Skip to main content

BB22/H15 - Persistent Chemicals in Marine Mammals

 
FieldDescriptionValidated Entry
[Table title]Name of monitoring programme

Persistent Chemicals in Marine Mammals

[ProgrammeDescription]Description of the monitoring programme

The PCB concentrations monitoring is carried out within OSPAR's Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP) (Agreement 2016-01). CEMP monitoring work on hazardous substances comprises monitoring and assessment of the sources and pathways of contaminants and their concentrations and effects in the marine environment.

OSPAR has agreed within the context of the CEMP that certain components for hazardous substances are to be monitored on a mandatory basis, subject to clearly defined and agreed conditions.

For CEMP component H15 total blubber PCB concentrations will be represented as the sum of all measured PCBs, which must include Σ7PCBs as well as CB149 and CB187, as they are among the top five congeners, detectable in some small cetaceans.

Stranding monitoring programmes of marine mammals provide basis of tissue sampling for analyses within CEMP component H15.

Sampling programmes may include collection and storage of samples from stranded, bycaught or hunted dead marine mammals or biopsies from live animals. 

Sampling must include fat (blubber) and may include other tissues suitable for measuring persistent organic pollutants.

[OtherPoliciesConventions]Monitoring for other Union legislation or international agreements that contributes to the programme.OSP-CEMP
[Contracting Parties monitoring]

Which other countries are involved in practical implementation of this monitoring programme, and what is the degree of cooperation.

Coordinated data collection (delivered separately by each country)

BE, DE, DK, ES, FR, IE, SE, UK

[Contracting Parties supplying data] 

UK, FR, IE, ES, DE

[Contracting Parties with an "opt out"]  
[Temporal scope]Start (and end) date of the programme.

1990-9999

[Spatial scope]Spatial coverage of the programme according to the jurisdictional zones of marine waters.

Terrestrial part of MS
EEZ (or similar, e.g. Contiguous Zone, Fishing Zone, Ecological Protection Zone)

[Aggregation of Data]At which scale can the data from the sub-programme be aggregated for environmental assessments?

Marine mammal Assessment Unit Level
OSPAR Assessment area level

[MarineReportingUnit]Area(s) where the programme takes place. 

[Monitoring Purpose]

Purpose of the programme aimed at collecting data and information.

Environmental state and impacts
Pressures in the marine environment

[MonitoringType]Type of monitoring (in-situ, remote sensing, etc.).

In-situ sampling coastal
In-situ sampling land/beach

[Indicator Metric]Feature(s) monitored (ecosystem components, pressures, activities).

PresEnvContNonUPBTs
PresEnvContUPBTs
MamCetacSmall
MamSeals
PresPhyAll

[Elements]Element(s) monitored (e.g. species, habitats, contaminants).

PCB 28 (2,4,4’-trichlorobiphenyl)
PCB 52 (2,2’,5,5’-tetrachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 101 (2,2’,4,5,5’-pentachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 118 (2,3’,4,4’,5-pentachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 138 (2,2’,3,4,4’,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 149 (2,2',3,4',5',6-hexachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 153 (2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 180 (2,2’,3,4,4’,5,5’-heptachlorobiphenyl)
PCB 187 (2,2',3,4',5,5',6-heptachlorobiphenyl)
Phocoena phocoena
Delphinus delphis
Phoca vitulina
Halichoerus grypus

[Element Monitored] 

Introduction of synthetic and non-synthetic substances and compounds 
PCB Congeners
Post-mortem monitoring of marine mammals

[Parameter Measured]Parameter(s) monitored.

CONC-B-FA
OTH

[Monitoring Guidelines/Monitoring Method in place]Guidelines/protocols describing the method for monitoring.

OSP-001
 

[MonitoringMethodOther]Guidelines/protocols describing the method for monitoring.

CEMP guidelines for monitoring status and trends of persistent chemicals in marine mammals

ACCOBAMS and ASCOBANS Best practice on cetacean post mortem investigation and tissue sampling

[Quality Assurance Procedures in Place]In addition to a specified method, is there any additional Quality Assurance used?

External laboratory proficiency testing scheme: QUASIMEME

[Quality Control]What type of Quality Control is used? 
[Data submission Frequency (and deadline)]Frequency of the monitoring

Continually OR as needed OR other (could specify e.g.  As project based or dependent on sample availability from strandings etc)

[Applicable MSFD GES Criteria]Indicator(s) to which the programme contributes.

D8C1
D1C3

[Data Depository]Link to where monitoring data can be accessed (Art. 19(3)

https://www.ices.dk/data/data-portals/Pages/DOME.aspx

[Data Custodian] 

ICES Datacentre

[Assessment Guidelines]  
[Assessment tools available]  
[Nature of data] 

Unprocessed

BB22/H15 - Persistent Chemicals in Marine Mammals