Monitoring van paraffine-achtige stoffen op Nederlandse stranden en in magen van Noordse Stormvogels

Within the KB-Program System Earth Management 2018 (KB-24-002-036) a pilot study was conducted into options to monitor of paraffin- or palmfat-like substances on Dutch beaches and in stomachs of corpses of beached Northern Fulmars. Such substances are, in part legally, discharged by tanker ships cleaning their tanks at sea.Paraffin was chemically identified by the presence of alkanes in the samples. It remains to be investigated in detail which other mineral oil derivatives may show similar alkane patterns. In the absence of alkanes further analyses were conducted to assess the type of material involved.Samples taken from beaches showed to be paraffin in 30 of 32 analyses (94%). One sample contained palmoil related substances, one sample remained unclear but contained phthalates (eg used as plastic softeners). The materials from bird stomachs proved to be different. Paraffin was only found in 31% of 32 samples. In 41% of the stomachs vegetable fatty substances were demonstrated, usually palm oil related. The remainder of samples had an uncertain mix of vegetable and animal fats. The difference between beaches and bird stomachs may have several backgrounds, including attraction for wildlife, melting points, and biodegradability.Over 20% of fulmars found in the Netherlands has chemical suspect materials in the stomach. Not much is known about potential health impacts. Over the years no clear changes can be detected. Quantities of material ingested are highly variable. Frequency of occurrence may slightly reduce over the more recent years, but there is no statistically significant trend. It would make sense to add records on chemical suspect materials in fulmar stomachs to the existing monitoring of plastics in the framework of OSPAR and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Clearly chemical analyses of substances encountered on beaches and in birds is additionally recommended

Contaminants in northern fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) exposed to plastic

Northern fulmars are seabirds which feed exclusively at sea, and as such, they are useful indicators of ocean health. Marine plastic pollution is an ever-increasing and global issue that affects the northern fulmar as they are frequently found to have ingested plastic. In this report we investigate whether the amount of ingested plastic affects the concentration of certain plastic-adsorbed toxicants in their tissues. Marine plastic pollution is a field of utmost importance. It is our hope that this continues to be an area which receives increased attention in order to elucidate the potential harmful effects plastics have on the northern fulmar and ocean health, in general

Ice-fuelled food webs in the Polar Oceans

The Arctic Ocean is undergoing substantial warming and sea ice loss which are likely to cause changes in primary production, export fluxes and productivity of the Arctic marine ecosystems. Yet, we lack sufficient information about the ecosystem productivity, organic carbon cycling and cryo-pelago-benthic coupling processes in the Arctic Ocean. Particularly such information is scarce for deep Arctic basins and the spring to summer transition time. Our aim was to provide carbon budget estimations under different regimes and bloom development stages in the region north of Svalbard. We conducted ecological and biogeochemical early spring process studies in sea ice covered areas, from the shelf to the basins of the European Arctic margin and on the Yermak Plateau during the TRANSSIZ cruise PS 92 on the ice breaker R/V Polarstern in May/June 2015. We identified the potential characteristics of carbon production of primary producers in the sea ice and water column, and secondary production of zooplankton and benthos. We looked into the organic carbon production fate and export, including respiration and burial, as well as identified similarities and differences in ecosystem functioning along topography- , sea ice- and water mass-related gradients. This scientific initiative was undertaken by Arctic in Rapid Transition (ART) International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) network

Marine Litter : Technical Recommendations for the Implementation of MSFD Requirements

As a follow up to the Commission Decision on criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status (GES) of marine waters (Commission Decision 2010/477/EU), the Marine Directors requested Directorate General Environment in 2010 to establish a technical subgroup under the Working Group on GES in relation to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC (WG GES) for further development of Descriptor 10 Marine Litter and Descriptor 11 Noise/Energy. This report compiles the recommendations regarding Descriptor 10, Marine Litter. The implementation of provisons under MSFD Descriptor 10 as described in the Commission Decision 2010/477/EU is in its first step depending on the availability of appropriate monitoring tools.The group has investigated the monitoring approaches for marine litter and provides a set of monitoring tools which can be employed for that purpose.There are gaps in the regional applicability and differences in the maturity of some tools. There is need for further harmonization and collaborative activities in order to allow EU MS the future reporting of environmental trends and thus the verification of measures against marine litter.JRC.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas

This publication is a Reference Report by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.The MSFD Technical Subgroup on Marine Litter was tasked to deliver guidance so that European Member States could initiate programmes for monitoring of Descriptor 10 of the MSFD. The present document provides the recommendations and information needed to commence the monitoring required for marine litter, including methodological protocols and categories of items to be used for the assessment of litter on the Beach, Water Column, Seafloor and Biota, including a special section on Microparticles