Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D8 / Cyprus / Mediterranean: Aegean-Levantine Sea

Report type Member State report to Commission
MSFD Article Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates)
Report due 2020-10-15
GES Descriptor D8 Contaminants
Member State Cyprus
Region/subregion Mediterranean: Aegean-Levantine Sea
Reported by Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environm
Report date 2020-12-14
Report access

Descriptor
D8
Monitoring strategy description
Cyprus has implemented the program code MALCY-D08 in the geographical area of MAL-CY-MS to monitor pollutants in sediments and organisms (fish) and the investigation of pollution from accidental or illegal discharges. Under this program are the following sub programs. Sub program code MALCY-08-01 conducted yearly in the marine areas of Cyprus particularly the DFMR 2000/60/EC sampling stations. This sub program monitors pollutants in sediments. Sediment sampling is conducted using the CYS EN ISO 5667-19:2004, Water quality – Sampling - Part 19: Guidance on sampling in marine sediments, CYS EN ISO 5667-15:2009, Water quality – Sampling - Part 15: Guidance on the preservation and handling of sludge and sediment samples. Sediment samples (0 to 2 cm and 2 to 4 cm) are collected in triplicate at each sampling station using a Van Veen grab and placed into the appropriate sample container. The samples are analysed for nickel, lead, chromium, copper, cadmium, mercury, zinc polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at the State Chemical Laboratory following the methods outlined in DFMR (2020). The monitoring program follows the MSFD criteria and indicators of concentration of contaminants measured in the relevant matrix in a way that ensures comparability with the assessments under Directive 2000/60/EC, effects of contaminants, and occurrence, origin (if possible), extent of significant acute pollution events and their impact on biota physically affected; the UNEP/MAP (2013) criteria and indicators analysing concentration of key harmful contaminants in biota, sediment, or water, and occurrence, origin (if possible), extent of significant acute pollution events and their impact on biota physically affected. The DFMR (2020) report provided data from 2013 to 2019 for heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments. Data was compared to the United States effects range low values and Italian standards due to no European or Regional standards being available. Only minimal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were observed and mainly in 2017 with all being below the referenced standards. The majority of the nickel, lead, cadmium, chromium, and copper sediment concentrations exceeding the United States and Italian standards. The December 2019 GES Report stated Cyprus is in GES regarding metals in sediment due to the 2013 to 2016 data presented being within the targets (see Section 5.6.2) established. Sub program MALCY-08-02 is conducted yearly i
Coverage of GES criteria
Adequate monitoring will be in place by 2024
Gaps and plans
Program D8 – Full GES coverage can be further achieved by collating seawater and sediment data already provided to the Cypriot environmental authorities by oil and gas operators into a central searchable data base. This database will allow for the calculation of baseline average (± standard deviation) concentration for each naturally occurring contaminant investigated. Future concentrations sampled after anthropogenic activity (i.e. drilling) can be compared against the baseline average in order to determine potential impacts resulting from that activity.
Related targets
Coverage of targets
Related measures
Coverage of measures
Related monitoring programmes
  • D08
Programme code
D08
Programme name
Contaminants (Cyprus contaminants monitoring programme)
Update type
Same programme as in 2014
Old programme codes
Programme description
The Cyprus contaminants monitoring programme focuses on a pressure, contaminants, and evaluates their concentration in sediments and biota, as well as the frequency and magnitude of contaminant release through spills and illegal discharges. These components of the programme were decided jointly with other Mediterranean EU member-states . The programme capitalizes on the existing monitoring programme in the framework of MedPOL (UNEP/MAP) already measuring contaminants in biota, as well as sampling methodologies in the framework of WFD. This programme addresses in whole or in part the relevant indicators of Ecological Objective 09 adopted by the Contracting Parties of UNEP/MAP (2013). Three sub-programmes are running under this programme : 1. Contaminants in sediments (MALCY-D08-01), 2. Contaminants in biota (MALCY-D08-02), 3. Spills and illegal discharges (MALCY-D08-03) DFMR has implemented “Guidelines for an Offshore Environmental Baseline Survey for Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in Cyprus (DFMR, 2017)” to provide a current status of the environment prior to commencing activities in the offshore oil and gas lease areas. Per these requirements, sediment samples are taken to assess the chemical constituents including hydrocarbons, nutrients, metals, and radioactive compounds in the sediments within the lease areas during Environmental Baseline Surveys (EBS) in the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ).
Monitoring purpose
  • Human activities causing the pressures
Other policies and conventions
  • UNEP-MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme
  • Water Framework Directive
Regional cooperation - coordinating body
  • BARCON
Regional cooperation - countries involved
Regional cooperation - implementation level
Common monitoring strategy
Monitoring details
Features
Contaminants - non UPBT substances
Contaminants - UPBT substances
Elements
  • Cadmium and its compounds
  • Pb-212
  • K-40
  • Benzo(a)pyrene
  • Mercury and its compounds
  • Total PAHs (Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(ghi)perylene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene)
  • Tributyltin compounds
GES criteria
D8C1
D8C1
Parameters
  • Concentration in biota (total)
  • Concentration in sediment (total)
  • Concentration in biota (total)
  • Concentration in biota (total)
  • Concentration in sediment (total)
  • Concentration in biota (total)
Parameter Other
Spatial scope
  • Coastal waters (WFD)
  • EEZ (or similar)
  • Territorial waters
Marine reporting units
  • MAL-CY-MS
Temporal scope (start date - end date)
2016-9999
Monitoring frequency
Yearly
Monitoring type
  • In-situ sampling coastal
  • In-situ sampling offshore
Monitoring method
  • UNEP/MAP Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Guidance (2016)
  • WFD Guidance document n.° 25 - Chemical Monitoring of Sediment and Biota
  • WFD Guidance document n.° 32 - Biota Monitoring
  • WFD Guidance document n.° 33 - Analytical Methods for Biota Monitoring
Monitoring method other
The monitoring methods are described in Law et al. (2010). See also the DFMR has implemented Guidelines for an Offshore Environmental Baseline Survey for Oil and Gas Exploration Activities in Cyprus (DFMR, 2017).
Quality control
UNEP/MAP-IAEA PROFICIENCY TESTS AND INTERNAL QUALITY CONTROL
Data management
Data access
Related indicator/name
Contact
References
Law, R., Hanke, G., Angelidis, M., Batty, J., Bignert, A., Dachs, J., … Vethaak, D. (2010).Marine Strategy Framework Directive – Task Group 8 Report Contaminants and pollution effects (p. 161). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.