IMIS

Monitoring, in the form of repeated measurements of key aspects of the state of the marine enviroment at key locations, provides the basis for assessing progress towards good environmental status and the evaluation of the effectiveness of actions being taken to protect the sea. The core marine environmental monitoring activity under the JAMP is the OSPAR CEMP. The CEMP is currently focussed on monitoring of the concentrations and effects of selected contaminants and nutrients in the marine environment as follows:

• metals (cadmium, mercury and lead) in sediment and biota
• PAHs in biota and sediment
• PCBs in biota and sediment
• brominated flame retardants in biota and sediment
• tributyltin in sediment and its effects in gastropods
• nutrients in sea water
• eutrophication effects

The CEMP also includes a pre-CEMP covering components which the Contracting Parties are preparing to monitor in a co-ordinated manner through the development of monitoring guidance, quality assurance procedures and/or assessment tools. Currently the pre-CEMP includes the following components:

• planar PCBs in biota
• alkylated PAHs in biota and sediment
• TBT in biota
• PFOS in sediment, biota and water
• dioxins and furans in biota and sediment
• PAH- and metal-specific biological effects
• general biological effects

Contracting Parties' commitments under the CEMP are set out in detail in the CEMP agreement which is updated on an annual basis. The Eutrophication Monitoring Programme is a self standing component of the CEMP focussing on nutrients and eutrophication effects. Monitoring by Contracting Parties under the CEMP is coordinated through adherence to jointly agreed guidance on monitoring and quality assurance procedures, which provides a basis for the collection of comparable and quality assured data throughout the OSPAR maritime area. This guidance is compiled in the CEMP Monitoring Manual. All data collected under the CEMP are reported to ICES. Data on contaminants collected on the CEMP are assessed on a regular basis using methodologies set out in the CEMP Assessment Manual. Data on nutrients and eutrophication effects are assessed according to the OSPAR Common Procedure.