ICES CM 2016/SSGEPI: 11. REF. ACOM, SCICOM. Interim Report of the Working Group on Marine Sediments in Relation to Pollution (WGMS), 2-6 March 2015, Koblenz, Germany. ICES CM 2015/SSGEPI:08.
Belzunce Maria J.; Thi Bolam; Ana Gama; M?rio Mil-Homens; Els Monteyne; Craig Robinson (co-chair); Birgit Schubert; Foppe Smedes; Spagnoli F; Celine Tixier;
The Working Group on Marine Sediments in Relation to Pollution (WGMS) met for the first meeting of its new three year term of reference on 2-6 March 2015, in Koblenz, Ger-many. The meeting was attended by ten members from 8 countries, with additional rele-vant presentations received from staff of the host institute.
WGMS has six Terms of Reference, with all of them being due for completion in 2017. These terms of reference require the Group to (1) respond to requests for advice; (2) re-port to ICES on research using passive sampling, review the suitability of different pas-sive sampling methods for monitoring contaminants in sediments, to produce guidelines for sediment monitoring using passive samplers, to produce criteria to assess passive sampling monitoring data; (3) to report on the applicability of modelling to explain the distribution of sediment-associated contaminants in relation to potential sources; (4) to advise on deep sea sediment monitoring protocols; (5) to investigate/review the potential for release of contaminants from marine renewable energy activities; (6) to review emerg-ing issues such as microplastics and deep sea mining as potential risks of environmental contamination by hazardous substances.
In 2015, good progress was made on five of the ToRs, whilst (ToR 5) was not worked on as the most interested member could not attend the meeting. The Group were due to produce a review in 2015 on methods for passive sampling of sediments. However, whilst significant progress was made with respect to reviewing methods of passive sam-pling for metallic contaminants and a review for hydrophobic contaminants was brought to the meeting, the final review document could not be finalised at the meeting and com-pletion of this (ToR 2a) will be done as part of the final report of the group’s three year term. A literature database was established and begun to be populated with reports suit-able for deriving assessment criteria. Reports on modelling approaches were received and reviewed. Existing protocols and guidelines on sediment monitoring were reviewed for applicability to the deep sea. Reports from other working groups with interests in microplastics and deep sea mining were reviewed, and further information presented on work being done in these areas. Work to further progress the ToRs was agreed and will be taken forward at the next meeting of WGMS, which will take place in Ostend, Belgium during 14-18 March 2016.