Division Specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment

1. 1..

   For criteria elements under D8C1, the selection under points 1(b) and 2(b) of additional contaminants that may give rise to pollution effects shall be based on a risk assessment. For these contaminants, the matrix and threshold values used for the assessment shall be representative of the most sensitive species and exposure pathway, including hazards to human health via exposure through the food chain.

2. 2..

   For the purposes of this Decision:

   1. (a)

      Criterion D8C1: for the assessment of contaminants in coastal and territorial waters, F1the Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall monitor the contaminants in accordance with the requirements of F2any enactment which gives effect to Directive 2000/60/EC and the assessments under F3any enactment which gives effect to that Directive shall be used where available. Information on the pathways (atmospheric, land- or sea-based) for contaminants entering the marine environment shall be collected, where feasible.

   2. (b)

      Criteria D8C2 and D8C4: biomarkers or population demographic characteristics (e.g. fecundity rates, survival rates, mortality rates, and reproductive capacity) may be relevant to assess the health effects.

   3. (c)

      Criteria D8C3 and D8C4: for the purposes of this Decision, monitoring is established as needed once the acute pollution event has occurred, rather than being part of a regular monitoring programme under Article 11 of Directive 2008/56/EC.

   4. (d)

      Criterion D8C3: the Secretary of State, in consultation with the devolved policy authorities, shall identify the source of significant acute pollution events, where possible. F4...

3. 3..

   Contaminants shall be understood to refer to single substances or to groups of substances. For consistency in reporting, the grouping of substances shall be agreed F5through regional or subregional cooperation.

4. 4..

   Species composition shall be understood to refer to the lowest taxonomic level appropriate for the assessment.

Units of measurement for the criteria:

• D8C1: concentrations of contaminants in micrograms per litre (μg/l) for water, in micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) of dry weight for sediment and in micrograms per kilogram (μg/kg) of wet weight for biota,

• D8C2: abundance (number of individuals or other suitable units as agreed at regional or subregional level) per species affected; extent in square kilometres (km²) per broad habitat type affected,

• D8C3: duration in days and spatial extent in square kilometres (km²) of significant acute pollution events per year,

• D8C4: abundance (number of individuals or other suitable units as agreed at regional or subregional level) per species affected; extent in square kilometres (km²) per broad habitat type affected.