Monitoring the Health of the Northeast Continental Shelf

Since 1978, the Ocean Pulse Program, and more recently the Northeast Monitoring Program, have been involved with measuring the levels, and trends in levels, of contaminants in various compartments of the marine ecosystem over the continental shelf between Cape Hatteras and the Canadian border. In addition to chemical measurements which are made monthly or quarterly, we have been attempting to determine how the biota is affected by various toxic substances. In some cases we have measured the body burdens of specific toxic substances in individual species. We have also measured bench- mark responses for certain physiological and biochemical variables in waters known to be contaminated, as well as in relatively uncontaminated habitats. We have also collected specimens in polluted and unpolluted areas to determine the incidence of certain disease syndromes in marine finfish and shellfish, and have also attempted to establish the relationship between genetic change and ambient levels of pollution throughout the area of interest. To accomplish the foregoing, scientific personnel have participated in cruises which in some cases have occurred on a monthly basis and, in other instances, have occurred quarterly or semi- annually. Since the programs are multidisciplinary in nature, a range of field and laboratory procedures have been applied. In most instances, samples have been collected within several temporal schemes and analyses have begun onboard the vessels. In other cases, samples must be returned to land-based facilities for final chemical analysis or for routine sorting and taxonomic workup. Our findings to date were recently summarized in the first annual report of the Northeast Monitoring Program. During the past year we have found that specimens of fish collected far from immediate sources of pollutants did show what are regarded as significant levels of substances such as PCB´s and petroleum hydrocarbons. We have also determined the benchmark characteristics for - - the standing stocks of chlorophyll and for primary production over the entire continental shelf. Benthic community structure was defined for stations located throughout the area of interest, as well as at the offings of major estuarine systems. Progress was made in establishing various levels of physiological and biochemical responses to several ambient habitat conditions.