Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D9 / Ireland / NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas
Report type | Member State report to Commission |
MSFD Article | Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates) |
Report due | 2020-10-15 |
GES Descriptor | D9 Contaminants in seafood |
Member State | Ireland |
Region/subregion | NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas |
Reported by | Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government |
Report date | 2021-12-08 |
Report access |
Descriptor |
D9 |
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Monitoring strategy description |
The Marine Institute (MI) monitors environmental contaminants in bivalve molluscs, wild fish
and crustaceans (e.g. crabs, lobster), Map 27. Bivalves are collected annually, usually in
autumn/winter from designated shellfish waters, while landed fish and crustaceans are
sampled at Irish ports, usually during the summer period, and through other sampling
activities, for example, MI’s Groundfish Surveys on-board the RV Celtic Explorer, (see
Descriptor 1, 4). Descriptor 9 requires Member States to ensure fish and shellfish do not exceed
regulatory limits. The contaminants monitored and reported in seafood for D9 are those for
which maximum levels are set in European legislation, and include mercury, cadmium, lead,
indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs – dioxins), sum of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs,
and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). |
Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
Gaps and plans |
D9 by definition is limited to assessing exceedance levels established by Community legislation or other relevant standards, in this case Commission Regulation 1881/2006, as amended. This assessment is limited to the assessment of compliance for a limited number of substances for which maximum limits for seafood have been set in this Regulation. Furthermore, maximum limits are set on the basis of the ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) principle, which considers Europe-wide monitoring data when setting limits, to avoid unintended consequences from setting unrealistic limits. While there is a good overall database, there are limited data for some species. Ongoing monitoring by the Marine Institute attempts to address these gaps by
targeting species for which there is limited data available. Additional marine food matrices e.g. seaweeds, are not covered at present by the regulations.
The Marine Institute works closely with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and Sea Fisheries
Protection Authority in implementing monitoring, and the current contaminants monitoring
is under review. While D9 assesses compliance with MLs, other substances for which MLs are
not established are also monitored in seafood. This includes other trace elements,
perfluorinated substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and certain organochlorine
pesticides. These data supports evaluation of risks for consumers and also contributes data to
assist in setting future limits. |
Related targets |
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Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
Related measures |
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Coverage of measures |
Adequate monitoring was in place in 2014 |
Related monitoring programmes |
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Programme code |
ACS-IE-D09-01 |
Programme name |
Contaminants in Seafood |
Update type |
Modified from 2014 |
Old programme codes |
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Programme description |
The Marine Institute (MI) monitors environmental contaminants in bivalves molluscs, wild fish and crustaceans (e.g. crabs, lobster). Bivalves are collected annually, usually in autumn/winter from designated shellfish waters, while landed fish and crustaceans are sampled at Irish ports, usually during the summer period, and through other sampling activities, for example MI’s Groundfish Surveys on-board the RV Celtic Explorer, (see Descriptor 1, 4).
Descriptor 9 requires Member States to ensure fish and shellfish do not exceed regulatory limits. The contaminants monitored and reported in seafood for D9 are those for which maximum levels are set in European legislation and include mercury, cadmium, lead, indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs – dioxins), sum of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs, and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
The levels of contaminants monitored are compared with maximum limits listed in EU Regulation 1881/2006 (as amended). The level of non-compliance with the limits set is extremely low and Ireland has achieved GES for concentrations of contaminants2 in fish and seafood for human consumption within its maritime area. The data collected is held in the national contaminants database at the Marine Institute and is reported to ICES. |
Monitoring purpose |
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Other policies and conventions |
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Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
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Regional cooperation - countries involved |
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Regional cooperation - implementation level |
Coordinated data collection |
Monitoring details |
Bivalve molluscs: Bivalve mollusc sampling is undertaken in transitional and coastal waters in designated shellfish growing waters annually. Ireland currently has 64 designated shellfish growing waters. Field sampling is carried out by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute. Concentrations of certain substances are measured in bivalve molluscs as an indicator of water quality and for the purpose of human health assessments. The data collected are used to assess compliance with human health maximum limits as established in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006/(EC) as amended, and in accordance with EU food law (Regulation (EU) 2017/625). These limits are set in accordance with Regulations 854/2004/ (EC).
Wild fish and crustaceans: This surveillance monitoring programme aims to check compliance of landed wild fish and other seafood with food safety limits and to compile a database of contaminant levels in edible seafood. Contaminant levels in relevant tissues are checked to determine if they are in compliance with regulation 1881/2006/(EC) as amended, and general European food law (Regulation (EU) 2017/625). Fishing ports around the Irish coast are visited to provide a geographical spread of fishing areas and a selection of species landed at these ports is collected. Fishing areas are recorded where available.
In total approximately 30-40 fish samples (a sample is usually a pool of 10 individuals) representing the main species landed (usually depends on availability on day of landings) are collected for analysis. Occasionally, additional samples are acquired for example on MI groundfish surveys e.g. for crustaceans, other fish species to supplement fish collected at ports. New EC regulations on monitoring contaminants in food are anticipated. |
Features |
Contaminants – in seafood
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Elements |
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GES criteria |
D9C1 |
Parameters |
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Parameter Other |
concentration in biota |
Spatial scope |
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Marine reporting units |
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Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
1993-9999 |
Monitoring frequency |
Yearly |
Monitoring type |
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Monitoring method |
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Monitoring method other |
Sampling in ports and on fisheries survey for fish, crustaceans etc. Laboratory analysis in accordance with EC food legislation (EC Directive 333/2007) Sampling from designated shellfish growing waters. |
Quality control |
Laboratory Analysis ISO17025 - official lab (NRL metals in fish); LPTs: QUASIMEME contaminants in Biota; FAPAS |
Data management |
MI SQL database Contaminants in Biota Also reported to ICES database |
Data access |
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Related indicator/name |
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Contact |
Evin McGovern
Evin.mcgovern@marine.ie |
References |
McGovern, E., McHugh, B., O’Hea, L., Joyce, E., Tlustos, C. & Glynn, D., 2011 “Assuring Seafood Safety: Contaminants and Residues in Irish Seafood 2004-2008”, Marine Institute (Chapter 2) (http://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/706). |