Araceli Puente

The Prestige Oil Spill in Cantabria (Bay of Biscay). Part I: Operational Forecasting System for Quick Response, Risk Assessment, and Protection of Natural Resources

Abstract In this paper, we present the operational forecasting system developed to assist in the response to the 2002 Prestige oil spill in Cantabria. The objective of the system developed was to forecast the wave climate, tidal and wind currents, and oil spill trajectories to provide a technical assessment to decision makers for a response to the oil spill. The two main components of the system were data collection and processing and integration with numerical models for forecasting. The information from overflights received daily became essential in achieving a correct initial position of the oil slicks. Meteorological and oceanographic data were also received daily by means of an emergency protocol established between Puertos del Estado (Spain), the Naval Research Laboratory (USA), and the University of Cantabria (Spain). These data were used to run the trajectory model, the wave propagation model, and the shallow depth-integrated flow model. The information generated by the numerical simulations was presented to the decision makers every day in the form of maps that were easy and quick to interpretation as a tool to help in the response planning. In addition, to develop a defensive or protection strategy for sensitive areas like estuaries and marshes, a hydrodynamic study was carried out by the University of Cantabria in all the estuaries of the region. The result of this study consisted of a boom deployment plan for each.

Is it possible to assess the ecological status of highly stressed natural estuarine environments using macroinvertebrates indices

Several biotic indices have been proposed for the assessment of the ecological status of benthic macroinvertebrates in marine waters, although none have been generally accepted. When it comes to assessing highly stressed natural environments, such as estuaries, the controversy and uncertainty is much higher than for any given normal index. In this article, we test the behavior and suitability of different biotic indices proposed under the perspective of the Water Framework Directive (S, H, AMBI, M-AMBI, BQI, W-statistic, Taxonomic distinctness) for the assessment of estuaries in northern Spain. The low species richness and dominance of a few tolerant species in the characteristic community of these estuaries presented a challenge to the application of the biotic indices tested. Combined approaches that integrate different aspects of water quality and ecosystem functionality could increase the reliability of the ecological assessment of these transitional waters.

Oil spill vulnerability assessment integrating physical, biological and socio-economical aspects: Application to the Cantabrian coast (Bay of Biscay, Spain)

A methodology has been developed to carry out an integrated oil spill vulnerability index, V, for coastal environments. This index takes into account the main physical, biological and socio-economical characteristics by means of three intermediate indexes. Three different integration methods (worst-case, average and survey-based) along with ESI-based vulnerability scores, V(ESI), proposed for the Cantabrian coast during the Prestige oil spill, have been analyzed and compared in terms of agreement between the classifications obtained with each one for this coastal area. Results of this study indicate that the use of the worst-case index, V(R), leads to a conservative ranking, with a very poor discrimination which is not helpful in coastal oil spill risk management. Due to the homogeneity of this coastal stretch, the rest of the methods, V(I), V(M) and V(ESI), provide similar classifications. However, V(M) and V(I) give more flexibility allowing three indexes for each coastal segment and including socio-economic aspects. Finally, the V(I) procedure is proposed here as the more advisable as using this index promotes the public participation that is a key element in the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM).

Differential reattachment capacity of isomorphic life history phases of Gelidium sesquipedale

Vegetative reproduction is an important phenomenon in the propagation of Gelidium species, having significant implications for its ecology and commercial cultivation. This work is an experimental study of one of five sequential processes included in the vegetative propagation of Gelidium sesquipedale: the reattachment of rhizoidal filaments differentiated from apical fragments.

Medium-term assessment of the effects of the Prestige oil spill on estuarine benthic communities in Cantabria (Northern Spain, Bay of Biscay)

A specific monitoring program was implemented in the estuaries of Cantabria (northern Spain) in order to assess the medium-term effects (2003-2005) of the Prestige oil spill (POS) on benthic macroinvertebrate communities. A control-impact design was adopted, examining four unaffected and five oil-affected estuaries. High mortalities and significant differences in overall richness and diversity between the control and impacted estuaries were not detected. Some changes in the temporal evolution of species abundance were observed for some key species, but these could not be related to the spillage event. It was not possible to ensure that low magnitude effects had not occurred, due to the high range of natural variability of benthic communities, the confounding effects of other contamination sources and the absence of previous reference conditions.

The Prestige Oil Spill in Cantabria (Bay of Biscay). Part II. Environmental Assessment and Monitoring of Coastal Ecosystems

Abstract Assessment and monitoring activities constituted two main tasks of the emergency response system implemented by the regional government of Cantabria (north Spain) after the Prestige oil spill. The assessment covered four types of environmental units: estuaries, rocky shores, sand beaches, and subtidal areas, up to a 300-m depth. Monitoring procedures included the chemical quantification of total hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water, sediments, and benthic organisms (clams and goose barnacles), and the analysis of structural changes in intertidal communities. Disturbance of oil cover was significantly more extensive in coastal areas, rather than in estuarine areas, where 50,000 m2 were directly covered by fuel. Otherwise, the presence of oil in subtidal areas was a rare event. Results from the bioeffects analyses were in agreement with the overall impact assessments, pointing to the coastal habitats as the areas where the bioavailability of toxic components from the Prestige spill presented a significant level of risk.

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

A comprehensive expert consultation was conducted in order to assess the status, trends and the most important drivers of change in the abundance and geographical distribution of kelp forests in European waters. This consultation included an on-line questionnaire, results from a workshop and data provided by a selected group of experts working on kelp forest mapping and eco-evolutionary research. Differences in status and trends according to geographical areas, species identity and small-scale variations within the same habitat where shown by assembling and mapping kelp distribution and trend data. Significant data gaps for some geographical regions, like the Mediterranean and the southern Iberian Peninsula, were also identified. The data used for this study confirmed a general trend with decreasing abundance of some native kelp species at their southern distributional range limits and increasing abundance in other parts of their distribution (Saccharina latissima and Saccorhiza polyschides). The expansion of the introduced species Undaria pinnatifida was also registered. Drivers of observed changes in kelp forests distribution and abundance were assessed using experts’ opinions. Multiple possible drivers were identified, including global warming, sea urchin grazing, harvesting, pollution and fishing pressure, and their impact varied between geographical areas. Overall, the results highlight major threats for these ecosystems but also opportunities for conservation. Major requirements to ensure adequate protection of coastal kelp ecosystems along European coastlines are discussed, based on the local to regional gaps detected in the study.

Environmental risk analysis of oil handling facilities in port areas. Application to Tarragona harbor (NE Spain)

Diffuse pollution from oil spills is a widespread problem in port areas (as a result of fuel supply, navigation and loading/unloading activities). This article presents a method to assess the environmental risk of oil handling facilities in port areas. The method is based on (i) identification of environmental hazards, (ii) characterization of meteorological and oceanographic conditions, (iii) characterization of environmental risk scenarios, and (iv) assessment of environmental risk. The procedure has been tested by application to the Tarragona harbor. The results show that the method is capable of representing (i) specific local pollution cases (i.e., discriminating between products and quantities released by a discharge source), (ii) oceanographic and meteorological conditions (selecting a representative subset data), and (iii) potentially affected areas in probabilistic terms. Accordingly, it can inform the design of monitoring plans to study and control the environmental impact of these facilities, as well as the design of contingency plans.

Baseline study of soft bottom benthic assemblages in the Bay of Santander (Gulf of Biscay)

The Bay of Santander constitutes one of the most important estuarine areas in northern Spain (Gulf of Biscay) which has been significantly stressed by sewage discharges. However, an improvement in the environmental quality of the bay is expected once the new sewer system comes into operation. The evaluation of such an evolution needs to be contrasted with the current situation, established in specific baseline studies. For this purpose, a field study was carried out on the soft bottom assemblages of the estuary in spring of 1998. At each station, the benthic fauna abundance, grain size, organic matter, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals concentrations were analysed. The community structure and the physical and chemical characteristics of the sediment reflected the higher impacts both near the points of discharges and in the low water exchange zones, whereas those areas showing higher tidal flows presented an acceptable quality. High heavy metal concentrations for Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn indicated contamination of industrial sources in several areas of the Bay. This information allows to establish a reference situation in order to improve the design of a specific monitoring program for this area.

A comparison of the degree of implementation of marine biodiversity indicators by European countries in relation to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

The degree of development and operability of the indicators for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) using Descriptor 1 (D1) Biological Diversity was assessed. To this end, an overview of the relevance and degree of operability of the underlying parameters across 20 European countries was compiled by analysing national directives, legislation, regulations, and publicly available reports. Marked differences were found between countries in the degree of ecological relevance as well as in the degree of implementation and operability of the parameters chosen to indicate biological diversity. The best scoring EU countries were France, Germany, Greece and Spain, while the worst scoring countries were Italy and Slovenia. No country achieved maximum scores for the implementation of MSFD D1. The non-EU countries Norway and Turkey score as highly as the top-scoring EU countries. On the positive side, the chosen parameters for D1 indicators were generally identified as being an ecologically relevant reflection of Biological Diversity. On the negative side however, less than half of the chosen parameters are currently operational. It appears that at a pan-European level, no consistent and harmonized approach currently exists for the description and assessment of marine biological diversity. The implementation of the MSFD Descriptor 1 for Europe as a whole can therefore at best be marked as moderately successful.