Surface sediment concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and mercury, were compared from two areas with contrasting land use history, the industrial Delaware Estuary and the rural Delmarva Peninsula (USA). TPH in the Delaware (38–616mg/kg) and saturate/aromatic fractions suggested petroleum/industrial sources compared to biogenic sources in the Delmarva coastal control (<34–159mg/kg). Within the Delaware the ∑PAH18 ranged from 3749 to 22,324μg/kg with isomeric ratios indicative of petroleum combustion source/s, conversely, those in the Delmarva (5–2139μg/kg) also yielded relatively higher perylene that were consistent with natural background levels derived from vegetation/coal combustion source/s. ∑PCB(tri-hepta) concentrations in the Delmarva (0.6–6.5μg/kg) were less than the threshold effect concentration (TEC), whereas the Delaware had received much higher PCB loading (18.1–136.8μg/kg) as evidenced by a significantly higher amounts in some samples (>TEC).

Most anthropogenic marine debris shoreline studies are conducted on sandy shores, rather than rocky coastlines. We amended a standardized protocol for monitoring marine debris on a high-loading beach composed of small rocks and cobbles in Newfoundland, Canada. Our protocol had two parts: we conducted stratified sampling to a depth of ~20cm below the surface of the rocks (standing survey), and surveyed accumulation of items on the surface of rocks every other day (loading survey). We found the vast majority of smaller items were below the surface. Only 17.2% of debris were microplastics (<5mm). Types of anthropogenic debris differed significantly between the standing survey and the loading survey. We found no relationship between either wind direction or wind speed, and distributions of debris. This study allows for a better understanding of marine debris detection along rocky coasts, and the limitations of protocols for studying them.

This paper reviews the recent environmental deterioration in Ariake Sea, Japan, including an increased frequency of red tides and hypoxic waters and decreased fishery production. Analysis of the mechanisms of environmental deterioration suggests that it is possibly induced by the decrease in tidal flat area, decreases in the tide and tidal current and changes in the sediment environment. The Isahaya Bay reclamation project resulted in the loss of 1550 ha of tidal flats, and is one of the possible reasons for the decreases in the tide and tidal current. Therefore, some fishermen and researchers believe that opening the reclamation project dike's floodgates is an effective environmental restoration countermeasure for Ariake Sea. However, the central government decided not to open the floodgates at present due to strong opposition from local farmers, and some researchers believe that the influences of the Isahaya Bay reclamation project on the environmental changes outside of Isahaya Bay are minor. Several lawsuits regarding these relationships and the opening of the dike's floodgates are currently under dispute. To revive Ariake Sea as a sustainable ecosystem, other countermeasures for environmental restoration are suggested and discussed in this paper.

Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were applied to sample some Organochlorinated Pesticides (OCPs), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from the seawater of 14 Chinese coastal areas. The total concentrations of OCPs (∑16OCPs), PAHs (∑15PAHs) and PCBs (∑35PCBs) were in the ranges of 489.2–2174, 589.4–53,160, and 133.2–3658 ng/g lipid, respectively. The ∑15PAHs varied significantly with the sampling locations, which were far higher in north Chinese coastal areas than in south areas, whereas ∑16OCPs and ∑35PCBs only slightly fluctuated along the entire coast line. Comparing SPMD to grab sampler, it was found that the distribution patterns of the PCBs and OCPs in seawater were generally similar. However, the compositional profiles of the PAHs, PCBs, DDTs and HCHs in SPMDs were slightly different to grab samplers and organisms. The SPMDs accumulated less lipotropic compounds, which are inclined to dissolve in water rather than in organisms.

Shipping is recognised as an unintentional efficient pathway for spreading non-native species, harmful organisms and pathogens. In 2004, a unique IMO Convention was adopted to control and minimize this transfer in ship's ballast water. This Convention entered into force on 8th September 2017. However, unlikely the majority of IMO Conventions, the Ballast Water Management Convention requires ships to comply with biological standards (e.g. concentration of organisms per unit of volume in ballast water discharges). This study aimed to apply different techniques developed to measure concentrations of viable phytoplankton in natural and treated ballast water samples and compare them with the established flow cytometry method and vital staining microscopy. Samples were collected in the English Channel over one year and on-board during ballast water shipboard efficacy tests. Natural abundance of live phytoplankton varied from 23% to 89% of the total, while for cells larger than 10 μm (a size defined by the BWM Convention) the percentage varied from 3% to 60%. An overall good correlation was seen between the measurements taken with the two fluorometers and in comparison with the flow cytometry analysis, as found in previous studies. Analysis of treated ballast water samples showed a large variation in the number of viable cells, however indicating a low level of risk on all occasions for regulatory purposes. One of the key aspects to bear in mind when sampling and analysing for compliance is to be aware of the limitations of each technique.

Understanding population dynamics of established invasive species is important for designing effective management measures and predicting factors such as invasiveness and ecological impact. The kelp Undaria pinnatifida has spread to most temperate regions of the world, however a basic understanding of population dynamics is lacking for many regions. Here, Undaria was monitored for 2 years, at 9 sites, across 3 habitats to investigate habitat-related variation in population structure, reproductive capacity and morphology. Populations on marina pontoons were distinct from those in reef habitats, with extended recruitment periods and higher abundance, biomass, maturation rates and fecundity; potentially driven by lower inter-specific and higher intra-specific competition within marinas. This suggests that artificial habitats are likely to facilitate the spread, proliferation and reproductive fitness of Undaria across its non-native range. More broadly, generalising population dynamics of invasive species across habitat types is problematic, thus adding high complexity to management options.

Ageing of various plastics in marine environment was monitored after immersion of two synthetic (polyvinylchloride, PVC, and polyethylene terephthalate, PET) and one biodegradable (poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate), PBAT) plastics for 502days in the bay of Lorient (Brittany, France). Data analysis indicates that aged PVC rapidly releases estrogenic compounds in seawater with a later adsorption of heavy metals; PET undergoes a low weakening of the surface whereas no estrogenic activity is detected; PBAT ages faster in marine environment than PVC. Aged PBAT exhibits heterogeneous surface with some cavities likely containing clay minerals from the chlorite group. Besides, this degraded material occasionally shows a high estrogenic activity. Overall, this study reports, for the first time, that some aged plastics, without being cytotoxic, can release estrogenic compounds in marine environment.

Populations of macro-algae and sessile invertebrates have precipitously declined in urbanised coastal waters in Australia since European occupation. Responses of healthy subtidal sessile assemblages to cumulative impacts and types of urban impacts were measured in one of the most polluted estuaries in Australia - the Derwent Estuary - by transplanting sessile communities established on pavers to locations adjacent to marinas, sewerage outfalls, fish farm cages, and stormwater discharges, each with associated controls. Reef communities translocated to sites adjacent to central urban pollution sources (within 5 km of Hobart) lost canopy-forming algae. Fish farms, marinas, and storm water drains were all characterised by higher filamentous algal cover than their controls. Marinas were associated with losses in canopy and foliose algae. Restoration of subtidal reef near highly urbanised areas is unlikely to be successful until current pollution levels are dramatically reduced.

The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg and As) in surface sediments and bivalve mollusks in Kaozhouyang Bay were investigated. A biological risk analysis of the sediments indicated that ten sites (about 76.92% of the total number of sites) had a 21% incidence probability of toxicity. A health risk analysis of the bivalve mollusks indicated that Cu and As posed low risks to consumer health. On the basis of the target hazard quotient (THQ), adverse effects may occur based on total THQ (TTHQ). The highest TTHQ was found in the species, Ostrea rivularis, which had the highest capacity for the bioaccumulation (factor > 38) of Cd.

Hong Kong's beach water quality classification scheme, used effectively for >25 years in protecting public health, was first established in local epidemiology studies during the late 1980s where Escherichia coli (E. coli) was identified as the most suitable faecal indicator bacteria. To review and further substantiate the scheme's robustness, a performance check was carried out to classify water quality of 37 major local beaches in Hong Kong during four bathing seasons (March–October) from 2010 to 2013. Given the enterococci and E. coli data collected, beach classification by the local scheme was found to be in line with the prominent international benchmarks recommended by the World Health Organization and the European Union. Local bacteriological studies over the last 15 years further confirmed that E. coli is the more suitable faecal indicator bacteria than enterococci in the local context.