Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP). National Comments regarding the Norwegian Data for 2000

Abstract

This report is part of the Norwegian contribution to the SIME 2002 meeting administrated by OSPAR. JAMP 2000 included the monitoring of micropollutants in blue mussels (42 stations) and fish (16 stations) along the coast of Norway from Oslo to Bergen, Lofoten and Varangerfjord. The results indicated elevated levels of contaminants (i.e. over provisional "high background") in: Oslofjord proper (PCBs, mercury and lead in cod PCBs in mussels), Langesundsfjord (HCB in mussels) and Sørfjord and Hardangerfjord (cadmium, lead, mercury and ppDDE in mussels and cod and PCBs in cod). Significant upward trends were found for mercury in cod from the inner Oslofjord and mussels from the outer Sørfjord and downward trend was found for cadmium in mussels from the Hardangerfjord. The results from the remaining stations showed low or moderately levels of contamination. The "pollution" index classification improved from "bad" to just within class "poor" in 2000, whereas the "reference" index remained in classification "fair". Studies were also conducted in two areas on the southern/south-western coast using biological effects methods in cod (8 stations), flatfish (7 stations) and imposex/intersex in dogwhelks (13 stations). Contamination of organotin in mussels and imposex in dogwhelks were still apparent, especially in the Haugesund area.