Implement a programme for the monitoring of contaminants in commercial fish, crustaceans and molluscs of commercial and high consumption interest in the region, in the division of the Azores, in accordance with the relevant legislation. A measure, included in the programme of measures in the second cycle of the MSFD, will need to be developed, including a repair programme with other programmes for monitoring fishery resources, addressed to the analysis of the concentration of heavy metals in the most consuming commercial species in the subdivision of the Azores. Thus ensuring that a consistent assessment can be made in the next MSFD cycle and determine GES for the subdivision of the Azores under this descriptor. Of particular interest for contaminants (heavy metals) that have concentration values above the regulatory value, as in the case of cadmium in the giant Megabanus azoricus, lato burn Haliotis tuberculata and two species of tuna: The tuna bonito Thunnus obesus and bigeye tuna caught.

Ensure that the list of marine contaminants to be assessed includes all known relevant contaminants for the Azores sub-division, such as arsenic. According to the available data, other contaminants (metals), which are not currently listed in Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006, namely arsenic, should be monitored so that it is investigated whether it is necessary to set limits for this heavy metal, taking into account that the concentration values reported in this assessment cycle. In particular for some species (e.g. giant plumber, burn ray and demersal fish species), where the values found for the subdivision of the Azores were higher than the existing regulations for this metal in other regions (e.g. Venezuela). The FAO/WHO (Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation) experts committee has defined a limit of 0.1 mg.Kg-1 of wet weight, but there is no existing legislation for this element either in the EU or in the US (Torres et al. 2016b).

Develop and implement appropriate methodology to obtain information to enable the GES to be assessed by 2024.