Stringent and periodic iteration of regulations related to the monitoring of chemical releases from the offshore oil and gas industry requires the use of ever changing, rapidly developing and technologically advancing techniques. Passive samplers play an important role in water column monitoring of produced water (PW) discharge to seawater under Norwegian regulation, where they are used to; i) measure aqueous concentrations of pollutants, ii) quantify the exposure of caged organisms and investigate PW dispersal, and iii) validate dispersal models. This article summarises current Norwegian water column monitoring practice and identifies research and methodological gaps for the use of passive samplers in monitoring. The main gaps are; i) the range of passive samplers used should be extended, ii) differences observed in absolute concentrations accumulated by passive samplers and organisms should be understood, and iii) the link between PW discharge concentrations and observed acute and sub-lethal ecotoxicological end points in organisms should be investigated.

We propose a belt transect setting strategy for mark-recapture experiments (MREs) to evaluate the time-independent 1D diffusion coefficient (〈Dp0〉) of marine litter in the cross-shore direction that determines the backwashing flux of the litter, based on two-year MREs for plastic floats (PFs) on Wadahama Beach, Nii-jima Island, Japan. When the alongshore width of the belt transect (Lt) was of the order of, or longer than, the length scale of wave-induced nearshore current circulation (Lc), the PFs were rarely transported alongshore across the selected transects prior to being backwashed offshore. Thus, the transect residence time became longer and showed a much weaker dependence on the transect position, in contrast to when Lt was even shorter than Lc. We therefore obtained the diffusion coefficients close to the value of (〈Dp0〉) when we set Lt to the order of, or longer than, Lc.

The characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) extracted from sediments with four particle sizes (<25, 63–25, 200–63 and >200μm) in the Yangtze Estuary were compared. The differences in their binding capacities for individual fluorescent components with As/Sb were studied using fluorescence-quenching titrations combined with excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectra. The results indicated that the particle size influenced the quality and quantity of extracted DOM. With increasing particle size, the extracted DOM content, value of UV280 and acidic functional group content of the DOM decreased. Three protein-like components (C2, C3 and C4) and one humic-like component (C1) were identified using the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model. Wherein, protein-like material dominated in DOM on different particle-size fractions and possessed a stronger complex capacity with As/Sb. A significant positive correlation between the complexation capacity of extracted DOM from samples, as well as with the acidic functional group content, was observed.

The Japanese Government is seeking an appropriate level of nutrient load from the land to maintain the highest possible estuarine fishery production and water transparency simultaneously. To provide a scientific basis for the governmental inquiry, we conducted sensitivity analyses using an ecosystem model of Hiroshima Bay in order to assess the ecosystem’s responses to phosphorus and nitrogen inputs. Load levels of phosphorus (Case P), nitrogen (Case N) and both phosphorus and nitrogen (Case NP) that were different from the average loading recorded during 1991–2000 (±25%, ±50%, and ±75%) were applied. The results showed that phosphorus had a significantly greater impact on the primary production of the bay than nitrogen. Case P+25 increased the primary production but led to N-limitation. However, it was found that Case NP at the levels over +25% could bring the Hiroshima Bay ecosystem back to its eutrophic state of 30years ago.

There has been an increase in the scale and frequency of coral bleaching around the world due mainly to changes in sea temperature. This may occur at large scales, often resulting in significant decline in coral coverage. In order to understand the molecular and cellular basis of the ever-increasing incidence of coral bleaching, we have undertaken a comparative proteomic approach with the endangered Caribbean coral Acropora palmata. Using a proteomic tandem mass spectrometry approach, we identified 285 and 321 expressed protein signatures in bleached and unbleached A. palmata colonies, respectively, in southwestern Puerto Rico. Overall the expression level of 38 key proteins was significantly different between bleached and unbleached corals. A wide range of proteins was detected and categorized, including transcription factors involved mainly in heat stress/UV responses, immunity, apoptosis, biomineralization, the cytoskeleton, and endo–exophagocytosis. The results suggest that for bleached A. palmata, there was an induced differential protein expression response compared with those colonies that did not bleach under the same environmental conditions.

We report here an interannual survey (2006–2012) of coral cover in the northwestern lagoon of New Caledonia, to assess the impact of an important dredging operation (August 2008–February 2010) associated with the construction of the largest nickel mining site in the Pacific. A BACI (Before-After Control-Impact) analysis failed to detect any significant interaction between period (before, during, and after dredging) and the category of the stations (impact vs. control). Among the 31 stations surveyed, only seven showed decreasing coral cover during the study period, mainly due to a decline in Acroporidae. However, the relationship between the dredging and this decrease was highly plausible only for one station, situated 0.9km from the dredging site. High hydrodynamism in the study area, the abundance of resistant corals and efficient protective measures during the dredging operation might explain these localised and limited impacts.

European maritime companies have adopted programs to limit operational impacts on the environment. For maritime companies in North America, the Green Marine Environmental Program (GMEP) offers a framework to establish and reduce environmental footprints. Green Marine (GM) participants demonstrate annual improvements of specific environmental performance indicators (e.g., reductions in air pollution emissions) to maintain certification. Participants complete annual self-evaluations with results determining rankings for performance indicators on a 1-to-5 scale. Self-evaluations are independently verified every two years to ensure rigor and individual results are made publicly available annually to achieve transparency. GM benefits the marine industry across North America by encouraging sustainable development initiatives. GM's credibility is reflected through a diverse network of environmental groups and government agencies that endorse and help shape the program. Merits of this relatively new maritime certification (not previously described in the academic literature), are discussed.

The Biguglia lagoon is a shallow Mediterranean coastal ecosystem where eutrophication is increasing for years. A channel supplying freshwater was cleared in 2009 to enhance lagoon water circulation and alleviate dystrophic crises. Monthly monitoring was started in 2010 to document the impacts of this action on abiotic characteristics and phytoplankton communities. Three stations were surveyed (by microscopy and HPLC). Evidence suggests that this operation had an unexpected outcome. Salinity footprints indicated the succession of three main hydrological sequences that depended on rainfall and circulation pattern. Diatoms and dinoflagellates dominated the first sequence, characterized by heavy rainfall, while Prorocentrum minimum became progressively the dominant species in the second period (increasing salinities) with extensive bloom over the whole lagoon (5.93×10-5cells·L−1) during the third period. These phytoplankton successions and community structures underline the risk of pernicious effects arising from remediation efforts, in the present case based on increasing freshwater inputs.

Blooms of Alexandrium pacificum (formerly Alexandrium tamarense) are common in Chinhae Bay (Korea), presumably linked to anthropogenic eutrophication. Here we examine PSP toxin content and composition in axenic chemostat and batch cultures of A. pacificum using growth conditions that differed according to dilution rate, nutrient limitations, and enrichments. Phosphate (P)-limited cells in chemostat cultures had higher toxin content and a toxin composition that differed from that of nitrogen (N)-limited cells at the highest growth rates. Therefore, toxin composition changes do occur in axenic cultures of A. pacificum following extended growth under steady state conditions. In nutrient-limited batch cultures that received N and P enrichment, the N-enriched cultures showed a more diverse toxin profile than the P-enriched cells; the toxin content of N-enriched cells was lower than in the P-enriched cultures. We infer the following order for the biosynthesis of individual toxins: C1, C2>GTX3>GTX1>neoSTX.

Sediment collected from the estuarine mangroves of the Zuari estuary and Cumbharjua canal were analyzed to assess the concentration, contamination and bioavailability of metals. Mangrove pneumatophores were also analyzed to understand the metal bioaccumulation in mangrove plants. The results indicated the variation of metal concentrations in sediment along the estuary was attributed to changing hydrodynamic conditions, type of sediment and metal sources. Further, speciation studies revealed that Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn were mainly of lithogenic origin and less bioavailable while high Mn content in the sediment raised concerns over its potential mobility, bioavailability and subsequent toxicity. The mangrove plants exhibited difference in metal accumulation due to variations in sediment parameters and metal availability, in addition to difference in plant species and tissue physiology that affect metal uptake. Moreover, the mangrove plants reflected the quality of the underlying sediment and can be used as a potential bio-indicator tool.