Study Group: Marine Pollutants
  • Acronym: SG-MP
  • Parent Committee: MEQ
  • Term: Oct. 2011 - Dec. 2013
  • Chair: Peter Ross (Canada)
Description and Statement of Purpose:

Description and Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of the proposed Study Group on Marine Pollutants (SG-MP) is to identify novel or promising approaches to monitoring pollutant trends over space and time, and to evaluate impacts on biota at the population level.  The Study Group will establish a list of priority substances and pollutant indicators in PICES member countries using a series of case studies (e.g., microplastics in seawater, seabird egg monitoring for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) over time; risk-based ranking of complex pollutant mixtures in sediments).  This will help identify those methods or approaches that would benefit from harmonization (e.g., characterization of heterogenousmicroplastic content in seawater or biota), and improve data delivery and scientific advice to managers and stakeholders.

While SG-MP will focus on impacts to biota, linkages will be established with those efforts that describe socio-economic impacts of pollution (e.g., fisheries closures, consumption guidelines, impacts on endangered species, special vulnerability of coastal and indigenous peoples).  Input from regional and international bodies such as ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea), GESAMP (Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection) and NOWPAP (Northwest Pacific Action Plan), will increase efficiencies and the scientific value of the SG-MP outcome.

The establishment of SG-MP is consistent with the FUTURE Science Plan component 3 (How do human activities affect coastal ecosystems and how are societies affected by changes in these ecosystems?), and contribute insight into the structure, function and resilience of ecosystems as in components 1 and 2.  This will provide a critical evaluation of highly complex pollutant mixtures, clarify priority concerns in the North Pacific, and provide a platform to evaluate the relative importance of pollutants compared to other stressors.

Terms of Reference
  1. Identify novel or promising approaches to operational marine pollution assessment in PICES member countries by:
    • establishing a list of priority pollutant concerns for each of the PICES member countries;
    • identifying useful indicators of status, trends and effects; and
    • identifying those issues or methods that would benefit from harmonization.
  2. Identify interactions within PICES scientific committees and expert groups that will complement the Study Group and will be consistent with the ecosystem approach espoused by FUTURE.
  3. Explore potential partnerships with other professional or multilateral organizations (e.g., ICES, GESAMP, NOWPAP) which could lead to joint activities (working group, sessions, publications), improve efficiencies and strengthen scientific outcomes.
  4. Develop recommendations for a possible PICES Working Group on marine pollutants.

Linkages to the FUTURE Science Plan:

Component 3: How do human activities affect coastal ecosystems and how are societies affected by changes in these ecosystems?

Products
Annual Meetings

Reports

2013, 2012

Session and Workshop Summaries

PICES-2013:
S3Status, trends and effects of pollutants in coastal ecosystems: Implications for wildlife and humans
W7Traditional seafoods of coastal aboriginal communities in the North Pacific: Insight into food, social and ceremonial uses at Snuneymux’w First Nation in Nanaimo, British Columbia

PICES Press

Winter 2012, Vol. 20, No. 1
PICES-2011 Workshop on “Trends in Marine Contaminants and their Effects in a Changing Ocean”

PICES Scientific Reports
PICES Sci. Rep. No. 46, 2014
Report of the Study Group on Marine Pollutants
Members as of December 2013
Peter S. Ross
1741 Duchess St.
Victoria, BC Canada V8R 4W2
Phone: (1-250) 370-0923
E-mail: PeterRoss1741@gmail.com
Zhengguo Cui
Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute
Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences
106 Nanjing Rd.
Qingdao, Shandong
China, PR 266071
Phone: (86-532) 8583-6341
E-mail: cuizg@ysfri.ac.cn
Zijun Xu
North China Sea Environmental Monitoring Center
North China Sea Branch of SOA
22 Fushun Rd.
Qingdao, Shandong
China, PR 266000
Phone: (86-532) 85761069
Fax: (86-532) 85761069
E-mail: zjxu77@gmail.com
Ziwei Yao
National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, SOA
42 Linghe St., Shahekou District
Dalian, Liaoning
China, PR 116023
Phone: (86-411) 8478-2505
E-mail: zwyao@nmemc.gov.cn
Shigeru Itakura
National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, FRA
2-17-5 Maruishi
Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Japan 739-0452
Phone: (81-829) 55-3764
Fax: (81-829) 54-1216
E-mail: itakura@affrc.go.jp
Sang Hee Hong
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)
Jangmok-myon 391
Geoje-shi
Korea, R 656-834
Phone: (82-55) 639-8674
E-mail: shhong@kiost.ac
Hyo-Bang Moon
Department of Environmental Marine Sciences
Hanyang University
55 Hanyangdaehak-ro, Sangnok-gu
Ansan, Kyeonggi-do
Korea, R 426-791
Phone: (82-31) 400-5534
Fax: (82-31) 408-6255
E-mail: hbmoon@hanyang.ac.kr
Won Joon Shim
Oil and POPs Research Group
Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST)
41 Jangmok1-gil Jangmok-Myon
Geoje
Korea, R 656-834
Phone: (82-55) 639-8671
Fax: (82-55) 639-8689
E-mail: wjshim@kiost.ac
Olga N. Lukyanova
Laboratory of Applied Ecology and Ecotoxicology
Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (TINRO-Center)
4 Shevchenko Alley
Vladivostok, Primorsky Kray
Russia 690950
Phone: (7-4232) 400-805
Fax: (7-4232) 300-751
E-mail: onlukyanova@tinro.ru
Vladimir M. Shulkin
(ex officio, representing NOWPAP)
Pacific Geographical Institute, FEB RAS
7 Radio St.
Vladivostok, Primorsky Kray
Russia 690041
Phone: (7-4232) 320-652
Fax: (7-4232) 312-833
E-mail: shulkin@tig.dvo.ru
Mikhail Simokon
Pacific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (TINRO-Center)
4 Shevchenko Alley
Vladivostok, Primorsky Kray
Russia 690091
Phone: (7-423) 240-0805
E-mail: simokon@tinro.ru
Joel Baker
Center for Urban Waters
University of Washington
326 East D St.
Tacoma, WA
U.S.A. 98421
Phone: (253) 254-7025
E-mail: jebaker@uw.edu
Staci Simonich
Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
Oregon State University
1007 Ag and Life Science Bldg.
Corvallis, OR
U.S.A. 97331-7301
Phone: (1-541) 737-9194
E-mail: staci.simonich@oregonstate.edu