Publication Abstract

Searching for undesirable disturbance: the OSPAR eutrophication assessment method applied to marine waters of England and Wales

The OSPAR eutrophication strategy (2003) set a new scientific challenge in requiring assessment to be based on the ecological consequences of nutrient enrichment and not just on nutrient enrichment alone.  The challenge is in finding reliable evidence for accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life producing an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms and deterioration in water quality. 

The coastal and offshore waters of England and Wales were assessed against OSPAR's harmonised criteria of nutrient concentration and ratios, chlorophyll concentrations, phytoplankton indicator species, macrophytes, dissolved oxygen levels, incidence of fish kills and changes in the zoobenthos, using region specific thresholds.  None of the thriteen assessment areas, including six areas assessed as nutrient enriched, exhibited evidence for undesirable disturbance or deterioration in water quality. 

This paper details the challenge posed by some of the methods and the overall outcome of the assessment.  It presents evidence for light limitation preventing undesirable disturbance in certain areas.  The results of an international peer-review were used to improve the robustness of the assessment. 

J. Foden*, M. Devlin, D. Mills*, S. Malcolm*

ASLO Conference, Nice, 2009