TMAP Monitoring Handbook

1 Introduction

Two fish species have been selected as indicator species for pollutants in fish: the flounder Platichthys flesus, and optional in of the fish species eelpout Zoarces viviparus.

The TMAP focuses on monitoring of hazardous substances in sediment and biota because the high variability in the water column and the fact that concentrations in marine waters are often below detection limit makes it almost impossible to assess temporal and spatial trends along the Wadden Sea coast. The approach of monitoring in sediment and biota as main matrix is also followed by OSPAR and recommended by the WFD-CMA guidance for hydrophobic substances.

Monitoring of hazardous substances in the water according WFD depends on the individual risk analysis to be carried out for each water body by the member states.

2 Objectives

Trilateral policy and management aims “to achieve, as far as possible, a natural and sustainable ecosystem in which natural processes proceed in an undisturbed way” (Guiding Principle).

With respect to the “Quality of Water and Sediment” the following Target applies to pollutants in biota (Wadden Sea Plan):

• Background concentrations of natural micropollutants
• Concentrations of man-made substances as resulting from zero-discharges

Monitoring the contamination and flounder Platichthys flesus, and optional in of the fish species eelpout Zoarces viviparus , in the Wadden Sea is carried out in order to detect and assess

• the response of natural processes in the ecosystem to changes in pollution levels. The processes concerned here are food chain fluxes and reproduction (including recruitment). There are links with production on higher trophic levels;
• the response of species to changes in pollution levels which may affect the abundance and physiological functioning of species leading to structural changes in the ecosystem.

3 Monitoring requirements

Wadden Sea Plan (WSP)

WSP

Targets:

• Background concentrations of natural micropollutants
• Concentrations of man-made substances as resulting from zero-discharges

EC Habitats Directive (HD)

HD

No specific requirements for chemical monitoring.

Water framework directive (WFD)

WFD

Article 8
Annex V,
Annex VIII: Indicative List of Main Pollutants
Annex X: List of Priority Substances
Objectives: Article 4: No deterioration, good status by 2015, reduction of pollutants, achievement of objectives set for protected areas in EC legislation. Good chemical status of surface water according WFD Annex V
WFD CIS Guidance on Chemical Monitoring (draft version Nov. 2006)

Oslo Paris convention (OSPAR)

OSPAR

The OSPAR Hazardous Substances Strategy sets the objective of preventing pollution of the maritime area by continuously reducing discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances, with the ultimate aim of achieving concentrations in the marine environment near background values for naturally occurring substances and close to zero for man-made synthetic substances.

OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action (Update 2006) (Ref 2004-12)
OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP) (Ref. 2006 -1)

4 Definitions

[to be added]

5 TMAP Monitoring Strategy

The TMAP approach has been based on the OSPAR strategy and is now adapted to the WFD requirements with regard to matrix selection, sampling locations and frequencies. Only substances which occur in relevant concentrations in coastal waters have been included into the common monitoring program for the Wadden Sea.

Selection of priority substances and the specific WFD monitoring strategy (selection of water body, operational and surveillance monitoring) depends on risk analysis and occurrence of PS and has to be carried out for individual water bodies by the member states.

The TMAP ad-hoc working group hazardous substances (2006) prepared a proposal for chemical monitoring in the TMAP. Monitoring of WFD priority substances in water for reporting under the WFD reporting should be done at the national level (depending on the risk analysis of individual water.

(Table 5.1) Parameters with monitoring locations and frequencies and the relation to the other monitoring requirements.

Remarks:

* Number of stations per region depends on number of WFD water body typed to be covered.

** According CIS Guidance on Chemical Monitoring / Netherlands: No WFD chemical monitoring in biota

1) BDE on voluntary basis

5.1 Parameters

Monitoring of pollutants in fish shall consider the following parameters:

1) BDE on voluntary basis

The interpretation parameters required for contamination monitoring in fish are the fat content, and the age of specimens (optional).

The age structure of flounder and eelpout in a given area is determined by samples taken for abundance estimates. The age structure is the number of individuals per age class over all age classes. Age may be determined 1stly by the Peterson Method where age classes are estimat¬ed from size classes, i.e. age structure corresponds to size composition and 2ndly by interpreta¬tion of the otolith structure. Age analysis is recommended to be carried out by the laboratory which is in charge of the field surveys and the respective parameters.

For further details of the field surveys conducted on these fish species see the respective guidelines.

5.2 Monitoring locations

For each of the four region (The Netherlands, Niedersachsen/Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark), at least one sampling location per WFD water body type should be established. The existing time series should be continued.

6 Methods

The OSPAR guidelines are also valid within the TMAP:

• JAMP guidelines for monitoring contaminants in biota (Technical Annex 1 – determination of organic contaminants, Technical Annex 2 – determination of metals, Technical Annex 3 – determination of PAHs) and

The WFD CIS Guidance on Chemical Monitoring Activities (CMA) (draft version November 2006) is currently under preparation. It covers amongst other guidance on the selection of substances, matrix (water, suspended matter, sediment, biota) and frequencies. With regard to coastal waters the guidance also refers to the OSPAR Guidelines.

7 Parameter

8 Frequency and time

Selection of frequencies has to be carried out separately for each substance, matrix and station taking into account short-term and long-term fluctuations and the specific objective.

In general, intensive monitoring (high frequencies such as annually) should preferably be done in biota, whereas less intensive monitoring (such as every 3 – 6 years) is more suitable for sediment monitoring. For a short term trend analyses, higher frequencies are necessary e.g. annual measurements at selected stations (decreased geographical coverage and/or focus on “hot spots”).

For details see [Table 5.1].

9 Assessment

In the assessment procedure, a contaminant should followed from ist riverine source to the accumulation in sediment and biota. The data should evaluated visually or with statistical tools [under elaboration] for temporal and spatial trends over a period of at least 6 years. The actual concentrations should be compared with background and ecotoxicological assessment criteria, as accepted by OSPAR (1997).

Changes in the abundance of eelpout Zoarces viviparus and flounder Platichthys flesus may reflect natural fluctuations (including climate, weather, predation), and/or changes may be caused by the fishing, nutrient loads and contaminant levels, or by combinations of these fac¬tors. The assessment therefore requires the monitoring information on these impacts.

[to be further elaborated]

(Fig. 9.1) Monitoring stations of contaminants in flounders

10 Reporting

Data should be reported annually to the national TMAP data unit (according to the national regulations) to be available for trilateral assessments (see TMAP Data Handling Manual).

11 Quality assurance

Appropriate monitoring protocols should be developed on national level. Intercalibration exercises should be carried out nationally and in the framework of the TMAP.

Quality assurance information together with detection limits and levels of accuracy should be reported

The quality assurance (QA) procedures have to be carried out in according to the JAMP (see also QUASIMEME).

[to be included: reference to existing QA procedures and SOP]

12 Monitoring authorities

Denmark

Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (DMU, NERI)

Miljøministeriet, Miljøcenter Ribe

Germany

Federal Environmental Specimen Bank, Umweltbundesamt, Berlin

Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LAVES)

Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (NLWKN)

Netherlands

Rijkswaterstaat Waterdienst Lelystand

13 Literature

Bakker, J.F., Heuvel-Greve, M v.d., Vethaak, D., 2005. : Hazardous substances. In: K. Essink, C. Dettmann, H. Farke, K. Laursen, G. Lüerßen, H. Marencic, W. Wiersinga (Eds.). Quality Status Report 2004. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 19. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

OSPAR 1997c.: Agreed ecotoxicological assessment criteria for trace metals, PCBs, PAHs, TBT and some organochlorine pesticides (OSPAR 97/15/1, Annex 6).

OSPAR 2005. : Synergies in Assessment and Monitoring between OSPAR and the European Union Analysis of synergies in assessment and monitoring of hazardous substances, eutrophication, radioactive substances and offshore industry in the North-East Atlantic. Volume 1. Ref-No. 2005/230

OSPAR, 1997b.: Agreed background/reference concentrations for contaminants in sea water, biota and sediment (OSPAR 97/15/1, Annex 5).