monitoring of chemicals and biological effects can be provided.

The work on identification of the groups of biological effects methods to be deployed is in progress and recommendations should be finalised in October 2009. Work still remains to be done on ensuring that the identified biological effects methods are well matched with chemical methods and that the chemical analyses underpin the biological effects monitoring.Scientists associated with ICES and OSPAR have been working for several years on the development of biological effects methods for monitoring contaminants in marine ecosystems. While there have been discussions relevant to the design of surveys for integrated monitoring it is not possible to provide guidance on the selection of stations until the exact purpose of the monitoring and assessment programme is defined. This will have to await the acceptance of the criteria and methodological standards for the determination of Good Environmental Status under the MSFD. While it is now apparent that the spatial scale of the assessment will be “OSPAR regional” as for the OSPAR QSR, the metrics to be determined and associated reference points will have to be known before guidance on survey design for integrated monitoring of chemicals and biological effects can be provided.

The work on identification of the groups of biological effects methods to be deployed is in progress and recommendations should be finalised in October 2009. Work still remains to be done on ensuring that the identified biological effects methods are well matched with chemical methods and that the chemical analyses underpin the biological effects monitoring.