x
This Report not to be cited without prior reference to the Council )
. International Council for the
Exploration of the Sea
C.M.1973/E:7
Fisheries Improvement Committee
Ret
C und l
REPORT OF TEE ICES!SCOR WORKING GROUP ON TEE STUDY
OF POLLUTION OF TEE BALTIC
(Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany, 20-29 June 1973)
•
Rapporteur: J-O Strömberg
x) General Secretary,
ICES, Charlottenlund Slot,
DK-2920 Charlottenlund,
Denmark.
TADLE OF CONTENTS
"
1.
2.
5.
6.
7.
Opening cf the Session
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1
Approval of the Agenda ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Presentation of Supplementary National Reports ••••••••••••••••••
Infom.ation on the "Conference on the Protection of the Baltic"
and lCES/SCOR Cooperation on the Baltic Pollution Problem ••••••• 0
Report on the Sampling and Analytical Capacities around the Baltic
Report on the Sources of Input to the Balt~c Sea ••••••••••••••••
, ,
Discussion on the Monitoring of the Horizontal E:x:ten~ion of
Anaerobic Conditions-in the Baltic ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Report on the Research Programme for Investigation of the Baltic
as a Natural Resources in View of Marine Pollution Problems
Base-line Studies of Pollution in the Baltic ••••••••••••••••••••
Collabora~ion with Other Bodies
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Further Action by the WG ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Revised Tem.s of References for the WG •••••••••••••••••••••• ~.o.
Adoption of Recommendations •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Presentation of the Report of the WG ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Other Business •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
1
0 ••••
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
~
.ANNEX 1.
List of Participants •
ANNEX 2.
Agenda.
ANNEX 3.
Evaluation of the Questionnaire Regarding Sampling and
Analytical Capacities.
ANNEX 4.
Report on the Replies to the Questionnaire on Inputs to
the Baltic.
ANNEX 5.
Research Programme for Investigation of the Baltic as a
Natural Resouree in View of Marine Pollution Problems,
and suggested experimental, short-term Research Tasks.
ANNEX 6.
Report of the Action Planning Group.
ANNEX 7.
Adopted Recommendations.
ANNEX ö A.
Report on the Research Work on the Baltic Pollution Problems
in Poland.
ANNEX ö B.
National Report of the U.S.S.R. for the ICES/SCOR Working
Group on Pollution of the Baltic.
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1
1
2
2
3
3
5
5
5
•
5
6
6
•
- 1 -
1.
Opening of the Session
Tbe Meeting was opened by Dr G Kullenberg who on very short notice had been
invited toact as an ad hoc Cho.i.:rman by the President of lCES, due to the
sickness of the Chairman, Professor I Hela.
Mr H Tambs-Lyche explained the procedure followed' in this case and also
,noted the changes in members of the Working Group tbat
bad occurred(cf. Annex 1).
,
A telegram was sent to Professor Hela regretting his sickness and wishing
him a speedy recovery.
'
Professor G Hempel welcomed the Working Graup to Kiel on behalf of the"Institut
fUr Meereskunde".
Dr. J.-O. Strömberg was elected Rapporteur of the Session.
•
2. Approval of the Agenda
Slight changes of the Draft Agenda were made. Tbus changes of the tems of
references for the Working Graup (WG) were not discussed, since specific
suggestions on redrafting were not yet avo.i.lable. Abrief infomation on the
continued cooperation between SCOR and lCES within the framework of the WG was
added to ltem 4.
'
I,
With these minor amendments the Agenda was approved (cf. Annex 2).
3. Presentation of Supplementa;r National Reports
•
Dr Sl~cZka gave a brief statement on the recent Polish achievements in Baltic
research and on future plans (cf. Annex oA).Tbus two research expeditions are
launched each year, one in May~June and the other by the end of August. During
each of these, a large number of stations are visited in three areas J) the
Skagerak-Kattegat-Danish Sounds, 2) the central Baltic, and 3) the eastem
Baltic. Plans are to include some stations also in the Bothnian Sea. At most
stations samplos of benthos, plankton, sea-water and sediments are taken.
Analyses are made (partly on board the ship) on e.g. DDT, PCB, oils, oxygen content, heavy metals and standard hydrographieal parameters.Sensitivity tests of
pollutants on some organisms (e.g. Asellus, Mesidothea, Crangon, Neomysis) have
also been perfomed showing Neomysis most and Mesidothea least sensitive to
changes. Anational report received-fram USSR 1s alsogiven in Annex oB.
Tbe Danish delegation reported that considerable means have now been made
available for a major study in the Danish Sounds of, the water and matter exchange
between the Uorth Sea and the Baltic. With the present progress the observational
programme will start during 1974.
Tbe Finnish deleiD-tion infomed about ongo~g cooperative work in the Gulf of
Bothnia and the Aland Sea, where current measurements and other physical as well
as chemical observations are made.
4. lnfomation on the "Conference on the Protection of the Baltic" and lCES!SCOR
Cooperation on the Baltic Pollution Problems,
a) A meeting of Government experts for the preparation of the Baltic Conference
on the Marine Environment was in!tiated, by the Finnish Government and
positively accepted by ali countries bordering the Baltic. Tbe first meeting
was held at the. end of }1ay - beginning of June 1973 in Helsinki. A second
meeting will be held in Helsinki at the end of November 1973, and the
Conference itself will meet by the end of March 1974.
'
- 2 -
As to the need for seientifie adviee, 2 lines of ideas had been fOr\iarded:
1) that ICES together with other interested organisations give
all required ~dviee within their eompetenee nnd possibilities
2) a new body 'is set upo
Tambs-~ehe infonned that the :Bureau of lCES had deeided to offer the
serviees of ICES to the Conferenee, if it should wish to make use of them.
Dr Mortimer noted the parallel with the pollution studies in the Great
Lakes, where aseparate scientifie body had been set up. The experienee
therefrom is available.
Mr
b)
Mr Tambs-~ehe nnd Professor Rempel, infonned that SCOR has so far no
intention to withdraw from the eooperation within the framework of the
present WG. The pollution studies of the :BaItie will be a most valuable
pilot projeet in this field nnd is of great seientifie interest. The fact
that the Gennnn Demoeratie Republie might hopefully beeome a member of
ICES in th~ near future does not ehange the basis for this eooperation.
5. Report on the Sampling nnd Analytieal Capaeities around the :BaItie
•
The Report is presented in Annex ;. Professor Grasshoff reported that nnswers
from two laboratories in the U.S.S.R. had now arrived, giving a total of 27
nnswering institutes. The WG noted with great satisfaetion the willingness of
the different laboratories to partieipate in future pollution studies of the
:Baltie. Together theycan eover the needs for nnalyses of all the different
eOIll]2ounds which enn be eonsidered important during the initial study. One primary
.diffieulty is the I:lanY methods used for nnalyses of single eompounds, whieh
eall for intercalibration. A detailed knowledge of the methodology nnd standards
used by the various laboratories is essential for a suceessful base-line sUrveyo
This ean be obtained in the following wny:
a.
b.
analYtieal experts (:preferably 2, one for heavy metals and one for
organic eonstituents) should visit the various laboratories whieh
have nnswered the questionnaire, in order to obtain direet information
about the proeedures for analysis used in the laboratories, 't;hereby
gaining muehmore information than is possible through eorrespondenee
only;
a meeting of analytieal speeialists should be eonvened:b~fore
February 1974°_
A reeommendation to this effect was adopted by the WG (Annex 7, Recommendation
1). lt '\ms also stressed by the WG that it is desirable with inereased analytieal eapaeities in eaeh of the :Baltie eountries, espeeially inereasing the
number of eompounds that ean be analysed in each eountry.
6.
Report on the Sourees of Input to the :Baltie Sea
A progress report on the answersto the Q,uestionnaire on inputs to the :Baltie
was presented by Dr :Brosin (Annex 4). Answers bad been reeeived from 4 countries,
Denmark, FRG, GDR and U.S.S.R., and an answer was presented at the meeting by
Sweden.
•
- 3 -
Thc difficultics in obtaining satisfactory information concerning the, input of
certain materials such as nutrients and industrial input were noted. 'The great
importance in obtaining input data was stressed and thc neccssity of continuation
of this work was realised. Dr :Brosin was asked to compile the incoming information. The :Baltic countries are urged to'provide as complete information as possible.
The lacking answers will possibly be.avDilable by Octobcr 1973, and a full report
early in 1974.
The WG noted the important plans presented by the Group of Experts on the Water
:Balance of the :BaItie Sea under the National CommitteOJ for the International
HYdrologieal Deeade (IHD) at their second meeting. A close eollaboration between
that Group and the present WG on related subjects is necessary. Especially
river discharge problems and transfer of pollutants from the air into the water
were discussed. A reco~endation (Annex 7, No.2) to this effect was adopted.
7. Discussion on the Monitoring of the Horizontal Extension of Anaerobioc
Conditions in the :Baltie
The WG noted that the national efforts to monitor the horizontal extension of
oxygenfree water in the :Baltic were quite sufficiento
Thc exchange of data is, however, not fully satisfactory and thc WG expressed the
desirabili ty that annual reports from these studies bc submitted to "Annales
:Biologiques". These could be similar to the Swedish annual reports, \vhich have
been given national publicity during the last couple of years.
o.
•
Report on·the Research Programme for Investigation of the :Baltic as
Resouree in view of Marine Pollution Problems
0.
Natural
The outlining of 0. research programme for understanding thc natural processes
going on in the :Baltic, and the formulation of specific tasks of limited endurance
but which need the concerted efforts of all or most of thc :Baltic nations has
been 0. maj or task of the WG. The Report of the drafting group is presented'in
Annex 5.
The WG supports the general philosophy of the Report. It was stresscd that the
tasks listed in the Report are those considered to have 0. high priority in order
to obtain an uriderstanding of basic proccsses in the open :Baltic. Thus projects
involvinglong-time series of specific coastal problems are not dealt with. The
projects are not meant to interfere with other projects in national programmes.
The aim of thc present suggested investigations is to provide the necessary scientific basis for an effective monitoring programme, which is envisaged to be
established in the future in order to facilitate control and prediction of the
currcnt pollution situation in the :Baltic. For predictions verified models are
needed. The great advantage was realised of having working models which can
give guidance to the observational programmes and be tcsted by observations.
Considering the urgcncy of tbis matter thc WG recommended,that scientistsengaged
in modelling efforts of the :BaItic and similar areas should have an opportun! ty
to meet in connection either with the.next Conference of the :Baltic Oceanographers
or the next Statutory Meeting of ICES in Copenhagen (Annex 7', Recommendation 3).
The WG noted that the semi-eI:lpirical approach, as ror instance the Odum
approach, is one w~ of modc],ling the' environment whi~h can be used at the
present stage togcther with the purely theoretical a:pproach. The ultimate goal
is, however, to obtain dynamical models verified by observations.
Thcreafter the tasks were discussed one by one, and recommendations to the
Action Planning Graup of thc WG, which should meet on 30 June, were made.
- 4Task 1;
Exchange of matters and waters wi th the Uorth Sea.
Means for starting this task are already available in Denmark and
Sweden~ Cooperation is necessar,1 (Denmark, F.R.G., Sweden) and
also wi th ihe North Sea Group (Uorway, Denmark, Sweden).
Task 2:
Open sea experiment.
.The WG'suggested that one area is chosen for concentrated efforto.
Detailed measurements of densi ty and current structure in the water
column, together with sections of temperature profiles obtained by
towing thermistoJ: chains, ma::r be one way of approach.
This task is important but detailed planning is required. The
Action Planning Group was asked to make rough estimates of needed
ship time, manpower etc.
The experience fi:om the Lake Ontario study (International Field
Year for the Great Lakes) can be a great help in the planning and
conduction of this task.
Task
3:
The Baltic circulation: development of an exploratory model followed
by field observations.'
•
The WG was of the opinion that an exploratory model could greatly
help in achieving an optimum planning of the field observations. The
model should be tested, if necessary fUrther developed, and in the
end possibly verified by the observations. Tbe need for a meeting
of peo~le engaged in modelling has already been mentioned (cf. Annex 7,
Rec. ' 3).
Task
4:
The lateral boundary layer dynamies experiment.
Major national efforts could be combined with international cooperation\ in the open sea. Available resources are, however, inadequate
and additional !'unding is necessar,1. The Action Planning Group was
asked to make an effort to estimate costs for shiptime etc., to
chose suitable experiment sites and, if possible, to take the Great
Lakes o studY in consideration in the planning.
Task 5:
Open sea multi-disciplinary continuous stations.
The Action Planning Group was asked to make estimates of needs in
terms of· ship time, manpower etc. Further designing . of experiments
will have to be made by a special scientific task group that will have
to convene later.
.
This is an interdisciplinary task which definitely needs large sbips
and international cooperation. The character of this task as a process
study (short time) was stressed.
Task 6:
Task
7:
Biological productivity studies at fixed stationso
The WG decided that Prof. Rempel and Dr. Lindquist elaborate on the
fish production problems to be included in this task. Until this is
ready theAction Planning Group can do only little on this task.
Determination of toxic substances throughout the food chaino
This task should follow the base-line study. Tbe Action Planning Group,
therefore, need not to conern itself immediately with this task. The
progress of the Uorth Sea Group is of great interest in this connection.
The WG has, through this research programme, made an offort to pinpoint some of
the processes . that need investigation, and the understanding of which is crucial
for a successful study of the pollution situation in the Baltic. It is obvious
•
- 5that some tasks need more preparato:ry work and all the tasks cannot be carried
out in ane specific year. However, the projects that can be dealt with immediately Should not walt for the other ones, but be started as soon as possible.
It is believed that aperiod of 1-2 years is·sufficient for the greater part of
this study, which could then be called the "International BaItic Pollution
Study Yearft (IBPSY). It is suggested that this study should be carried out
in the period 1975-76.
.
.
TheWG decided to recommend to ICES and SCOR tö publish the research programme
(~ex 7, Recommendation 4).
9. Base-line Studies of Pollution in the Baltic
•
This point was delegated to the Action Planning Group which had been set up for
formulating a detailed programme for the implementation of the mo~t urgently
needed investigations outlinedin the Report discussed under Point 5. It was
streseed that 0. prima:ry task ~or it was now to organise a base-line survey;of the
Baltic pollution (toxic substances in fish and the marine environment). In doing
this the Action Planning Group should make all possible use of the experience
gained by the North Sea Group.
10. Collaboration with other Bodies
This has already been touched upon, and it is obvious that close collaboration
with the Baltic Marine Biologists, the Conference of Baltic Oceanographers, the
Group of Experts on the Water Balance of the Baltic under the IBD, and a number of
Committees within the ICES is highly desirable.
Further connections can easily be arranged through ICES and SCOR, should such
be deemed to be of benefit to the Baltic pollution studies.
Dr Griffiths hoped that IOC could contribute to a successful conduct of the
studies.
The WG would be pleased to offer within its competence whatever collaboration
the Baltic Marine Biolagists would need. (Annex 7, Recommendation 5).
•
11. Further Actions by the WG
The report of the meeting of the Action Plannlng Group should be annexed to
this Report. (see Annex '6):
The next meeting of the WG should be held after the next ICES Statuto:ry Meeting
and SCOR 'Executive Co:e:tmittee Meeting but before· the final Meeting of the Conf'erence on the Protection of the BaItic, 1. e. preferably by the end of March
19740
Mr Tambs-Lyche sald that ICES would be prepared to host the next meeting of
the WGo
12.
Revised Terms of References for the WG
No discussions were held under this heading.
13.
Adoption of Recommendations
Adopted Recommendations are listed in Annex
7.
- 6 -
14.
Presentation of the Report of the WG
This Report should be circulated to the members of the WG, end comments,
suggested additions or deletions should be sent to the ICES Secretariat within
& d~s from its reception.
Additional comments to the Research Programme (Annex 5) should be submitted
to Dr Bolin or Prof. Hempel without delay. The full Report end its Annexes
should be ready by the beginning of September 1973.
As already mentioned, it is recommended that the Research Programme (Annex 5)
is published by ICES and SCOR (Recommendation 4).
15. . Other Business
Mr Tambs-Lyche end the Chairman expressed the.gTatitude of the WG to the hosts
of this Session, the "Institut für Meereskunde en der Universität Kiel", for
their hospitality end help in various matters.
by the Chairman.
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Thereafter the Meeting was closed
•
•
ANNEX: 1·
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
Ad
~
Chairman:
to C.}!o1973/E:7
Dr G',Kullenberg
Institute of Physical Oceanography;
University of Copenhagen,
Haraldsgade 6, DK-2200 Copenhagen,N
Denmark.
Participants
•
Dr Hans Ackefors,
Institute of Marine Research,
S-453 00 Lysekil, Sweden.
Prof. A Aitsam,
Tallinn Polytechnical Institute,
Dept. of the Ealtic Sea Institute
of Thermo- and Electrophysics,
Academy of Sciences of Estonian S.S.R.,
Tallinn, U.S.S.R.
Prof. E Eolin,
Institute of Meteorology,
P.O.Eox 19111,
S-104 32 Stockholm 19, Sweden.
Dr. H-J Erosin,
Institut !Ur Meereskunde,
Seestrasse 15, 253 Wa±nemUnde, DDR.
Dr E I Dybern,
Institute of Marine Research,
S-453 00 Lysekil, Sweden.
Prof. K Grasshoff,
Institut f. Meereskunde,
23 Kiel,
DUsternbrooker Weg 20, FRG.
Dr R C Griffiths,
Ioo, UNESCO,
Place de Fontenoy, 75 Paris 7eme,
France.
Mr Aaro Haverinen,
National Eoard of Waters,
Pohjoisesplanadi 37,
SF-OOIOO Helsinki,
Finland.
Prof. Dr. GHempel,
Institut f. Meereskunde,
23 Kiel,
DUsternbrooker Weg 20,
FRG.
Dr A Lindquist,
Institute of Marine Research,
S~453 00 Lysekil,
Sweden.
Prof. C n Mortimer,
Center for Great Lakes Studies,
University of Wisconsin,
Milwaukee,
Wisc. 53201, U.S.A.
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Mr H Uaeve,
FAO,
Via delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Roma, Italy.
Dr S Nordström,
National Swedish Environment Protection Eoard,
Research Secretariat, Fack,
S-171 20 Solna 1, Sweden.
Dr W Slljl.scka,
Sea Fisheries Institute,
Al. Zjednoczenia 1,
&1-345 Gdynia, Poland.
Dr Erik Somer,
Danish Isotope Center,
Skelbookgri.de 2,
1717 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
Dr J-O Strömberg,
Zoological Institute,
Helgonavägen 3,
S-223 62 Lund, Sweden.
Mr Hans Tambs-Lyche
ICES, Charlottenlund Slot,
DK-2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
Mr 0 Vagn Olsen,
Danish Fisheries and Marine Research
Institute, Charlottenlund Slot,
DK-2920 Chariottenlund, Denmark•
Dr A Voipio,
Institute of Marine Research,
P.O.Eox 166"
SF-00141 Helsinki 14,
Finland.
Dr G Weichart,
Deutsches Hydrographisches Institut,
2 Hamburg 55, Wüstland 2, FRG.
Dr LZmudzinski, .. _
Sea Fisheries Institute,
Aleja Zjednoczenia 1,
&1-345 Gdynia,
Poland~
.ANN.EX: 2
to C.M.1973/E:7
AGENDA
Intraductory Items
1
2.
30
4.
0
Opening of the Meeting.
Approval of the Agenda..
Presentation of (supplementar,y) ,national reports ..
Information on· the ongoing preparations for the "Conference
on the Protection of the Baltic", and on the continued cooperation between ICES and SCOR in the Baltic Pollution Study.
Actions by the Working Group
j
5. Report on the sampling and analytical capacities of the
6.
7.
•
laboratories of the region (Prof K Grasshoff)o
Report on the sources of input to the Baltic (Dr H J Brosin).
Discussion on the monitoring of the horizontal extension of
anaerobic conditions in the Baltic
Report on the needs for fUrther baslc hydrographieal,
biolog!cal, biochemical and biogeochemical studies (Prof B Bolin).
Report on the actions needed:
a) to organ!se urgently both continuous input inventories
and base-line studies of the pollution,
b) to introduce to the studies of the Baltic and its
pollution the most advanced scientific approaches
(cf. above ö) eog. in the framework of a Baltic
Pollution study Yearo
0
ö.
9.
Conclud1ng Items
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Future col1aboration of the Working Group wi thother bodieso
,Discussion on further aotions by the Working Graup.
Revised terms of reference for the Working Graup.
Adoption of the recommendations.
Decisions concerning the preparation and presentation of the
Report by the Working Group.
15. Other Businesso
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•