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China launches emergency pollution monitoring scheme
Marine PollutionBulletin Erik Sorstrom, Oceanor, Pir-Senteret, PO Box 2514Fjordgt, 7002 Trondheim, Norway; Tel: 47-7-52-5050.
China Launches Emergency Pollution Monitoring Scheme In recent years marine waste disposal, red tides, and oil spill incidents are becoming a major threat to the marine environment and marine life in Chinese coastal waters. In order to strengthen the field of pollution monitoring, to protect the marine environment and bioresources, and to provide accurate information about pollution incidents the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has inaugurated a first national emergency pollution monitoring programme. The programme, which is based on the Marine Environment Protection Law of the PRC, will deal with waste disposal, red tides, and oil spill incidents. The implementation of this programme has thrown fight on the deterioration of the marine environment in China. Hopefully, it will alleviate the present chaotic situation with regards to marine pollution monitoring. The compatibility and reliability of available monitoring data will be improved. This will not only enhance management effectiveness but also solve the problem of judiciary dispute about the monitoring criteria. The programme was formulated based on the last fifteen year's experience of marine pollution work in China and other countries. Four main subjects are included within the programme. They are: 1. objectives and requirements; 2. range of applications; 3. distribution of monitoring stations and 4. monitoring parameters, frequency, and methods. These integrated management processes and technical methods are primarily in accordance with the present marine poilution management system, Marine environmental protection programmes although in their infancy are proceeding well. At a recent conference on these issues held in Dalian, delegates proposed several measures which should result in the programme being implemented in the future: 1. local government should form their own concrete plans according to their specific circumstances; 2. several specific topics, such as oil spill prediction, monitoring the impact of dredged materials, lists of potential redtide organisms and mapping projects must be done in conjunction with the programme; and 3. the establishment of permanent management and communication networks to cope with red tide and oil spill accidents, For further information and discussion contact: Zhijie Fan, PO Box 303, Dalian, China.
Mediterranean Study Results Results from the first major campaign of the EROS 2000 (European River Ocean System) research programme on the protection of the marine environment have recently been published. A month-long study into the pollution of the Mediterranean as conducted from 154
the NERC-loaned vessel Discovery with the aim of assessing the relative importance of atmospheric and river-borne contaminants to the Mediterranean. Evaluation of sediment loading of heavy metals and metalloids comprised a major part of the study. A second phase was devoted to research into organic pollution, mainly from hydrocarbons, and to the cyclical movements of nutrients in the marine environment. Samples taken during the study were sent to laboratories across Europe in an effort to avoid bias. The study found that the Mediterranean at present contains a quarter of the world's hydrocarbon waste (despite the sea accounting for only 1% of the Earth's total ocean area). Atmospheric pollution was found to contribute equally to pollution-loading when compared to riverborne wastes. A second similar study is to be organized for a date later this year. The problems of other European seas, notably the North Sea, are to be covered by future EROS 2000 studies. The EROS 2000 programme is jointly financed by the European Commission, the 12 Member States, Monaco, and Switzerland.
Criticism of Fish-farming Controls The Government's recent review of the Crown Estate Commissioner's consultation procedures for marine fish-farming leases has come under further attack. As reported last month (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 20, 104) there is to be no extension of the current general planning controls on new applications for fish farms. This followed the rejection by the Secretary of State for Scotland of representations from local authorities who urged that marine fish farming should be brought into the planning system so that more open decisions could be reached by elected bodies and be subject to existing appeal arrangements. The Crown Estate Commissioners, who control fish farm leases, have now proposed that 25 Scottish sea locks should be designated 'Very Sensitive Areas' and kept free of further developments. In their area guidelines they also list another 55 loch or coastal sites where they say large scale fish farming (more than 12 000 m 2 of cages, etc.) should be resisted and 20 open coastal areas where there should be a general presumption in favour of fish farming developments. Criticism has come from Scotland's Highland Regional Council planning committee, which contends that these additional restrictions by the CEC are occurring at a time when the council is promoting the development and diversification of fish farming. Seventeen of the 'Very Sensitive Areas' (VSA) occur within Highland Region with a further 36 lochs coming under the general restrictions. The locations which are listed as VSA's occur in Sutherland, Ross-shire, Skye and Lochaber as well as in Argyll. It would appear that the council is indicating its reaffirmation of the view that the Crown Estate is not the proper body to develop a national policy on an important regional industry. This view is also supported by the Scottish Wildlife
China Launches Emergency Pollution Monitoring Scheme In recent years marine waste disposal, red tides, and oil spill incidents are becoming a major threat to the marine environment and marine life in Chinese coastal waters. In order to strengthen the field of pollution monitoring, to protect the marine environment and bioresources, and to provide accurate information about pollution incidents the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) has inaugurated a first national emergency pollution monitoring programme. The programme, which is based on the Marine Environment Protection Law of the PRC, will deal with waste disposal, red tides, and oil spill incidents. The implementation of this programme has thrown fight on the deterioration of the marine environment in China. Hopefully, it will alleviate the present chaotic situation with regards to marine pollution monitoring. The compatibility and reliability of available monitoring data will be improved. This will not only enhance management effectiveness but also solve the problem of judiciary dispute about the monitoring criteria. The programme was formulated based on the last fifteen year's experience of marine pollution work in China and other countries. Four main subjects are included within the programme. They are: 1. objectives and requirements; 2. range of applications; 3. distribution of monitoring stations and 4. monitoring parameters, frequency, and methods. These integrated management processes and technical methods are primarily in accordance with the present marine poilution management system, Marine environmental protection programmes although in their infancy are proceeding well. At a recent conference on these issues held in Dalian, delegates proposed several measures which should result in the programme being implemented in the future: 1. local government should form their own concrete plans according to their specific circumstances; 2. several specific topics, such as oil spill prediction, monitoring the impact of dredged materials, lists of potential redtide organisms and mapping projects must be done in conjunction with the programme; and 3. the establishment of permanent management and communication networks to cope with red tide and oil spill accidents, For further information and discussion contact: Zhijie Fan, PO Box 303, Dalian, China.
Mediterranean Study Results Results from the first major campaign of the EROS 2000 (European River Ocean System) research programme on the protection of the marine environment have recently been published. A month-long study into the pollution of the Mediterranean as conducted from 154
the NERC-loaned vessel Discovery with the aim of assessing the relative importance of atmospheric and river-borne contaminants to the Mediterranean. Evaluation of sediment loading of heavy metals and metalloids comprised a major part of the study. A second phase was devoted to research into organic pollution, mainly from hydrocarbons, and to the cyclical movements of nutrients in the marine environment. Samples taken during the study were sent to laboratories across Europe in an effort to avoid bias. The study found that the Mediterranean at present contains a quarter of the world's hydrocarbon waste (despite the sea accounting for only 1% of the Earth's total ocean area). Atmospheric pollution was found to contribute equally to pollution-loading when compared to riverborne wastes. A second similar study is to be organized for a date later this year. The problems of other European seas, notably the North Sea, are to be covered by future EROS 2000 studies. The EROS 2000 programme is jointly financed by the European Commission, the 12 Member States, Monaco, and Switzerland.
Criticism of Fish-farming Controls The Government's recent review of the Crown Estate Commissioner's consultation procedures for marine fish-farming leases has come under further attack. As reported last month (see Mar. Pollut. Bull. 20, 104) there is to be no extension of the current general planning controls on new applications for fish farms. This followed the rejection by the Secretary of State for Scotland of representations from local authorities who urged that marine fish farming should be brought into the planning system so that more open decisions could be reached by elected bodies and be subject to existing appeal arrangements. The Crown Estate Commissioners, who control fish farm leases, have now proposed that 25 Scottish sea locks should be designated 'Very Sensitive Areas' and kept free of further developments. In their area guidelines they also list another 55 loch or coastal sites where they say large scale fish farming (more than 12 000 m 2 of cages, etc.) should be resisted and 20 open coastal areas where there should be a general presumption in favour of fish farming developments. Criticism has come from Scotland's Highland Regional Council planning committee, which contends that these additional restrictions by the CEC are occurring at a time when the council is promoting the development and diversification of fish farming. Seventeen of the 'Very Sensitive Areas' (VSA) occur within Highland Region with a further 36 lochs coming under the general restrictions. The locations which are listed as VSA's occur in Sutherland, Ross-shire, Skye and Lochaber as well as in Argyll. It would appear that the council is indicating its reaffirmation of the view that the Crown Estate is not the proper body to develop a national policy on an important regional industry. This view is also supported by the Scottish Wildlife