Premiam Meetings Promote Cooperation & Integration in Post-spill monitoring
3 December 2015
In recent weeks 2 meetings have taken place under the Premiam initiative providing strong support for the promotion of best practice and integration in post-spill monitoring preparedness and conduct.
On 12th November the inaugural Premiam/Industry liaison meeting was held between a number of industry representatives at the ITOPF offices in London. The meeting, chaired by Cefas, was attended by 14 delegates representing key industry sector organisations including ITOPF, Oil & Gas UK, OSRL, UKSpill, BP and IOPC Funds as well as public sector representation from the Environment Agency and Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The meeting provided an excellent opportunity to establish the importance of post-spill environmental monitoring across industry sectors and to promote the principles as set out under the Premiam initiative. There was strong support for the aims of the Premiam initiative and very useful discussion about how integration on this issue between the private and public sectors can be taken forward.
On 1st December the Premiam Steering Group meeting was convened for the milestone 10th time. Of the 22 public sector Premiam partner organisations 16 were able to field delegates as well as attendance by the PMCC (Premiam Monitoring Coordination Cell) chairs for both England and Wales. This annual meeting is the main opportunity for partners to compare developments in the field of post spill monitoring and to decide on the ongoing key actions required to maintain and promote the principles of best practice in science and management for post spill monitoring and impact assessment activities.
The actions taken from both meetings will form the basis of an ongoing programme of activity in 2016 aimed at continuing the excellent progress in cooperation and preparedness promoted under the Premiam initiative. As well as key actions aimed at promoting public/private sector liaison on such issues key decisions were taken with respect to convening a 3rd Premiam Conference in 2016 and an aim to revise the current Premiam guidelines to include several new sections (hopefully to be by the end of 2016). Should you have any interest of queries about the Premiam initiative do not hesitate to contact the Premiam coordinator, Mark Kirby.