Environmental Assessment in van Mijenfjorden, Svalbard

Updated 2000-10-23

The project aims to describe the environmental status of marine sediments in van Mijenfjorden. This to provide baseline data of contaminants and biodiversity, as well as for monitoring of eventual contamination from industrial activities (coal mining).

This is not a National Implementation Plan (NIP) project

http://www.akvaplan.niva.no/en/

Comments and additional information:

Project not yet fully financed.

Status: Ongoing
Project time span: 2000 - 2003
Data collection: 2000 - 2000
Data processing: 2001 - 2002
Data reporting: 2002 - 2003

Contact information

Contact person: Sabine J. Cochrane
Address: Akvaplan-niva Polar Environmental Centre 9296 Tromsø Norway
Phone: +47 777 50300 / 50327 (dir)
Fax: +47 777 50301
Email: on.avin.nalpavka@enarhcoc.enibas
Other project contacts: Salve Dahle Akvaplan-niva Polar Environmental Centre 9296 Tromsø Norway

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled

Biological effects

Heavy metals

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

Petroleum hydrocarbons

Radionuclides

Media sampled/studied/modelled

Marine sediments

Geography

Regions studied: Marine TDC
Stations or areas where observations are made: Exact sampling locations not yet available (data currently with the Polish cooperation partner) 9 sites sampled in van Mijenfjord, including the following: 2 diver transects with collection of benthic fauna for contaminant analyses; sediment core sample for analysis of sedimentation rate (3 sites); sediment traps (3 sites); benthic faunal analyses (6 sites); hydrographic samples of surface water down to bottom layers (tempertaure, salinity, light and acoustic measurements (6 sites + 2 transects across the fjord); composition and quantity of zooplankton (6 sites). Samples are taken along the length of the fjord, with sampling stations in Svea Bay, in the innermost fjord basin, in the main fjord basin and off Akseløya. Contaminants analysed are in accordance with AMAP requirements

Data availability

Are data archived or planned to be archived at an AMAP Thematic Data Centre?: yes-all

Data centres: Marine TDC

References to key publications (or planned publications) and data reports

One report and a scientific publication are planned. Working titles will be available in 2001.

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?: No

Specimen banking information: Specimens are stored at Akvaplan-niva. All taxa are individually bottled per sample replicate and stored in 70-80% ethanol for an unlimited period.

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.: Sampling procedures and processing of biological samples are carried out in accordance with Norwegian Standard NS9423 and the relevant ICES, JAMP/OSPARCOM & HELCOM guidelines.
QA/QC Information (what QA/QC procedures are implemented, laboratories involvment in QA/QC activities, model verification/validation routines, etc.): All samples processed at Akvaplan-niva's biological laboratory. Norwegian accreditation rules and quality assurance procedures enforced.

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?: No
Other institutes involved in the project: Cooperating laboratories are Akvaplan-niva and the Polish Institute of Oceanology (contact person Dr. Jan Marcin Weslawski).
Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?: Will report to Store Norske Spitsbergen Kullkompaniet and AMAP. Possibly other organisations later.
Other related projects: Relevant, but not directly related to contaminant analyses reported in Akvaplan-niva project "Contaminants in Marine Sediments". Previously registered with AMAP.