Science Series Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report no. 61

Environmental monitoring conducted in following the grounding of MSC Napoli in January 2007, with an assessment of impact

Science Series Aquatic Environment Monitoring Report no. 61

Environmental monitoring conducted in Lyme Bay following the grounding of MSC Napoli in January 2007, with an assessment of impact This report should be cited as: Environmental monitoring conducted in Lyme Bay following the grounding of MSC Napoli in January 2007, with an assessment of impact. Sci. Ser. Aquat. Environ. Monit. Rep., Cefas Lowestoft, 61: 36pp.

This report was compiled and edited by Robin Law of the Cefas Burnham Laboratory, Remembrance Avenue, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8HA. A copy can be obtained by downloading from the Cefas website www.cefas.co.uk.

© Crown copyright, 2008

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HMSO’s Licensing Division St Clements House 2-16 Colegate Norwich NR3 1BQ Fax: 01603 723000 E-mail: [email protected] 3 Contents C O N T E N T S

Executive summary 5

Background to the incident 7

Rationale for the monitoring programme 9

Water quality monitoring undertaken 10 by the Environment Agency

Lyme Bay survey undertaken by 12 the Marine Laboratory

Commercial fish and shellfish 17 monitoring undertaken by Cefas

Seabird necropsies and oil profiling 21

Benthic surveys in Lyme Bay 25

Sublethal biological effects monitoring 30

Assessment of impact 31

Lessons learnt 32

Acknowledgements 33

References 34

Photographs 35 CONTENTS 4 5 Executive summary Robin Law E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y

On 18th January 2007 the MSC Napoli , out - The monitoring programme which was developed and ward bound from Europe to South Africa in heavy weather, which is reported here was therefore based on three main began to take in water through cracks in the engine room assumptions: walls. The crew abandoned ship and were airlifted to safety, and two emergency towing vessels maintained on station in 1. oil has been lost and may affect the local environment the Western Approaches by the French and UK govern - and so hydrocarbons should be monitored. ments took her in tow. This decision was taken prior to the 2. during the salvage operation any of the chemicals aboard formal establishment of the Environment Group, but various may be lost and monitoring for those compounds may members were consulted. The intention was to tow her to be necessary in water, sediments and biota. on the south coast of the UK as a place of 3. as Lyme Bay is of major nature conservation importance refuge where problems with the ship and her cargo could be there will be a need to assess the damage to the local tackled in safety. It was considered that to have allowed to flora and fauna. the ship to sink in deep water would lead to a serious risk of chronic pollution with little or no ability to intervene. On the Initially, the Environment Agency augmented their rou - morning of the 20th January the ship suffered a serious tine water quality monitoring programme around Lyme Bay, structural failure and she was beached in Lyme Bay, off both by adding additional stations to improve the data cov - in , to prevent her from sinking. The ship erage and by implementing a screening procedure for chem - was carrying 2,318 containers, 159 of which contained more icals in the water samples using coupled gas than 1,600 tonnes of chemicals classified as dangerous chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, Defra goods by the International Maritime Organisation and around funded the Plymouth Marine Laboratory to undertake a sur - 4,000 tonnes of oil as fuel. A salvage operation was begun vey of the waters across Lyme Bay at various distances with the aim of removing the oil and cargo from the ship. A from shore (along the 10m, 20m and 40m depth contours) number of bodies (Defra, Marine and Fisheries Agency, to assess the levels of hydrocarbon contamination in sub - Environment Agency, Cefas, Health Protection Agency, surface waters and the surface microlayer. Also, Cefas and Natural England, Devon and Councils, the the Marine and Fisheries Agency instigated a programme of International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation) assisted sampling commercial shellfish (crabs, scallops and mussels) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in devising an appro - from Lyme Bay and Portland Harbour. These were analysed priate response. As a quantity of oil and approximately 100 for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, toxic components of containers had been lost during and immediately following oil which can affect the human foodchain and whose con - the grounding of the MSC Napoli , it was also decided to centrations may require fishery closures to be put in place. design and implement a monitoring programme in Lyme Bay Natural England organised necropsies of a proportion of the in order to assess any environmental impact and to protect oiled seabirds which was conducted by members of the the human food chain. British Trust for Ornithology to establish species affected Following an investigation by the Marine Accident and their condition prior to oiling, and Cefas conducted analy - Investgation Branch of the Department for Transport, it was ses of oil from the feathers of a number of birds in order to concluded that faulty vessel design led to the structural fail - confirm that the oil was from the MSC Napoli . In preparation ures. For more detail see NAIB (2008). for analysis of any of the chemicals aboard the vessel if lost, The cargo carried by the MSC Napoli was very diverse, Cefas and the Environment Agency collected sediment sam - including many non-hazardous goods (cars, gearboxes, ples from around the shoreline of Lyme Bay and from the paper, personal effects etc) and a wide variety of hazardous Fleet and Portland Harbour, and the Plymouth Marine materials (including chemicals, solvents, personal care prod - Laboratory also collected surface sediment samples from ucts and pesticides). Of particular concern were the pesti - all the stations of the cruise mentioned above. All of these cides lamda-cyhalothrin, profenofos, glyphosate, sediment samples were stored frozen at –20°C in order that carbendazim, propaquizafop, and dibutyltin oxide and a they could provide baseline data against which any future broad range of other chemical products. contamination by any of the chemicals could be assessed. In addition, the University of Plymouth deployed biological effects monitoring at a number of beach locations in Lyme Bay under an EU-funded programme called FACE-IT (Fast Advanced Cellular and Ecosystems Information Technologies). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 A s s e C e b P e b u f e f N t f o h t s O m l E N U im t by I a t w f pr u d a ished c hr i hat un i ho a e l u d A she ry n e v ng lan ef g nive rsi apo a l i n a l e er en ob e f t pac e d [z n [o z n e H ’y c n e s t c e il o p t o B s t a d e s as we i b l ) y l he i p s e e l o . s t t l b t th ably ng i on , s r li r a r sur ro a t gui t n e v t s , d . d e h s i d . (s az . e 0 3 ( h that d ] d a l Ve ly a d e l S cl on e h T f O n e k % 0 2 p ] B he ty i y a m oil u s a c PA n or fo und t n ome le e h t osu res im in te e h i h t n e 6 t n e r y bil ls llf h i u g o un di populati i l e h t th mots H on s b a w s rinary m o r f th i b pact r f m t a c e f f e is e n e c a dn u o r a P is F i t l a co be P d r e w e l e d ad h) s t e p 12 l e s e o r æ c wer , s a f e C lymou t m y ng e g wa ar ) s ncent ra . s e ditio s vi s t o m e l l i u w ough s e r s o e n i and ea eh t of s t tudi Labor v r u de nce th n h t u o d n a e w s er e on o r f m o r f a g n u o y the e t a f o i e N st nal e mm he , d n y e es C S M 104 v s e r m h S M MSC r n a udie d B s e u l a impo sed. esult t e h t ti s p o r c of ator s a M sho w work f a t i r sout s d n u ons 5 1 [z n e b i d t d e l i o eathe edia tel of o how C a r B a t r e d n u r seab azor n i f t a h t e n i r a r n i a ies Na d p a N l a v o m e a t r e p a N and s t l u d d of s s highe hern amge i c s n , e g 0 1 ( ed g µ e on ed p rs a e f d n a l e r I bils es s ir Agency. th y ol n i r p r h, a c l o a r o b a L e k ds l o t oiled S lim , e b m o elevat f o was d l u o e out he s i n e k i s r e h t , µ populat r tu dies i . d n a k n gr b a ] t g t (5 affect g s e r it e hes han a e n o N gros s ut f o si g n i t to n i c a r h t n - ed ounding y l e t a m i x o r p p 5% 1 fuel gk de bird n o e b a it e t d e t l u y l n o n i d e e r b t d r o y r o Five d n he m o r f the d sub let 1- e s o l c cou ld w un der t t s t ed. i and . ts c pa m i s he a h e b o concentrations oil find ings t e r e w i d u o , d e g be nth ic ns ) e n e c n a r F was s ( Foo d f % 3 gu t e exclusion fr n i Of o t f l a e of 3 1 34%, s e e h t that hal no t om o t g w a i e w ilemots aken v o undert w s s e s s a % 7 7 t th d n a e r e w t l u d a . e f o o c he b Stand ards eh t bio log i e a be the indi ca r e e s d r i t h g s A br e t en v % 0 1 r i f n se, h g F resp e h a N ve s y l na by eed h t r u est ab ) r s 0 , 3 s e w CS M S M t l aken o z se de m a r u t iro n s s i f l a w 16 one a and w t ical t ted u e o f ro f n n 0 eh he o re er of -b in c si ll i C d o h 0 8 s l. f r - - - l co p ca. m l se we si T w sh t w t ma p t l o t u o Sa sci wh th o u M tr E a o i i x o i h sh l ro he ot i i a a n ati g g wi l l ere e e ate e C S nt l i l l m vir e f ni pp a O l nif re i e r ce en ed i y ro m to ch 30 t i c ho o o t g n nce f o ng s se ain p fi v an on n d ed h ss e f e los re les ti e can i x c y 0 th l s du s e w i n ds s t al ra o d a N by . p e the me e r a e h c /d l in t a w si p t ease o e n t rs as an i o i t l r a of l to y t i tl l, f g ocu s t i istin as i pe p n o M sea n o ng the nt i y n d i d che cr ve s an d s th an l o xi gr ne op s t p i h e r o wo r i e co ea ust ace . m c d o r f v re i e m Ag th o d d s r g areas s. en t r e m M o e S m d e u i to t he i p nt ain m wa m en con o i mp e w t ff m s n o s e y acte k. a he arit Al i o n cals ove d e pact nc th to n i mo ts/ scie war f s bo o t ter l in wo By a t e r te ea. a h t e e c an. h ime h y e h t o c er o t g t d d he r d he e p t t n t nts. f wate r h f a fro s. e d an , . th it w t o n th of The Ch an r p n i c s Th s r i f mic s the T tr or f d / / : s e o sea, er d m an o nce h e an th e e h carg e r d l i esil in t e s time ww w d . e to e e s o t t d co t a a e c se r e h F sf g n n e e u f h qu e xi ls s p m -e oncen xict tran c re o Coastg n e C S M nvi pr o ntain er p u t c Beach l u o o e t nd ant an stu ity ro e h nch d s l al , d d s e l w a ro olds an re sfe y bab grame - y d w d su it t er a r f e die o l b a o nme es in er cy ge t t N y s a o f o e b f an r he w rre m o r f e rvr e u i a f a o ly s p a th e o cl ing t t and s an r rou ti ard ial ed r d . f h t o n ir i r e re r d o g ons nt sh du d r l o f e o d mo ly, k s UK c q p- e main to wat e il s by i h en vk u . u ow th a o l e du Ag , n o c e h t in or qt e w lost e h ant g wh was f o of ved Po t e coasts Cefa ci c i m a gin oo ring lyw0 1 o e d e t ed dis po a z r e c e r Fle de / in chem ncy r itie t ich rtland o c n e smal ds c i x o fro e . was o d r g s l a le lo n S t s s et n t room p r n i g s he t, e h s abo m ome re w a co s to a 07 carr s u r o y l e f was al we as ga ic a r a g e t c a p m i du p e a r n t con in th leaks b Po l .p be h ump e ard l e v e o t inst y g / e t estab cid ced ls ain o o r e ie re an of f re df o o rt a r t b n i d cen e d o ve tha sid . a l v h t no e the o e fol sti nly in f ,m d b a fo or o n t n rs .s s in h d g e n y s i t t t f - - - - / - - - - 7 Background to the incident Robin Law B A C K G R O U N D T O T H E I N C I

On Thursday 18th January 2007, the 62,000 tonne container Of the ports available, Portland Harbour was selected as the D E ship MSC Napoli was en route from Antwerp to South most appropriate destination considering both the steaming N T Africa. The ship was 45 miles off the Cornish coast in inter - distance involved and the facilities available. The route to national waters when she suffered flooding of the engine Portland was also considered to be the towing direction room during force 8 gales with 12m swells. The 26 crew least likely to further damage the ship in the bad weather abandoned ship and were rescued by helicopter. Both still prevailing. French and British emergency towing vessels arrived on A number of containers and a quantity of oil (estimated at scene. In accordance with the Anglo-French Joint Maritime ca. 150 tonnes) were lost during the initial flooding and aban - Contingency Plan (Mancheplan), the British and French donment of the vessel. The trajectory of the oil is shown in authorities then made an on-scene assessment of the con - Figure 1. During the period 25 – 28 January 2007, patches dition of the vessel. The ship was carrying 2,318 containers, of oil and soiled biscuit packets came ashore along a stretch 159 of which contained more than 1,600 tonnes of chemi - of the beaches of North Brittany, , between Perros- cals classified as dangerous goods by the International Guirec and Carantec. On the 28th January, surveys under - Maritime Organisation. It was considered that to allow the taken by CEDRE showed > 10,000 biscuit packets on the vessel to sink in deep water would lead to a serious risk of beach of Porz Billiec alone (Beau, 2007a & b). Local com - chronic pollution with little or no ability to intervene and, munes organised beach cleaning by manual means. accordingly, the decision was taken to tow the ship to port.

Figure 1. Predicted trajectory of oil lost during the initial stages of the incident (courtesy of CEDRE). 8 Figure 2. Example of a survey map showing pollution of the northern French coast, with photographs of soiled biscuit packets

T stranded on the beach (courtesy of CEDRE). N E D I C N I E H T O T D N U O R G K C A B

The recovery operation led to the collection of 70 tons of Most of the ship’s bunker fuels (diesel and heavy fuel oil waste in Finistère and possibly the same for the Cotes IFO 380; totalling just under 4,000 tonnes) were removed d’Armor. The cleaning operation was completed in June by transfer to another vessel. Within about 4 months (by 2007. An example of a survey map is shown in Figure 2. 17th May) all of the containers remaining aboard had also On the morning of Saturday 20th January the MSC Napoli been removed and taken to Portland Port for disposal or was being towed past Lyme Bay when she suffered further recovery of both the cargo contained and the containers serious structural failure and it was feared that she might themselves. The ship was refloated on Monday 9th July, fol - sink before reaching Portland. In order to prevent this and to lowing the discharge of 58,000 tonnes of water from within put her in a position which would allow the cargo and bunker the patched hull. She was then rebeached on Thursday 12th fuels to be removed she was beached in Lyme Bay approx - July following an inspection by divers which concluded that imately 1 mile off Branscombe, Devon, during Saturday she was too badly damaged to be towed further without a afternoon. The position of the MSC Napoli once beached serious risk of her breaking in two. On the 17th and 18th was 50° 40.62’ N 03° 09.89’ W. A temporary exclusion zone July, explosives were used to separate the vessel into two of 500m radius was established around this position to pre - parts, the bow section floating and the stern section upright vent shipping hampering the salvage efforts, with a further on the seabed. Following examination for invasive species 5 mile radius advisory zone whilst containers were in the by Cefas, the bow section was towed to the Harland and water. Approximately 100 containers were lost into Lyme Wolff shipyard in for recycling, arriving in late August. Bay during and immediately following the grounding. Of Subsequently, plans were also made to cut up the stern sec - these, 76 came ashore in the local area and the remainder tion into pieces and take them away by barge for recycling. were presumed sunk in the vicinity. Work was proceeding and the accommodation block had Whilst in Lyme Bay, a further 150 tonnes of oil were lost. been cut free and removed, when a serious storm upset the Some was dispersed using chemical oil dispersants balance of the ship and she took on a 30° –40° degree list to approved by the Marine and Fisheries Agency and the starboard. This made the lightening of the stern section remainder recovered from the beaches between much more problematic, and plans are being revised with and Chesil Cove. A large number of containers, contents and the intention of cutting up the remains of the wreck for recy - debris were recovered from local beaches by contractors cling. Further salvage work is likely to begin in April 2008. and from the adjacent seabed using sonar surveys and divers. 9 RATIONALE FOR THE MONITORING PROGRAMME - - - - - t f e n o d d d e e , t s) . d s f o t o m y l se es s r fra ub h t h t ical th e r c an n o i t o r su u rin tio t a h t ture ro l n co s Fa yme ct e g f . lace f m a s f ( r a f a r L De e h t a n a o t o o s t n e d p i fu m t o l n tan i T l f e Ma as f n I , rma r o in in o af fe is les d e se o alyse an o r f n ) s l e s s u m rs ny io b e s n co e d r o n o e m m a r t d s sse asse Ce on o in ake t a th i io t r g n e m i r n a p e r p nfo d , e r t n All es s s e I h w i e s iti u p d e h ACE- o r mp v u d n a d an b d h t p o p n I c d mbe d F C sam p p e ina e w d ir ec i e s d e . n mou . ve co b o r t c u d n o ye lo rio t i l Also ld a b a io cat d u an m c p e h t a me o sp f ed whi a d d e lo Bay v p e o t Ply ll ms a o ° 0 2 – m o t se e t o ab y h In d s a a u co t f r ain s h xic o b s d r a te c e t a i ont imen a e d t t a o p a N e y r 0 4 T f e s . r laye s p o l l a c s t c e l l in ach c s e r h t e d g i n C y a th o b yme . r e d t u ed s, n ch d sy e a o c L u su s mb b C S te s ta bl icals o o at r o , s b ag d Ba an o s sie c n d n f n o io t o o i s l a bon M m mme n y c f a u n es f o o .metry n clo r o micr a z o r f Ec a ta n du r c lym m c r a o ab ( y c i e a e 0 e h P me to y r e gr a , p o cr L f n e ch t b Har rface d me r , g n on 2 oca ctro e lin o b car o i l ace c ro g A y L e h s i d f o n e g su dr gy ou mb p i o man u t e r m e h d e r o t n ne pe s r s m o s A i h t d n h r yd c s e ish f l lo a r d s o d lan e hy d s m, 0 f r su e in ar f u n t t h s e o h e e e 1 y sit f o o sh wa e s ise u cr ro r a s f l l e h s M e h d r o i Harb of cte r o ic s a i r t c e h h t l e it h s y e m n n h e u P t ba ise an e a f at h t w at e f lle r ive e r e w q lar h t i r p o d e h t fu h t an d ct l e n o g r els i nd ma u h s e l e r Or n rs i - o r i v u o c o l a o y d g n U s e a i c r e id an an y i F f o g n y n wh ic ev n o i h t b r v te l d EU- t h a l p rt l o e f af n E e mat o ar m ay . n u Ce ym e h fo r s r f o t t d n m n s n e i an c h t m al ( n o o l wa als o t i Po Bay l P pro a he a i t rd s m a rap o n s) e i aw i t o ar s g h t i s s can g o r y o r f e e s i m o c d at , n i d n o c d d a h L l ru e n ab t e at w n o i e r o g n E m g o to or ul h t n e i n o the T s y l de i r e i t o at st ch a ycycl ym a m o c o ess d n a i t n e o a f s l a m n i l sh f L h c i at n i d rat r f r i e h e al r l o n un d e m o t r i p o m t s s ct a ss M d p s a y n a o h w v ti h t a f y ad r t n s ace f r am t n ch e r d n e le ee l s e u at l m o m o i l abo i e f f l ey hr u i d e f n o d n e h o r o n r f o f o ce m a s N se h t Br i s a r f t al s o e C Robin co I L Ba T f c v t e Ad c u f F p - - - , - , - - il i a s e, nt o m es e h t ga d n a ate d o r rou v co was , Bay may d r a o local ce an nd s u o d p re fer st e p lut a o t 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id eig h e in t 1 2 b c T c T t Ra n mo e w u 3 u in m b u in e p ic e t WATER QUALITY MONITORING UNDERTAKEN BY THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 10 m r W f W Ag r t l p m Ba y h w s ar i J bu B s a e R Re S Samp I Envi un W t b o pr t Bay n a E Cu m e h t h s r t r t t i t w s n ie i oo ur em r e h l e u e h u d e amp a r o h r p p i h al eav f amp v n appe i s e er i er ese onthl ot e t n e y at nuar a se d r d d t r t e ency sto s e h T Th e p r m t p r o p e hing i a sep r e t su . e r i have e n o p s e a t l u h t oved a e s , s d l o h ers j a m o i b r a c o , e p o e c itse y W i o d e n i m n o , d e i d . to w le u f n nt ed w les carr i me a e a t o o fu d ter n e v lts s y l t arati ater i h T y i r . d nd l a u q . s h c a e b lin ri e r e u i er a t r o er in and eval Wa t t n p i 2007. to lf. e t a el sk d e m o r f n r e t Wa basi nd t s n o b ron r been of e r from ak y b e l l o r t n o c t n e l o h A ed s i s n e / e s Wes t be Con “ g oi k s i r to l o h ases m o r f on sam p y t i a pr ese n e s i d e s en a diffi l o c water, uate ers l l u f m i r p from l l a m s lso take s d s. i t c a t n o c n cr , h c e t ou t, th e qua o t c n e g A s d di o t d n a M y t tact h t d n a os w s e l p m a s kept e l the h A e c y o t f cult sea son t n e m esel s e l p m a s fo , d e m m i k s Dor ic men on ere i a t n o c bo e d e t c le a s them nt ed e h t n a f o i fur e l wat c i n n the q rwarde y l i r e h t d n a s s d t s n a r t sea the k s i r sediment b a l Cen t i ualit w v he t d se edime t pr y r B ther g n i r o t i n o m o we gen s u o i r a and y o l a a w g n er ri an lity e h t g n i d n u o r g eserved Envir n s y r o t a r o t o v n i by t a aces su d n u v n e r ng s r e n bed, c n o c f e l p m a ative ly / (M a re isk d e n i a m e r urt re y. c e d s t r e p x e en viron ment er m o r f h t Ea n conta de pra d th e v i t c e r i D e r e w t by s e n i g n e w al ay nt ally i v l t e c n O k o o t r e e on her e to d n a t n e m n o r tern onment st pr t n u o p m o c so as and t n e s ailed t d e t A li E t t a h cole esented and s e t i shi Dev Ce ttora mon o a 08 70 ide i v n l a e h t iners a and ocat in ca co deep l a r o r c l l a ge , . se Sept y l a n e t t a n a c n i finaly fa p l l a r nt d a h t n e m n o r lle the i t beach n i h t i w f o o he bio r e . 8 0 0 2 ri ctio o r a m a cti a w l s re duce m o o o r f e h t ’p i h s s s s n o n 8 ed semi- quant it if ions”, a e r f c e s y l Agency s i s were for rin e h t embe r g n i r o t i n o m ied o f ted in ta ncy d a h 50 650 6. eh t f d n u r e t roz m s d ns ns. t o n f Le m y utur o f o s r e b m e m to ge e s ro m c fr J itorin w to ut e r e w s r e n i a t n o as f o d uly inspect en om l i o by s l i o s i h T were a a u q d the r e h t o Whe ere xico d n e e b C S M to e h t h removed f n e e b d n a to e. d n a u q rom we h t ). y c n e g A d l o d wit h the th should follo a t the Science t y a B u iden Addi tiona l y t i l e a h t he wat colected logic e S M - C G s k n t r o p e r n i r athere a t i t n re s e d r a w r o f a v n E no l e s s e v S debr c n a t s b u s incid ent s i ative ly s o r c wi t a c o l l N a ships on t g itto t oil alv ors n i r o t i n o m s c i f i n g i tify er m o r f im o r f d n t il o p a s e t i e r e w a h al o m e r ng h t n o r i v i t g t a from depo was i t a N ral he envir e is na m s d tes the d e d e a c n e Gro y l e th as c s h stil stru Ly s t i e m zone l , 0 2 b 2 n id o n a sa m y f fr n e e Td i ting n i g d ,d e v la n o rom e e n 2 ee dn a s an car n a ll i t s risk sits a eh t em t om th .f l e up on en s e in ro f 70 b ed he yl t sn vy n ot in c a e d d g e n d e a i t - , . - - - . - - , l Sk i t o acu S ( f d b b C v g e i wat se to n i to w p o e E d t hy p r a E p b o b th s e l i G Re I n i e P d p g n n i K e h r a M h i mp i ou io u n i ata l f ee l l re e l a e r r n o a r tand nvi or t h d g th e es. e es t a su xi e e e u o s dr m t t e cte d v s u r e r s e l p m a s C t e su y b 2 e C h T Ma a v t t ate st y b h te wast e i ci c nd i t le er n r e d n cl m a t s s v lan nt e ef as 0 t a d n o r ro me o lts i ef r p s p e was we h nate act r l g s a w e ty D 0 t e ose O ca i d t ard i n a r e to d s e ny . o i u q nm sh a k i a s s c a i l s e C S M t e f e n d , v e we f Th d e a rp y n s n e th , m a e s n E r r B µ re t re xi of s a d bo t s n u r c i t a l th e o t i K r e to s l c and l s st s , k c a d c re t Ass o a i o he e at x n e ci e 20 sul ti m rt st i v l om to et r / v d n c n o avi Or n o i 9 l i w e y n d n th d r Te e a ns fi e t . a y ty To a e i d be b r o r s e l o 6 t a te t s Bran n o r n ati t ºC a N r ed n h was o 1 k a u ts te xpo l al e e re o c a t t l u s e g a h t e w - i o pou c co g r n s t a st st m n a ol d f 9 p r es e b ach u r m , n ani l f o est on e th analyse s m y . r u c ab nd u t Bay , e n e Qu ± p 9 to comp a r t n ri m s d ake t t c i s or H e d i . sure o e h t o w n , 8 2 h t er t s d e scomb s f t s a o n l . sme t th e a sat l t a o o W n e l il a yd f e P . e at pht h dr e d ality s e h con ds o t s f fr o t n an e r o . e c 7 T . o e m o r c i m st comp ho h T ed i l i t w n a b u p u a u Gr s - f f lon d n a aw t es r 2 h E n i i n n o te e m i t h p l o ocarb tox d t m ou a m ake d id m ere e t l a d e e QS h lde e g A o d d h w n a w e s o a ur t n St an t a r e entifi p o r g e . a m s a m u ab o u i l o h l ate nd e n ( a co w ( r u a ate Q i t g l a sh ng r Th t e n i r S I h s ation cte ur c se c IS ho a rs t e h gr o o a e t s n are an be li con er r e v o i u a e r n s ty u d n nt f o a l e s o R s n O on ot ow s O w ine st e d e t g a e a s r ld c dar as a nd o d m hed y s r e y ed ide s c e t ach. l . un s d l o h ai ro e , y mi cr o s a of n ity f a s s e 1 set con e i r r a re s clusio H h in be . o 19 t w e r p d f o n s t s e g a c e e rs app 2 0 r wth a a ds n i wer p r a d he c c in yd , n oo h T t e cord p m a xpo p m res as t 1 h th a ac e ran 95 tif e t s u e h t l n e h rs e t t o Ly fo cen to 5 T . nd 2 a th e v d r , (E m e d tw at ro a o p his 3 s hes i o i th e r p r 1 f o e l e ). f o x o c a r t u i g n i r e w g n i l ho e P l n e e m c i t c ve sur nhibit g ca la te i ) pr o Q ed 9 9 n E n o p lts i d p th e s u e s ocasio o Bot tr at e nt t s o m we o el st r f hol re m o c i r S) ld o t rese t rbo sel. i c r sit u i f eh o w assa ) 9 e efo m o of l a w at k a t e . a t h v t te o ro m in were h t gar a B t fr o y t ir as ce o m r e wate re r o r i ds o l i ( T h d i e l to . es e. o nat o i t wh y ct ns ion e che co s i h ase re a p M e y b n o r T sa y asy n y. w l d m j a m ding n t re o i u q i b u t a a ys n s s i h n i r o t i n n c , ted aq e h a a m n o J plate io th n e m stal er e e C S e v r e s b nd as of r naly co di o t N a t p al cor we r th e r micals d e h t e n i s a w nal o e p u in e w e r art r o bu sam o smen so st nsid S I e n i r f u s i atic engi to y e h w th t n as N th e b de f a para wate andy sed x e ‘ ly w o p e l t s i r icular tyl s. e e vese a t cond s u o t each fo p a e w r e a m o n o x a g th e r l e g A h t i e n e h t d acc e pl s b r il o p r n i ere d d T k se life rwarde ne eco c ere ese risk 8 4 ti i t a n as e a i d e r e s to n , es. he llel e b e to n a n o t. r o t u t c Bay C o wate i t p n ucted d e T . er e w n room w dn co co e sam sam f s h fr l ,m o t o h th rd nt p f e con h d b s i e i d la n o se xist o r y c th pro du eh T T c u an si d ave h t er e h t o t n o an m m ed he o e sa u ot m m at at c in in ci ’ r e n e d h d d e s s r r - - - ) ------’ 1 WATER QUALITY MONITORING UNDERTAKEN BY THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 1 - , - t s s n o r al le t i as e a s d o i t in n w a f e iron e sc n me r i b t C d . a r t g nv y t n e m n o e t r o t r e mat u b e le samp b o r t n o vir d e h t ld k s r e ase le n n e c n larg p e o i r a e t r r i v n E n e h e r a o c h ig g e at w of n h cy ific as w r e d n i t e h T a t e ir t s , r . e h n e c t a h t n e ign m o is h at w w s a e s t s Ag v n o r ve e K S I i lt f e a t R e w e h a w C impa r o f n e h t t e su s a o e h v n h in g e e r a o t f o r o m h th t n e d t o b d n e W O L aso , e as, n o i c ld u f d a ot ase w e r n m o i n d le an m o r y o w e t f ase le r e u l p ld vir n E e r n e h ld t e r at a e t n e n o i imar s. o h at w s u h t r e me r h t s a t wou s e r p d s e r e r e n o e s f a p s u l c f o r e e at h t e is io w e t t n h f s a e ile o w an t t n th d n T o s lu at i o c w a n t a y d e d h t y a o g n d g i l r e p sco cit s a . act l o g th n i ra an st n i c n i i d n h p n e xi i m e i f cal g ar r i d l n m r u d h t o t ed o i e h p u o r t y m e e an e ge w l ud e e g ar e g d l s l h t h r su lo c al t n n i T A a ch a e d y e e l c n e g m o f si t u on l l e o m r u d r f o as c A a an h t r ------s a g e e f o a h n e , n o fre ddi r p is h T as e n e g a in . c an b / t h p y t i h w cr in esultin r e ain t n e c n e s r l a e h t kt lan p o co very u q vent r u ist d Napoli e r P d an ce an r ag r ime t r f f o sol ial d an yt h p f o ntially a in MSC f o e t a w lt su . o g r a c t n e t ils o as d l pot e d me assu e r e h d se recorded o p t r as u a is o h e h t s. n o e s d io r e p f ct u d o f o r it io s n io as o e r p t a h t t ain at r w ll u h t ilu d r a p ainer d e t n e cid in t r ce n n io at nt . l; sse ve micals e ch ially t n e e Ethylbenz ene co ch at p e h t n io r e ic e h e e b w o h s t n ce n co t t o p o esthetic w of t d ce u d e r ad r g e d ent. e s i g n i n o e r w lo t xo E t u s , d e ana a in at min o e , t s e t pr h g u o r h t . se e h T w e k i l cal y r ve breach d e lt o y t i . d e id h lo r r ccu o a t n co e v at t n se e r p d ve al s c i x d ie r car d i r p r su su e r n o a h cal o r lp su i o t as ner s, a and k r an ve mo d l s ere i at r mp y i e r a f rs w o w u o ave h t o n e c y e m e ch io r e so r C contai es e ay d e t r o p all as e g m o f yl h t ime l t n e u r t e ur e r v i at l r t d w q c e w d in o f m 12 Lyme Bay survey Y

R undertaken by the O T A R

O Plymouth Marine B

A Carlos Guitart, Trish Frickers, L E

N Laboratory James Readman and Robin Law I R A M H T

U Once oil had been spilled in Lyme Bay following the ground - O Methods M ing of MSC Napoli it became necessary to conduct a survey Y L

P aimed at assessing the degree of contamination and its The unfiltered seawater samples were extracted by liquid- E

H spread. The Environment Agency were analysing water liquid extraction with dichloromethane. For 2.5 litre samples T

Y samples taken from the coast, but it was decided to sup -

B of subsurface seawater (SSW), a triple extraction was used

N plement this by mounting a dedicated cruise. This was con -

E with 2 x 50ml and finally 1 x 25ml. For the 0.5 litre samples K

A ducted by scientists from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory of the sea surface microlayer (SML), 2 x 25 ml and 1 x 15ml T R

E on 30-31 January 2007. A series of samples of subsurface of dichloromethane were used. Surrogate solutions were D

N water and of the sea surface microlayer were taken at sites made up for 1-octadecene, acenaphthene-d 10 , phenan - U

Y across the whole of Lyme Bay, approximately along the threne-d 10 and chrysene-d 12 at a concentration of 5 ng/µl in E V

R 10 m, 20 m and 40 m depth contours (Figure 3). In addition, methanol. All of the samples were spiked with 50 µl of each U S samples of surface sediment were taken and stored frozen surrogate solution to yield a final concentration of 100 ng/l Y A

B at –20 °C as baseline samples, in case sediment monitoring and 500 ng/l of each compound for the 2.5 l (SSW) and 0.5 l E

M was to be conducted at a later stage. Samples from the sea (SML) samples, respectively. Samples were extracted, Y L surface microlayer were obtained using a surface slick sam - reduced in volume down to 50 ml using a rotary evaporator, pler (Guitart et al ., 2004), and the subsurface water samples dried with anhydrous sodium sulphate, and transferred to were obtained at 2 meters depth with 2.5 litre Winchester vials to provide a final volume of 500 µl. Triphenylamine (50 amber glass bottles using a custom-made stainless steel µl) was also added as an internal standard. The fuel oil sam - and Teflon sampling device (Kelly et al ., 2000; Law et al ., ple from the original was directly weighed and dis - 1988). solved in dichloromethane and subsequent dilutions were made prior to analysis by coupled gas chromatography-mass

Figure 3. Coastal and offshore sampling locations in Lyme Bay surveyed in January 2007. 3 LYME BAY SURVEY UNDERTAKEN BY THE PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY 1 l - , ------, - . - - t t f s ) . n h e e e d n d e e is a e 4) o f o et of u is as W a ns io e . n o b h ne h o r o r t n m re l a i i r b h t h t e t o s e l i ile ls. e d dis ( a st an b 6 b i t r su T rac ug e T p r p first e ic n co pic ty m o r f r laye ase % u l tio S S co o t un ch k f f o ich f o t e e a d u f in e r m n f f o r il. yd h ph e il. , d le o ty n I r c i ed ext ce r e e ini tho he 0 6 o p t r o h t s n c a r f r P e ar o tra e a ( se . h r su ( p s r h w l s T a e r ist r e sing a 0 ic o r f e t f o Figu re h t c r e h w s > e 2 gin e t ar it Gu ( e ce v same ( r ML ia, r e o t r e ( h thio en e il c i t s o micr r o f a 6 y e s n C . l i o n o i t a r t n e c n the 80 il o ) 7 it h t S o s e l l i p s h t s a). ov e t h d mical e h lig wa 3 e r zo t i u G s i r nc h t e lea 5 he cr ig h ( de o o c d an sen o act f e t r 1 2 s ce r e alkan e h t e in t ig d n i t a h p d e t , t c u O s l i s e r l r e t - i t for g increa n e l Ch a en co c a f r u k u plot e h t e ct g o d e at h t re as t e h t h n c re act ar ch = k c e r w n IF a clu . s a se i at e u g p n y a ib h t ) ib e l e t e alkan - u so a r z in e e m lig in ith b o 0 d o t ial me e inin u o ar d s i F , ly n a AH P e e r ted ML S ) y l e v i t mical ( ly e e h an n is a h t e h t ofi e d h t o r h w d e h t Figu e f d ta th c i l u a r d y h wre c r t at lo mo nd, d lve f 8 3 r o ( an th m/ ( amin t t s e h g i h f c ) y e e r o e u a nd o al t pr like ric f F E ( e h n o f o t l spat il c e p flec t o m e e ch d s id w a s on tio n r o e ls erp h t ich ls P / o i is f if d h t n e b iz r i t o t o n co o n ing c io at r h e ic h y en e e r t r n r a e n re th h it w s r d co t so e r ed st m s e l F o e O F I t f io f e u in ( an ( r g h e t n o t f se lin l n M w o L t s h u s e r a r at h ch a h s e an r s t u ld e r t s tr ibu var ly ar t t can of C mo e h nd s e at h it io at o il o s) ul nd ec t hi ue ) ib p i , % a n e h fo e m U d n f l se i t i w ce n o act f li pha e act ar r e w c a tho - d M S w t g o t is r e e st s r 2 d ke thr e dis o cle n r e w , a i l e s, t n o i s s i m a l r g ro , r h s a r 1 ll ter can h / u o n co f ch e an e alkylat n M C 00 t cal lin ie d 0 n e m an at u s e u mixt e h u f in icat r b g e m i e r p r ist d d the t avy io 0 amin t s h h at r h d he n r t h nts e n t at p e h e d an e h t , e s n a a wa U ( lu i w t e 10 t it 0 m T d e e at w en r h fro il h it ils o n a T al b e ) n i an r 7 r e st t 4 h e w o r h e r o 2 n e g h . l s o o as w d e 1 avy a 1 il, 0 me l. c n co w c t me n s p n ce h 9 e r o % r u C d wer alyse an wit lg red a h g o t 7 , a e st me ich r t i an le c y P / el e h 1 ly l 8 e red ic ) e u f r e ysical io t u ils ace f d an 5 ible e e s i d imo u d x i th l) ssu at 1 r e /b l at amin t i cat vat le E b o f s n co o f e o i = n E su e n s b n e k a t t h a ctu i o e u ch l n e r show h t o h p ffe i o act r xt s w g nric d . t m ate f SSW . v m wi c sse ve f d an e n e e p g i li a e e avy e z / h c u s l d n 5 di x C e 7 i r st su b oa d e o e r i fra ) g o h samp n co m al u o e h t i o t m / o h al s b r i . e an n i s h t t ciate e 5b r e 5 n L , e i l m d s p n d . 0 i Na e h x c e h roo i o p p ( y y su b u s. i e h t a w o e n o l p l p r l r t e s e si o ti l f e t n AH t r p e h SM a s l i o i ( l avy e wa o r F or an h t h s l e l ro t ML e p vat e e m s e s t N ap n o a 5 o P f o a r o l a m th C h sh c . r e e l p m a s can y s m SC n e t ( ) S ri l e ce l f o , o r e l Asso h t u l c t pp m o d AH P f o d e ) 8 e o r f s g i g n i g an r c g ar i at st I o c = en o r l su gi s s: l ap n l l i o s n M te u f n F a ip c e i ta s r f SC es h n h ). n Figur e r u r ve . l i le d l i at st f o t gh t d 6 2 ) se ne F e r d o i s . ) 0 0 g ta i m an p r e at , i s he h t en ac e p i d n o to e h o g i i t sh M t a c i t C s E 2 r n L ai s e d ce e r e i g - s e ( F T e v t u ou m e t h t 08 s n ce r u e r mp F A e r e e o ke ar e at c n l ese cal n e , . so as t 4 1 m o o i bt i 0 f si o l ce u i h f au r yd avy e o oa en a ha l l o l o h h h h r o al a r o c l i cat s p r f C o t m an t r f d m b t d T c s o h t r b u l M S sam e w b car t a t h h t so h ag i t a f W o s s 2 t e s - . ------f t l y x y s s . r o e at o t o t o t e of b h it h it e h e h 4). t t t d n a - P H d an and ma h T 50 as w wa c e p n co w w min yme m m o r f d e s u le 0 9 8 6 n u t o d e n i a s mas n C ° 0 8 L C s n io at d n a o p n u n o n 2 in t le in ure s e m i t area resolve m N t inje cto s o i r o f in t au 30 icall lyt o s, le e u rom ; d e min r e a e u iq n ch e C ° 0 3 slick n 5 0 . 1 f t ar it Gu s a w d e st se clo t al ve e r to ° 0 1 3 fr ag ments mme l o 2 a e d mo h t (Fig performed n u r t n i a m e h t a m h it w source e h c t e yr p t t e d , 5 list te mp erat ure y b 3 7 9 5 t n ile Ag o t s g in t k PT V al t n me u at s. e t u min t n y t i l i red s a I E t o n ace f ane ; samp as w f o t u o h g u o n ) I V L ( r t n ce n co t a n i m a y b y r a a ion w . e illag sp sum mari sed l a t o t ve an used l l ito ble c a f pr og ra were r h t r su AH P a s a w r st n I ilox g id d i p te ristic wre c ld e h n io at 0 2 . 0 m s d n u o p m o c n io he ail t e d am r a ing t n o c ilise ab st T AH P r o p p su g in amp r W S S st i m / C ° a c t n ile Ag w o l f e d mon e r was ls ve le rac o r f Σ in d e h t been us f o r o f sin u i v SI M t e g A l i o d imise ) the at t n lve o e d e ciat asso thr ougho ut f e r u t a ation t e h . g o r p r e i an s . y l e v i t c e p ls ve le an ct je in e h t r a e w S t r m o AH. 0 6 . 3 A e cha s, e g in g r e l s u o n o r h o r p e h w lo t p o fic . ce r u so lt og ramma in it wer s e r s t an amin t n co d e s i r o f d ve s e d me , C hav e r a c t tr ac nes e AH c n dime th yls o t din pr fo r nti p m w fro m d h it P s e t u min y n w o MS GC- - V T , s , t - n o n r a w t se o h t min ml/ r u at m su ck ted-P ex r o f s e h a d C. ° 0 4 P e t su e r d e ib scr e w ls samp t l a c o r e in l / g n r u at an f o la r e w l vey ° 5 3 2 d me lu vo f o mod e. qua thi s e t e s r o f L of n o r se b o e h th 1 f o s, in r e p y b ck, e 0 0 2 g in d clu in exten 0 8 . 0 d ace . an lky 95 % t ( y r o 3 o t gn a m u i l e h n i l eV sur l o co e g e a n o µl lm wi nd radiu s n o h si s n io / n M S r w d an f o , 8 i mical e ch r e mp e t 0 fi f r e a as o r e o t u n i m lar s n t 7 si s u he l d e t a c i at r e mp e t t n me d n u o p m o nd e h T w t 20 m SCAN e r e w ical yp t it w e h t in e h A m s t c a r t x c r u at r a ation r r t t t f s n k 9 6 ily imar t n ve in at w lo . e 0 0 2 ( µ e . . y 7 . 0 d n i r e h t r o ct je in f M I S / N A C S ) 7 0 0 . n i in i m / C ° tion en y H i t a t S m a r 3 e p , n ve o it d n co r p n I o ) C-MS) e t . om g in n e e cr ect e d se u th e 2 ( A yse sc i D r s t , . m m 15 d e t t ed isi im t i acquir e S fr s yse al P h t . 0 2 . .25 nj iph AH P (G s e yt i f l i n e h o f m o r f tam h ap r g d h T e h e h C n o vir n e i 4 0 d m e t a t n ve uir o r f V T P o g car T y an s. . o to T pol , n ce n co ( et al an , io at r t n ce n ry n e q ally r e n e et t i as w a apoli to t n al an d at n a acqu e g al an e l u s e R e g r u i . s con f o 2 ined C ° r C ° 0 . in r e t e ately l ive ct e sp Na le co N ac t e g r a . / C ° 0 5 6 p on s e l i l h t pol t arg d e g a g in at r e p AH P t e t ay aw t ar t e in ar t e r m (5 % c s n io ct e r C g sin 0 4 1 3 an H o y CO t a re l/ ve d i w S SC g A m st e h g Na e lished obta mm an r use d dat u n i o t 5 t a f i t t a Dal C MS C- oxim e w je n m i Gu le A P id m o r ch ss le g r e h i h i t e g ar t M M r ctro me t th e r a w t f o s i r u o we ts l su ive t h ab s m Σ MS G ) 8 0 0 2 ( 1 d l n a e lit m o r ct e n i S SC r e ce n se e e e e s e a 25 w- d e t g ata . ol, ay m ad e a 50 . st r r e r u as , d se u iq o p u r ad u C, ° 0 5 s e 2 u t o ° 0 8 pp pe r o h e h ) n io r h h h n t t t se M p lu d F lo B a t al at t u R Re D sp h vap 2 s 7 t i g sp u u t b t q t w L 4 M 0 f q e 1 14 Y R O T A R O B A L E N I R A M H T U O Figure 4. Spatial plots of total PAH in Lyme Bay. a) concentrations (ng/L) in the sea surface microlayer (SML), b) concentrations (ng/L) M Y

L in the subsurface water (SSW). Total PAH concentrations in the sea surface microlayer clearly depict the extent of the oil spill P

E contamination. H T Y

B a) N E K A T R E D N U Y E V R U S Y A B E M Y L

b)

can differentiate between petrogenic (Fl/Py < 1) and pyrolytic sources, with major inputs from the Exe estuary pyrolytic (Fl/Py > 1) inputs. Beyond the localised area of the and Brixham harbour on the western side, and from Portland spill, PAH from pyrolytic sources were more dominant in the (i.e. runoff) on the eastern side. These are seen as patches sub-surface waters, reflecting the general background con - with Fl/Py ratios > 1. tamination in the area. The petrogenic input due to the oil In summary, oil spilled from the MSC Napoli was prima - spill is, however, evident, especially in the surface micro - rily present as a localised surface sheen. From the analyses, layer in the vicinity of the MSC Napoli . This is shown to con - the contaminated microlayer samples can be linked to three taminate sub-surface waters close to the ship. Throughout sources of hydrocarbons: heavy fuel oil, lubricating oil and a the remainder of the bay, Fl/Py ratios are consistent with lighter oil.The source of the contamination was not, there - 15 L Y M E B A Y S U R V E Y U N D E R T A

Figure 5. a) GC-MS single ion chromatogram profile (m/z = 57) for aliphatic hydrocarbons in the MSC Napoli IFO380 heavy fuel oil and K E b) the sample taken in the sea surface microlayer at station 5 near the grounded vessel. N B Y T H

a) E P L Y M O U T H M A R I N E L A B O R A T O R Y

b)

fore, only fuel oil and is more likely to have originated from appears more localised than surface microlayer contamina - the engine room/bilge water of the wreck, washed out tion. Further away from the wreck, PAH levels throughout through the fractured hull and containing engine and Lyme Bay were generally typical of those associated with hydraulic oils. Transfer of PAH from the microlayer to the unpolluted marine environments, with low levels of pyrolyt - sub-surface water occurs to an extent, although spatially this ically derived PAHs. 16 Y R O T A R O B A L E N I R A M H T U O Figure 6. a) Spatial plot of Fl/Py ratios in Lyme Bay. The SML shows an important petrogenic input associated with the oil spill from M Y

L the MSC Napoli superimposed on a generally pyrolitic background across the bay. b) The Fl/Py ratios indicate other sources of PAH P

E contamination (e.g. from estuaries, harbours, runoff, atmospheric deposition etc) rather than the oil spill. H T

Y a) B N E K A T R E D N U Y E V R U S Y A B E M Y L

b) 17 Commercial fish and C O shellfish monitoring M Carole Kelly, Kerry Baker, Myriam Lunn, M E R undertaken by Cefas Philip Mellor and Robin Law C I A L F I S H A N D S As spills of oil occurred soon after the grounding of MSC prior to analysis. Sixty-four samples collected between 24th H E L

Napoli , it was important to assess any potential impacts on January and 22nd May 2007 were analysed. Total hydrocar - L F I the human food chain and the local benthos. It was decided bon and PAH analysis for a suite of parent PAH and their S H to instigate a monitoring programme using commercial shell - alkylated derivatives were conducted using well-established M O N

fish from the area of Lyme Bay, as this would address both protocols (Kelly et al ., 2000). These involved alkaline saponi - I T O

concerns. Oils contain toxic components known as poly - fication of tissues, solvent extraction, clean-up of the R I N

cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). All of these have acute extracts on alumina, total hydrocarbon determination by G U

toxic effects and some of the larger PAH are potential ultraviolet fluorescence spectrometry and final determina - N D human carcinogens, and so of particular concern for human tion using GC-MS. Analytical quality control involved the E R T consumption. As PAH occur naturally in oils and are pro - analysis of blanks and laboratory reference materials within A K duced by a large number of industrial and domestic activi - each sample batch and the use of control charts. Sampling E N ties, there is usually a low level of contamination in shellfish locations from which shellfish were collected are shown in B Y C

from all UK locations. In order to protect the human food Figure 7, and a summary of the PAH data is given in Table 1. E F chain, the UK Food Standards Agency has established guide - The full dataset is presented as electronic supplementary A S line values for three of the carcinogenic PAH: 10 µg kg -1 wet information relating to Kelly et al . (in press), linked by the weight for benzo[ a]pyrene and 15 µg kg -1 wet weight for Laboratory Sample Numbers (LSNs) for the individual sam - each of benz[ a]anthracene and dibenz[ a,h ]anthracene. ples in Table 1. Exceeding any of these values following a spill may trigger In 1995-97, we undertook a survey of PAH concentrations fishery closures in order to prevent excessively contami - from commercial shellfish beds around England and Wales. nated shellfish being consumed. Samples of commercial No scallops were analysed but, in mussels, summed PAH shellfish (edible and spider crabs, mussels and scallops) concentrations ranged from 40 to 11,500 µg kg -1 wet weight. from Lyme Bay and Portland Harbour were collected by fish - The concentrations observed in Lyme Bay in 2007 are at the ing boats or, in the case of farmed mussels in Portland lower end of this range, although the earlier samples were Harbour, by divers. They were frozen at –20°C and trans - exposed only to diffuse pollution and local point sources. ferred to Burnham on Crouch by courier, then stored frozen Following the oil spill from the Sea Empress in Wales in

Figure 7. Locations in Lyme Bay from which shellfish samples were collected. Summed PAH concentrations ranged from 7 to 568 µg kg -1 wet weight, with the highest concentration observed in scallops collected off Branscombe Beach in March. Concentrations in scallops and in one sample of mussels were somewhat higher than those in crabs, but only samples collected very close to the wreck (but outside the 500m exclusion zone) showed signs of contamination from the spilled oil. Even in these samples, concentrations were only slightly elevated relative to the general background. COMMERCIAL FISH AND SHELLFISH MONITORING UNDERTAKEN BY CEFAS 18 f PA t m w no s s t a f c K w ( w 19 Mi La o r he r nd e c n o m u el om om er ei i e ol ls t 96 , f l H h T w fo ilt y, gh t t h g ecular exceed e S l m fr obst r t n e f e rd a e the Lym an e ro 20 04 no o r i d e n m we U Hav e f d m d n a m E eeding t wh i s n o i t a ers K water Ke lly, e ma de PA their wei re ). ed, F B e r p tected ch sam pl ed o o n, e h t Al ny H ay fo und ght so and ss wer d 20 04) column anim 72 ,00 0 di s i h t i w o c i n ites h t S et, wit hin incid ent PA e h g i 20 07 n e c n e the d n a in in als > cr H n . wi duri any sample s Th e t s abs 100, e h t thr s d r a are t a r t thi vi such we r on nes Milfo r a ng c ee n . s n o i t of co e c n o and t of r 000 th heir e g n a e c n e g A the nce ntr t P as e low he low er AH d of of finfish µg fi a r t n mus 3 gils. Haven a she crab v o b 0 0 1 e cru de months for solub kg y dib le a s n o i t th an ry t i u g - i 1 e The which on s els t absorb t w c i o it sue ilty 0 0 0 , 1 i l e d losur oil et cr self , ref 0 5 4 , 2 which th ose ob ser v r e s b o foll o abs, we we r e n and, ore t e samples. hese sum PAH i wing g area g µ a v velve t e ved se g µ ac they ht in , d e s e u l lost en cumul (L w k pr gk cont sh in the g ed aw ere main imarily , 1- du rin h t i w - ow 1 c cr er e w mu Hig PAH rab s w e w spill rast and abs set ate ed te ni s ly g h t - 0 crab p T c c m E a p th µ P ab I b b g ran n bsor n i o H A h .2 t o e h g a l e e ove c n k c es n e e h t n e g o g n e k r p o z µ a n M s ed s g g e n e g o c b e m a 1- i t , u o r S ( [ n c BaPE a m o c s kg l a low th C a r t fr o e c n e r h t o b p ] s c i p mpo e e n - a N o r c a 1 e r y o i t l m s n p d e n BaP r e m b m i p o z n t o p r t en val n 1. c e n l ol o u o l t n e o [ s s t a s s e a nd 7 f il z ecul n E a i c , m u p ] o i o e to a t was ( e u m a s i a valu [ e s n q y l a a a s; l i m a o i t n n e r s u n a r 1 ]p a l l e h s . a e m re s r l a v i 6 calu n i I yre n n e b e s w n .7 a w e g e a ac s o e n ei h s n o i t c n e s l th µg i f s n e in u s n o s ght d e h s o late u q e te t mod muse f s a kg f l l e . e b o ly o a v i PH A q e q r u s h s i PA n I n a a d f - a B 1 u tox e i l r s est n e l u ivale b as d v r e H s s y e v E P c n e en s a , a m m u a m m u i r c l o c suc i in s s t n , d e and z L ( a n b ran o , e p m f o L v s s a t ut a [ h e r s a aw c a w e h t e u l ]p l l a a g o f 7 9 - 5 9 9 1 lo s i r u o yr , or do u s a s ed yre calised o l l s p o a t e n n i d n t l e r lo d n no e h t o t a o f g n i w g ne we r. o pht s a rom ) s f , x t l t l u f . i yl l e K , a c h a B , c l i o 2 e eq o ha ave 20 . f e r 1 . v e l e s b c r q e f o 2 P I uivale l n o l ene .3 02 h t E o n i r e v i u a µ an g th t s r e o i t v t ) 0 2 g n e e v d e r o g e se u l a s y we a f n e n r e S 4 0 d l 1 nt a r e a car k si e mo 09 nd g o tn ot re n ni s. ci .) - a 1 f - - l 19 C O M M E R C I A L F I S H A N D S

Table 1. Total hydrocarbon and summed PAH concentrations in shellfish from Lyme Bay (mg kg -1 wet weight Forties crude oil equivalents and H E

µg kg -1 wet weight, respectively). L L F I S

LSN Species Tissue Date Location THC ∑ PAH H M O

2007/00824 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 24.01.07 off Branscombe Beach 9.0 17 N I T O

2007/00825 Edible crab Claw/body meat 24.01.07 off Branscombe Beach 1.6 8 R I N

2007/00822 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 24.01.07 off West Bay 5.0 26 G U

2007/00823 Edible crab Claw/body meat 24.01.07 off West Bay 1.2 9 N D E

2007/00783 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 24.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 8.1 22 R T A

2007/00784 Edible crab Claw/body meat 24.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 1.4 7 K E N

2007/00952 Edible crab Claw/body meat 31.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 1.4 8 B Y

2007/00953 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 31.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 23 24 C E F

2007/01002 Edible crab Claw/body meat 09.02.07 off Brixham 0.9 12 A S 2007/01003 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 09.02.07 off Brixham 3.2 ND 2007/01014 Edible crab Claw/body meat 12.02.07 off Branscombe Beach 1.2 15 2007/01015 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 12.02.07 off Branscombe Beach 5.5 36 2007/01020 Edible crab Claw/body meat 13.02.07 off Brixham 1.1 11 2007/01021 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 13.02.07 off Brixham 6.4 19 2007/01062 Edible crab Claw/body meat 13.02.07 off West Bay 1.2 10 2007/01063 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 13.02.07 off West Bay 5.4 16 2007/01191 Edible crab Claw/body meat 22.02.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 1.8 14 2007/01192 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 22.02.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 2.9 12 2007/01420 Edible crab Claw/body meat 21.02.07 off Seaton 1.5 12 2007/01421 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 21.02.07 off Seaton 9.8 29 2007/01426 Edible crab Claw/body meat 17.02.07 off Seaton 1.2 16 2007/01427 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 17.02.07 off Seaton 3.0 18 2007/01528 Edible crab Claw/body meat 05.03.07 off Seaton 1.5 28 2007/01529 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 05.03.07 off Seaton 1.8 ND 2007/01576 Edible crab Claw/body meat 09.03.07 centre of Lyme Bay 1.4 18 2007/01575 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 09.03.07 centre of Lyme Bay 14 ND 2007/02238 Edible crab Claw/body meat 25.04.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 1.2 9 2007/02239 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 25.04.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 1.4 12 2007/02948 Edible crab Claw/body meat 22.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 1.5 13 2007/02949 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 22.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 18 79 2007/02953 Edible crab Claw/body meat 16.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 2.2 14 2007/02954 Edible crab Hepatopancreas 16.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 16 48 2007/01434 Spider crab Body meat 17.02.07 off Axmouth 2.2 13 2007/01433 Spider crab Hepatopancreas 17.02.07 off Axmouth 2.9 33 2007/01524 Spider crab Hepatopancreas 02.03.07 off Axmouth 1.6 ND 2007/01525 Spider crab Body meat 02.03.07 off Axmouth 2.1 30 2007/02957 Spider crab Body meat 16.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 2.3 14 2007/02958 Spider crab Hepatopancreas 16.05.07 off Branscombe Beach 48 69 2007/01108 Mussel Whole tissue 31.01.07 Portland Harbour 8.0 79 2007/00745 Scallop Viscera 24.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 8.6 ND 20 S A F E C Y B N E K A T R E D N U -1 G Table 1 continued. Total hydrocarbon and summed PAH concentrations in shellfish from Lyme Bay (mg kg wet weight Forties crude oil N I equivalents and µg kg -1 wet weight, respectively). R O T I

N LSN Species Tissue Date Location THC ∑ PAH O M

H 2007/00758 Scallop Gonad 24.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 8.6 112 S I F

L 2007/00759 Scallop Muscle 24.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 2.1 24 L E

H 2007/00768 Scallop Muscle 24.01.07 off Salcombe 2.7 31 S

D 2007/00767 Scallop Gonad 24.01.07 off Salcombe 9.2 ND N A 2007/00769 Scallop Viscera 24.01.07 off Salcombe 8.6 ND H S I

F 2007/00793 Scallop Muscle 25.01.07 off Branscombe, 2 miles ENE of MSC Napoli 6.4 77 L A I 2007/00802 Scallop Muscle 25.01.07 off Abbotsbury 2.5 29 C R

E 2007/00781 Scallop Muscle 25.01.07 off Axmouth 3.4 77 M

M 2007/00812 Scallop Muscle 24.01.07 off Lyme Regis 3.3 32 O C 2007/00940 Scallop Whole tissue 30.01.07 off Abbotsbury 8.9 124 2007/00947 Scallop Whole tissue 31.01.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 5.7 106 2007/00969 Scallop Whole tissue 08.02.07 off Axmouth, 5.1 miles ESE of MSC Napoli 15 162 2007/00970 Scallop Whole tissue 08.02.07 off Beer, 2 miles E of MSC Napoli 26 ND 2007/01179 Scallop Whole tissue 22.02.07 Portland Harbour 7.3 95 2007/01186 Scallop Whole tissue 22.02.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 6.4 107 2007/01415 Scallop Whole tissue 26.02.07 off Beer 17 229 2007/01526 Scallop Whole tissue 05.03.07 off Teignmouth 5.2 83 2007/01527 Scallop Whole tissue 13.03.07 off Branscombe Beach 37 568 2007/01583 Scallop Whole tissue 09.03.07 off Portland Bill 5.2 61 2007/01590 Scallop Whole tissue 09.03.07 Portland Harbour 6.3 70 2007/02233 Scallop Whole tissue 25.04.07 off Portland, east end Lyme Bay 3.8 32 2007/02875 Scallop Whole tissue 19.04.07 off Charton Bay, 6.1 miles ENE of MSC Napoli 13 96 2007/02885 Scallop Whole tissue 19.04.07 off Branscombe, 0.7 miles S of MSC Napoli 14 93 2007/02896 Scallop Whole tissue 19.04.07 off Charton Bay, 5.75 miles E of MSC Napoli 19 139 21 Seabird necropsies and oil S E profiling Steve Benn (compiler) A B I R D N E C R O P S I E S A N

A major aspect of Natural England’s response was to iden - • Birds with an obvious “bursa of Fabricius” were classed D O I tify the rationale (including justification) and methods for as juveniles (first-years) L P dead seabird collection, collation, transport, storage, analy - • Birds with a fully brown head, or moulting into this R O F

ses (necropsy) and data capture. Consideration was also plumage, were classed as subadults/adults. This follows I L I required for further storage and eventual disposal of the work by Nevins & Carter (2003) that states that adults N G dead oiled birds. Paid contractors and trained members of and older sub-adults moult into alternate (summer) non-governmental and voluntary conservation organisations plumage through the winter (October to February) whilst (e.g. RSPCA, RSPB and DWT) collected live and dead oiled first-year birds do not moult until May or later. birds. Live birds were processed at various RSPCA centres • Degree of ossification of the supra orbital ridge (SOR). in the south and midlands. Bird carcases were stored at pre- This ridge, which is located at the edge of the salt gland arranged sites. The carcases were transported from the col - depression, is cartilaginous or non-existent in the lection points by contractors and delivered to the Natural youngest birds (SOR=1), and ossifies with age, forming England office at Wareham where they were stored in a a thickened ridge in the oldest individuals (SOR=7). The mobile freezer prior to relocation to the Cefas laboratory at scoring for the supraorbital ridge used here was taken Weymouth for necropsy by the British Trust for Ornithology from Nevins & Carter (2003). Birds with a well-ossified (BTO). skull (SOR=5) were classed as sub-adults/adults and The BTO conducted analyses of the oiled bird carcasses those with a fully ossified skull (SOR=6 or 7) were to determine impact upon populations of seabirds affected. classed as adults (Soldaat, 2007). A summary of the findings are provided here and the full • Males with testis width of greater than 2.5 mm and report may be found at the following web address; female with an ovarian follicle diameter greater than 1.5 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/planning/coasts- mm were classed as adults, following work by Anker- seas/default.htm Nilssen et al . (1988). These birds with wider testes or ovarian follicles had a high likelihood of past breeding activity. Methods Where possible, all birds were assigned to species or fam - For razorbill, the birds were classified into four age groups ily level, aged where applicable on plumage, and scored according to the structure of the bill after Anker-Nilssen et according to the percentage of the plumage that was oiled al . (1988), where juveniles = no white bands or grooves on according to van Franeker & Meijboom (2002). For guillemot bill, immatures = white band on bill but no grooves, sub- Uria aalge and razorbill Alca torda , standard measurements adults = white bands on bill and single groove, or adults = were taken to determine age and sex of birds, and to assess white band on bill and two grooves. their broad geographic origin. Including wing length (maxi - Internally for both auk species, the birds were examined mum chord; Svensson 1992). Wing length in both auk for the presence or absence of a juvenile organ the “bursa species increases with latitude, so this gives some indica - of Fabricius”, and the size of the sexual organs (diameter of tion as to the natal origin of individuals involved in the spill. largest ovarian follicle in females and width and length of The guillemots were additionally assigned a score as to the the left testis in males) were recorded. From a sample of state of moult on the head (white-headed, moulting or oiled and nonoiled auks, liver tissue and oiled feather sam - brownheaded), and noted the presence/absence of white ples were taken for future toxicological analyses. Following tips on the greater underwing coverts. In order to age the post-mortem, birds were refrozen and stored at the Natural guillemots, the following classes were established: England regional offices in Arne, Dorset. 22 G N I L I F O R P L I O D N A S E I S

P It was possible to identify the majority of guillemots as O

R Results

C sub-adults, adults or juveniles, although a sample of birds E

N In total, 306 corpses were processed, although many of remained for which criteria were not conclusive to assign D R

I these were incomplete or very old and skeletal. Despite this, these to one or other age group, see Table 3. A majority of B

A most could still be identified to species. The majority of birds the birds aged were adults (77%), with 20% classed as E S were guillemot and razorbill, and numbers of each species subadult/adult and 3% as juvenile. Birds of unknown age (60 are shown below in Table 2. individuals) were more likely to be subadults or juveniles than adults, as they did not fall into any of the three adult Table 2. Species list for dead collected birds. criteria listed above (head moult, SOR, testis/ovary size), Species Fresh Old though this was unclear. name corpses corpses Table 3. Age classes of guillemots found following the MSC Napoli Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 13incident.

Gannet Morus bassanus 04Age Number (% of aged birds)

Black-headed gull Larus ridibundus 10Juvenile 3 (3%)

Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus 01Sub-adult/adult 22 (20%)

Herring gull Larus argentatus 14Adult 83 (77%)

Great black-backed gull Larus marinus 02Unknown 60

Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 12Total 168 Unidentified large gull 01

Guillemot Uria aalge 141 27 For razorbill, the majority of birds were adults or sub- adults (82% of aged birds), whilst 18% were juveniles or Razorbill Alca torda 82 22 immatures. Little auk Alle alle 01 Comparing the sex of guillemots and razorbills in relation to age, in the latter there was a greater proportion of Unidentified auk 12 0 females in all ages classes. In guillemots, though, 63.6% of Totals 239 67 adults of known sex were male, whereas in all other age categories (including unknown) only 26.5% were male, see Table 4. Oiling Table 4. Sex composition in relation to age of guillemots and Many of the corpses were too decomposed or waterlogged razorbills found following the MSC Napoli incident. to accurately assess the extent of oiling, but this was pos - Male Female Unknown sible on 287 birds. Of these, 88 showed no external signs of oiling, with the remainder showing varying degrees of oil - Guillemot Juvenile 111 ing. Samples of liver were taken from a selection of birds, Subadult/adult 3811 both oiled and clean, for future toxicological analyses, and samples of oil were taken in the form of clipped oiled feath - Adult 35 20 28 ers from 13 of these birds. Unknown 5 16 39

Razorbill Juvenile 2311 Sex and age structure Immature 010 Through internal examination of the sexual organs, it was Subadult 5 10 20 possible to determine the sex of 142 birds. For razorbill, the ratio of male:female was 1:2.3 and for guillemot was 1:1. Adult 9 19 15 Unknown 045 3 SEABIRD NECROPSIES AND OIL PROFILING 2 - - - . - - il i s a s d d d d n S a in s . d n e r o e e nd t r o n o i ing e t om te M e d an and a a g Bay c n i - l co e f . s e i c v fr x o r p h e r e w t mo s C e o h pac g in r in r e ct e ts imp su s e t a m ha G p a e i c e p s ed d h t ne ra oil e h s a w ig ille r i e p s in ollow aw L s, im , d u th f af y h ( d r i f yme L s casse car c s l l f o ge el b b to u g f s e e b en also s f n o k u a t u o lly u ssf d p in e s d f illemo lan t e sist c y is h d ir d ir re h t o b poli is e s ale W e i b r o n c a T f o e t b h t y m , ted gu l t n oun d c the s ny v f f o n f c Na co d h S s d z a r file t in r o es g e p m s d e d i alive d d e l l s. lt i ir , l ab se cce su C e t a r ile pe o u e u q n o ro p r lly b hea se d f i ritta at to gr a es be o c a p ein e h t o d n B e yn ex e s t a ad sle I a W e g b h t e h 1 v o r p 4 n u MS l a t n in 0 8 5 - ss a se e e , e h ma l as w T f o w l u 9 e 0 9 9 b a e d s v s n t e h t ig 380 b u o f t in f l a v i v r p 0 0 9 t air r G a d Th s f be f I e h the e r o o h t . d O 2 1 su F 0 2 9 1 9 1 o t s h t o hr o o . cie c u s s i h T F o p ly t r n a e at r hi I n c – h. . e s m n o in in S s in in in i o s, d r n o g a off e r o s c 9 9 w i io lat u 3 1 n e f e s t m o s c n lt ) d lt sp l e ich i a st n u o l wa e, d pol r f v n u 9 1 e r th p o act r xt k d q llu s s llu s llu s llu n d a a e e wit h p e 1 oug ht r e slan I f alyse an se alyse wh y u ad at d ile o Cro u d a u ad N s n 6 o r e e se o m o r f u p u p u p u p h t r e mo e 5 l l u ) b ea an n n o bird e h b f s d e r a t o y r e a a a e e an 5 t d ive r s r re d l hc o be ts a ylan n h b mb t e 2 su le rel p u d e . ommo r e w it 8 2 g in ct as e h re e a e d as as as pa e w as m MSC mb ce m h t c t e h t e 9 0 d ill, r s a ct mo P a Gw d d an a d d d h tu t n n h act e f o , s d e DA2 amp alysis c a may l d e a st as w De 9 1 0 2 e r S o s se g n e car r l u d e f p % 7 i s s g b r o e g e g e g ) com ys e lle Co , e r rn h n m n n n t I d 7 b an n ui s k n p r e d n i i g n i i n i i in in in e i im e w mo ic i h w i r d e g r r r l r y f a n Y az r a. l e RP t co l s s l . 0 d n ( i n Bu ge m n a i l d e act co h t e o d – er h n o F e n – – – t u u – – . ) i o a n d e ( l l % n i i l n T e h r e n r i o l s I i 0 0 , y sp e ar t c a p m 6 r i w 4 8 7 rly e t a t 2 l d a und ing n i d l u 1 6 l u 6 0 o 8 0 o 2 f a r , r xt e 6 8 7 4 th t e 8 sl I o s. , ly l e p p e k 3 s O BT c d 0 l 4 9 7 6 7 9 4 9 9 7 d r l e p s, ka t e ti l a c u 6 6 n es y al e 2 m r e a a 7 l e v i m i x h t au fa ed r e p e h al i r c 9 u i s t , t ra n i r e at pl 6 3 9 4 9 1 in 7 7 2 8 e h i b r i r E l ti t e b . t a t n y o r a y ar u th i l t r me o X R0 X T X T as M l C as F T da n n ve o m Ce l d r e at t a g e t o t eci l p m it o t s e at e l a i u il t u p n e e t en a p ro n a h p n m • • b • Jan Sa • Sk • the O • • b u d t h t so s f h t e K a t o t e r I H ( sp az r F i n a c i - - - t s a e e e e n is i sil ol c e h cli ) e c g in h t e h t t p l u p Th te d. th a m o r ra f ase e have from ce n e m u n a g n in in i xes e s e h T ificant rbills) . e Ch y b ll . Na s hich r . ) 4 8 i o fr om g n o n a r F t c n e r e f ca . t s l l i b as s ie n lo co zo cr in w se f i vid e ign 9 1 f o ken g ie r ve co e r st SC d e t d on du c s ra e g r a l r n ta an c d n a a sho ws d n u o d M e o landi the be en io e raz orb d s n ar r o z a is d e g in g n o r so h it n e d i c n form, d lve vo in s ie n lo co g in r r i 4 9 9 1 1 9 9 1 r 6 8 9 1 two t mo ille u g tendin al ’ ve st e h t w wa – for tu dy r o p p su r e h w n a l e d in in t a l e r t u ib r were in g in d e e r b ) s - is th e ha was f o ed r I m o in e h t d n se e is s s ad e kh Bir ( s. s de s e and r f s d ir b g n a e s e lin ast idl ist d r nilse to h T of e g a n between m o r . t a el spill s th i , e d u it i n o f co e r e h , n i a t d e ‘br ts hord) i h T he . 8 llu u p llu u p t e h s llu u p r I lt u ad at n a c l o t l le samp la titu o T r o f in i w o s e vid o r p 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 9 9 9 1 h t g n le juve e s t a a oil c a i r B l l e h o d, t f e h d e g in r s a r likel y t th be en m s. d lve vo in at h in in in n e o f s ie n lo co , s th it t as as d an as g n m e t em lo w length g e s mm m is h T of 5 1 w h g u o wi e r u ig F d at in ig r o y e g in w rbill imu e o r . d e co . d lan e r I r o f x guillemots , i in d h t r r e f o g n alo i d e e th a d l l i u n r e h hav mos ls T e h rds r o s llu u p s llu u p s llu u p g in g in r g e se t h t r b e g in wing e a F e e W razo d e g in r d e g in r r s t mo lle bi l a a a (13 d n ave h re (max to f 19 0. 6 h e h t w o sh – – t r o n – leng a y b r acco g o o o ) and u o t r mo - st o p s c tri 96 h t i u g e r asu me t e d u it lat as as as a r e , in ig r o n i n f ean of s lt u ad - b su in ails t e d ely n ent d ce h ng razorbi l d, n a i ) d e ) d e d s ale W , d e g n n i . n o d m k d e r f o es g n all d ika i r , d n u o h t v e s n li ra an il o il o wi 7 9 9 1 d an ly ke of u sl I ( it w l a y t i w n e e w t e b Er an h t li d e g n d e g n d e g n ncid ng th e t r o m . i t an in the eri fo , d an in i r i r i r e ar e d r o g ri o a l e c d e ct e f af th i lat u p me o i b le h t al are I ill) b r azo r ( ots t o n t o n d n u o f e r th is , s e e ag – – – o r f ( ( e r e w ( in t p e r ee t i r ajo d an oli th e s g n l o p se i c n i e l a ive ce e r n e b s d r e ar we m o d d ng e 5 9 9 1 ds l g n E eng m e w i l easurements l y g n le r ap n iso ar i w hi v o ec t llem 2 8 8 i b ea d r a t e Sa n n a p w r it i e m a r e p s m bi N f o om e r p 7 0 4 6 5 6 7 1 3 7 7 3 t cr t a n ave il w r c ha enc als u d r f o ng g n e icat d s e h t f gui m t w s ie n h r e t l r e h 1 2 8 8 4 3 2 6 6 4 5 9 7 0 0 y d u st h h c in C u er s in R2 R1 l R0 X X X 1 M5 Bar ea wi f i w s d l t u r o t u ing co ost ean e r o is at ct g n i d e e r t n e cid e h t lo o a e 42 if o r e i r i nd nd a h h ivi d n b n • • • d • s e sit • b • b C in a so • r G g n Ri e W he T A d n a St W t t in I B sh MS f i 1 d e ( m so na m m a 24 G N I L I F O R P L I O D N A S E I S P O

R Figure 8. Distribution of guillemot colonies in Britain and C

E Ireland, with colonies from which ringed birds recovered from the N

D MSC Napoli oil spill originated highlighted. Reproduced from R I Mitchell et al . (2004), with permission from the Joint Nature B

A Conservation Committee. E S 25 Benthic surveys in B E

Lyme Bay Steve Benn (compiler) N T H I C S U R V E Y S I N L Y M

In the early stages of the incident, Natural England under - conducted across the main reef areas within 2nm to the east E B took to conduct a study to monitor the benthic ecology of of the MSC Napoli . These included the named reefs Beer A Y the local area potentially impacted by the MSC Napoli Home Ground, Eastern Heads, West Tennants Reef, and grounding. This study involved the Devon Wildlife Trust as Pinhay Settle. key partners, as they have an established history in moni - The video survey was conducted from the 10m workboat toring the key species/habitats of nature conservation impor - Miss Pattie, working out of Lyme Regis. tance (i.e. pink sea fan) in the local area. In the event, Natural England contracted two benthic sur - Results veys: The Survey was undertaken between the 6th and 8th of August 2007. A total of 48 stations were surveyed. At each a) Marine Bio-images was contracted to use drop-down station, the video was allowed to drift close to the seabed video to survey the seabed near the grounded vessel, for 2-5 minutes, to allow a reasonable amount of seabed to with particular emphasis on the subtidal reef areas be observed. The time, location, depth and observations for nearby, to assess whether significant impacts had each video drop can be provided on request. occurred as a result of the grounded vessel. No obvious signs of contamination or physical damage b) Seasearch was also contracted to survey the seabed area from the MSC Napoli could be seen on any of the nearby close to the MSC Napoli , this time using divers. reefs. Physical damage (numerous detached Eunicella ver - rucosa seafans) was noted on the West Tennants Reef; This section provides an overview of both reports, for however this is most likely due to recent activity by mobile readers wanting to access the full reports, these are pub - fishing gear, specifically scallop dredging, in the area. Given licly available at the address below; the distance from the MSC Napoli , and the lack of any http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/planning/coasts- observable debris in this area it is difficult to see how the seas/default.htm grounding of the MSC Napoli could have caused this. Some debris was observed on the seabed relatively close to the MSC Napoli , in approximately 10m water depth Video slightly to the east of the ship. This was in a relatively high Method energy area of cobbles, small boulders, algal turf and some The area surrounding the MSC Napoli grounding was sur - erect sponges. No signs of physical damage due to mobile veyed using a drop-down video system. This consisted of a debris moving around could be detected on the video image. Sony DV camcorder within a Gates underwater housing fit - Oiling of static fishing gear was also noted in this vicinity, ted with a wide-angle port, mounted in a custom-built stain - with heavy oil coating pot floats. How recently this had less steel frame and connected to a surface colour monitor occurred could not be ascertained, however it seems by a video umbilical. Video was reviewed in real time as the unlikely that fishermen would continue to handle oily gear camera travelled across the seabed. The video was also for any length of time without either cleaning or replacing it recorded on to DV tape, for subsequent analysis and editing. given the inevitability of contaminating both boat and catch Video drop locations were selected at regular intervals, with oil. parallel to the shore, from approximately one nm east of the Close to the ship (less than 1000m) the visibility deterio - MSC Napoli to approximately one nm west of the MSC rated markedly. This was probably due to a combination of Napoli but keeping outside of the 500m exclusion zone. This fine sediment seabed in this area (particularly in slightly process was then repeated approximately 500m further out, deeper water) and the pumping out of the MSC Napoli bow in slightly deeper water. A number of video drops were then section that was occurring throughout the survey period. 26 Y A B E M Y L N I S Y E V R U S C I H T

N Figure 9. Map of Lyme Bay benthic survey area E B

Lyme Regis West Bay Beer Sidmouth Sunset Lodge MSC Napoli Dogleg Reef

Budleigh Salterton West Tennants Exmouth Beer Home Ground Budleigh Outer

Woodbury South ‘In between’ Tards Reef

- After the survey all depths are adjusted to chart datum, Divers JNCC biotopes identified for each habitat and all of the Method data entered into the Marine Recorder database. Seasearch was also contracted to survey the benthic area close to the grounded MSC Napoli , refer to Figure 9. This Pink Sea Fan forms allow collection of the following infor - survey was carried out on 16th and 17th June 2007. mation: The surveys used established Seasearch volunteer sur - vey methodologies involving different dive pairs completing - depth, general Seasearch Survey forms, or Seasearch Pink Sea Fan - habitat and density of sea fans at the site, Survey forms with other divers taking photographs. This - detailed information about individual colonies comprising ensured that at least one survey form and one sea fan form width, height, whether or not polyps extended, colour, was completed at each site. The survey team consisted of condition (using a 1-5 scale), eight Seasearch surveyors. Information was recorded under - - fouling species attached, water using a slate and pencil with data being transferred - fishing debris attached, and, to either survey or sea fan forms on return to the surface. - presence of sea fan, sea slugs or anemones and their Seasearch Survey forms allowed collection of the fol - numbers. lowing information: Results - recorders divide the site into separate habitats and pro - Habitat and species information vide a description and qualitative information about This section provides a summary of each site dived, for seabed composition and features, full details you are directed to the web site below. General - Species are recorded in separate lists for each habitat locations of the dive sites are shown in Figure 9. Species using the SACFOR (Superabundant-abundant-common- lists for each site with abundances are provided in an appen - frequent-occasional-rare) scale, dix to the full report: - Positions for each dive are recorded by GPS and dive http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/planning/coasts- times recorded, seas/default.htm - Depths are recorded by surveyors using dive computers, which also provide minimum temperature information, and, 7 BENTHIC SURVEYS IN LYME BAY 2 ------r a s a e it d d e e e d ly ly c t o lly is ve ea tia rs, o f v a ich g in ) cd f lat f h ms n h t h t k c o sig s se ad h xe ony d e g e t o o r su h t Th fe a Ju e sid r fu b e rde f e sit as g m co ge e . at h ol al n n g u is e r o f o o o ab h w mi d e of in c 4 a o n s co o r p n d nd nd are u r fin g u it ed e r cky n r e t o h r d se ar sp m 5 e a e h T a . d din c d it ab t h e re s e p o it o n a s cks lo f o rd t r ce n h . 1 , h t au e ich r s e g h t r b d ye h t e w y an Polym e b th n’ s a w s l r ve f o t a o 2 - co ut a ntac e r gitu ish f e o t f o i s , o is. e h d e id r n in b t wa se e , 4 d 5 . s lat p n e ach t r re T , ace f me e w . m e h t number e , e r e r n ke o s u h ge d lon rare . r p h ly ive lat moo e at an f t y l silt ne o f 0 0 ve r su 7 1 ad h p u a e re s ( h t e h t h o r ism m e y a ic e 2 su Ho ge s e r d vid O t on et s r g st e w v b cky o n et s h at n s , ead e ab asu me p . f r n e t t ly l u e g i t sid r a ne o r ) ) a i in i s we g g n o a se d s t s l i o wh o e n e e w a a p ke p Do also a l d h t e se an g r e h w m c d ama v t s ace f id r k y h t as w it ’W ’W d , r Do o T . ar ye d ti n e r b ab h h w u y, d in id ey d s slo g e t e b e as w allo sh abed 3 4 , hele ace o r b e at d n la s h ig u a f in p . n y a i c d g also id al e e h t as w so a ive d 0 . 1 . e ha iti o ly a se B s. u i vid s e re h g in r last t u b un s w f sq h t ro ic d 8 0 imn r s w lo ro se aci e r I ace f r e sit There t n a B d n o h t ( o s e n lo c s f o r f h o r 4 5 s n ri as w e la - e nd g a g u e b he y e h t e o r u s a e c on o r r p yd ical t r su t u aro a sly u t es g 0 0 h e w c it s h t . at h t h t cd h is h s b ma r a wa r 2 2 d s i f p t t es in d u b it t d b ve a a i o h t W an u n o me u d , l ck n in s t on es at L r issu f ace f r It f as h n o n h W g in a d e at ab 00 00 n u u u b rse pe m main o r arac te noted. a o vio e r e, f o es n e n h t s , e a c i l ac h ig t. su a, n red o m m o c t p a 5 . g ng e y r e u ace st u r st d e he h s o l o r r ch e h pl f h t t ’N ’N e e e wo ng small g g n r e yi r e sts c a p au i h t l B e b T l h t e r o ve ere b 5 1 o 8 6 f n p v ed r d se n e e rf su h t y m wrap d ise in n au . uffe ru e Al or g n y r s. d f eef R i r n o n o L w P 3 p o ad h h 0 . 7 . i o b e s sp c e f o tu b o d an ab se p u e r l a g , n as e t n p e b th - cd t i sl e a aci f a ce a l h ng s, h o r s h t u may i t p i t p g b p o e r e n 41 40 r mp man t t t i w i i at h w b ra e h ssi d u t s r e rly o e w a eg l ar wn ad sl i h t p in l t n u l o t I h t k 0 0 d vi e ssi h o a s m r c co g ngi m h m co t o nges d ar t th e im il ar ag h t fl e w se c e . ra y zo 0 0 e scr scr ti l hed 2 i w o l d an cr cu e d o v et s n u at s e r e , o o g e p se e o o 5 5 s c ha At o r d 2 c i w n u s t e t t o w n n o in ( ( S Do a r cl t n ar w p i a a i h t e d e d m f cha f e s ) d o l r , d n im e sit si si e e h u sm t d i t ar r s c r am d nd o an o t d st e ng t p f o s. y r Bryo ve d an i g e p l t t e l e b a ad u n lla t a t a s i e e fa 4: 3: det e o l p o n ha f d . a h l ss. e e a h e h e h e h e h t r s k r o ve o l su u t h t p ke n b nal mi e r n i h e i c O T T T T T t i b t i b b y an 06 ic ant . n e ci e i u d e r ve y r ye ve r s e r e t e t n u o e e r m f e d c ng as ns t i t si a a ad 0 l n o w - ast p e o l i na t y a a a l s u h t w vi a 2 s i t i u t i S H i S H b as w e r s f e i sp sq h an co ma r e r e w f ve su m nif e r d w su fau - - . . - ) - , - - f t f a a a y h e e e rt f o o f o e re y b n o he , t n se lat f n e y an se s an r u s s T r u d e r u re m i s ig h f ithin b e p h it w tin g. isp cr a t s a p r ve e cha m u n l g an ba e fauna d e n o p e mag a . r ve e was f o w s ar sp s. r e g in squa l e v e l h t f e an h t m h c r p ad at e f e h e sid off. th da antenn k in p a se r e u q e r co h d n a o at t h t g n e l e r a s a w h ad f lat f se ar obvi ous l th w Ho s ’ ere h a it ab h e r a p n i f o e h pe s an f e silt d e d r o c lly s e it w t ck sp t o p ing ently silt do mina al r u at n a h t in p e e th e below ken Th s ia e r broken t n e b f o r e h o r f e e st n me nd ro . e y n a r e s r r e w silt e r e h T t s e h g i h ally r u a se at n h t i w d e in l b b o nd ns . n io at b curr of f nie d an of d an som e d). f m c e h a e sit a g in r t d an s f o n e a T s. r e mb u n h 20m is rrou e h T o y sit n e d t h g i h e in f d e g d e r d y s an f (espec . o g a e d r o h ad e d colo e b cky o r e i c e p . p d n a at n n u su r at s ally r e n e g e h f o s s o r c a 5 s g an h r ve lders, d e ad o t t f site m 5 o t r e n e g e ’W) ’W) r ve co c e r urveye it w r u at e moun o s l a o t ican r e g in f r br ok e br yozo a u ids f an o ove , s r e d l u a se s s. ace a d an . 1 s n a e m i t s t o to ace d s i allop ing f t sit n e d e ro t s e m 0 f o b g in r 78 . 79 . r e s at as w o b c nt r g e d le p a 1 n The i c r ve e d e amag d d aise r n a s l l al r u no b u u o f r su o t and k in p if n sig ain ag 57 02 surf be small an f e s hyd b g n we r e p e m o i ar e p ap ’ n me r icke h t bedrock a u o eef s s ve co a m y l e v i s n e t x e in ng. e n as era fo r y a b d an er e h T a b m u n b s s n sig w Ho li sm al l cd b R n a n au F id w a er k c f f o ly h ig h with e k st e h ig h . r a se d an w o r d e t o n y at n - n u e h o r e p p u om e e h it 0020 0030 g w a in h t t o r low ns e b o r t s e ad e d e ar raw tone s large r d n ou Gr e g e e b f o d t b s cie e sp w zon e n h e r ent an s u a e h t d m 1 2 i e co s, le b b e p y ly t id d ( . d n u o e e h t fans c hyd ro ids c a f r b e h ig h h t w o l l r d t n se e r p n a r ans of a s cie e sp Th e r u t x it w f ext s, an an d ich h Gr and e r e w u s d e d 80’N 27’N s e r ssu f d a n o n o . d ive n o d an ea muds ck o r vere a e l a l r e h d an i f ng e w e d h t o b i m e g d s r le ad t d e s 8. 8. w o r c er ch u n a r e . d n ke e e w h s t n a n en T om H e f s n e e b i t p i t p h a g at co 3 3 le close d n e r r cu se d r k at e y e v r s u l c n (t b st e r e w silt o t a se i a r m i r l f ck Ro m o e p p result e fl s b l in i ad h ad h ro wi . a a h . au e at s u a h u s r e g n H smal f o 00 00 p , corals es f o scri scri m all mb u s p lo g ee t h g d a h s me r n o l p lo 5 5 n e v a h f se rock d e ab se th d e ag ( ( W B the e k s e i h T as w e t i f o b m u 50 s ace f r su e d e d o le b b co t i l i h t y ve r su e sit a smal ) cd b e t i s . So s nd e r ve o - n un tar y ( g n l l e s. e b u t , t surfa ce i s a a e r a ai r st ) d . e Be soft cky e at st ) d c b so fast is s i th 2: 1: scallo f o ity r co w lyi e g in d l f n am d i o all moo s o s i h h e h vol au e lat p al m o r s h t st g n o t all h ce an s r m u g y e e h T T n A S T T t a t i b t a t i b u a e t lea t th d t h etre e , n ke o e h g u o s an zo yo a t n e s e ns, e ab o , w we g it m m in en ow r yd f s le at r e h r e r e r r ve r a l r a he h h n u o h m 3 2 o w p d lo m h f ilar t ( b at Ha it S an S Ha d lig S b p d t cr r in lo t A wi K m T d b b a t o 28 Y A B E M Y L N I S Y E V R U S C I

H sponges, anemones and low growing red seaweeds. The cup-coral is known to occur. The others are Lundy, Isles of T N

E vertical/overhanging face had large numbers of anemones Scilly, Plymouth Drop Off and Sark (Channel Islands). The B (especially the sandy creeplet, Epizoanthus couchi ) and cup- range of species recorded at this site was significantly corals (sunset, Leptopsammia pruvoti , and southern, higher than any other during the survey. It was also the one Caryophyllia inornata ) amongst sponges and bryozoans. The site with no evidence of recent or past damage from dredg - lower surface to the north of the ledge has a depth of 22m ing activities. It is within one of the voluntary closed areas. bcd. There were areas of exposed rock and boulders at the base of the wall. Away from the ledge the seabed consisted of poorly sorted sand and gravel ridges with occasional boul - Pink Sea Fan records ders and cobbles. Sea fans were present on this lower sur - Detailed records of sea fans were made at all four sites dur - face in small numbers. ing the Seasearch survey and repeat previous records. The The main feature of the site is the abundance of the results are shown below in Table 5. nationally rare sunset cup-coral, Leptopsammia pruvoti and A comparison with previous records* (also collected by the southern cup-coral, Caryophyllia inornata . Lyme Bay is Seasearch staff but unrelated to the MSC Napoli incident) one of only five areas in the British Isles where the sunset may be made at each site.

Table 5. Records of sea fans recorded in the Seasearch survey.

Site Number Max Mean Max Mean Average Abundance recorded width width height height condition

Beer Home Ground 28 28 18.1 25 16.9 4.29 occasional

West Tennants

(upper surface) 22 58 24.4 42 26.0 4.35 forest

West Tennants

(lower surface) 9 45 21.3 32 19.4 3.00 occasional

Dogleg Reef 47 35 13.9 30 14.9 4.19 common

Sunset Ledge 14 40 18.9 30 15.5 3.5 occasional

Total 120 58 17.9 42 17.8 4.07 -

Beer Home Ground Number Max Mean Max Mean Average Abundance recorded width width height height condition

June 2007 28 28 18.1 25 16.9 4.29 occasional

August 2004* 13 25 13.1 20 13.5 4.23 occasional

West Tennants Number Max Mean Max Mean Average Abundance recorded width width height height condition

(upper surface) June 2007 22 58 24.4 42 26.0 4.35 forest

(lower surface) June 2007 9 45 21.3 32 19.4 3.00 occasional

July 2006* 24 50 24.0 20 13.5 3.42 common 29 B E N T H I C S U R V E Y S I N L Y M

Dogleg Reef Number Max Mean Max Mean Average Abundance E B

recorded width width height height condition A Y

June 2007 47 35 13.9 30 14.9 4.19 common

August 2004* 7 41 21.6 25 18.1 4.29 forest

Sunset Ledge Number Max Mean Max Mean Average Abundance recorded width width height height condition

June 2007 14 40 18.9 30 15.5 3.50 occasional

July 2006* 18 70 26.0 35 24.1 2.61 common

There are two main causes of declines in sea fan popu - due to size of area that needed to be covered and also lations, benthic fishing and disease. Benthic fishing activi - because the immediate area, where it can be expected that ties, scallop dredging in the case of Lyme Bay, lead to most of the impact would be evident/obvious, was out of physical damage to sea fan colonies including breaking them bounds due to the exclusion zone. However, we cannot off from the seabed and entanglement in fishing gear. There assume that no damage has been caused, particularly when was ample evidence from Beer Home Ground, West we consider the number of containers lost overboard, some Tennant’s and Dogleg Reefs that such damage has been an of which were possibly dragging along the seabed for some issue at these sites. Broken sea fan colonies, in some cases considerable time before retrieval. Once the MSC Napoli still living, were photographed in 2006 and during this survey has been fully removed there is an obvious need to under - Although both benthic surveys found evidence of dam - take similar surveys at the exact location of the original age to the benthic environment surrounding the MSC grounding and also at the secondary site after the attempt Napoli , neither survey was able to identify that this damage to re-float the MSC Napoli and areas out to the boundaries was caused by the MSC Napoli grounding. This is possibly of the original surveys. 30 Sublethal biological effects G N

I monitoring Tamara Galloway R O T I N O M S T C E F F E L A

C In collaboration with the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, sci - Beach, Lyme Bay and Chesil Cove, reflecting more stress - I G

O entists from the University of Plymouth (now at the ful conditions at sites down-tide of the MSC Napoli com - L O

I University of Exeter) used combined biological effects mon - pared with control sites. Although oil contamination B

L itoring techniques and chemical fingerprinting to undertake appeared to be restricted to a surface slick in the vicinity of A

H a rapid assessment of the impact of spilled oil and chemicals the wreck, biomarkers of cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity T E

L on the adjacent coastline. The aim of the study was to (cell viability and phagocytosis, respectively) were reduced B U

S explore the relationship between contamination from the in samples of common limpets from Branscombe beach, MSC Napoli and sublethal effects in the common limpet close to the wreck (Galloway et al ., in prep.). (Patella vulgata ), a mollusc which inhabits the rocky shores A second collection of limpets and winkles was made around Lyme Bay. Limpets were chosen for study as they during July, around the time when explosives were used to are grazers which occupy an important position in maintain - break the vessel into two parts. Ecotoxicological testing ing the ecosystem function of rocky shores. They are also showed further impairment of cellular function in these ani - considered highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of petro - mals, and chemical fingerprinting using GC-MS indicated leum hydrocarbons. The biological effects testing regime that oil swabbed from their shells matched the IFO380 selected in this study was chosen to monitor the sublethal heavy fuel oil carried by the MSC Napoli . At this time, analy - effects of petroleum and included biomarkers of cellular sis of further samples of limpets using the Comet assay indi - function (cell viability, phagocytic index), oxidative stress cated that the proportion of DNA damage observed in (total antioxidant status, glutathione reductase activity) and limpets from Branscombe were significantly higher than in genetic damage (Comet assay). A measure of exposure to those from a reference site at Port Quin. The mean value organophosphorus insecticides (acetylcholinesterase activ - was higher by approximately a factor of 4 times. ity) was also included as these were amongst the cargo of In conclusion, these results illustrate the value of com - MSC Napoli . For this study, three locations within Lyme Bay bining biomarkers of sublethal effect with chemical analysis were studied, and two reference sites in and for determining which pollutants are responsible for biolog - Devon were sampled for comparative purposes. ical degradation and which are not. The overall ecological In the aftermath of the grounding, during January 2007, impact on the biomass of limpets from impacted areas significant differences were evident in biomarker responses awaits confirmation. in limpets collected from the shoreline at Branscombe 31 Assessment of impact Robin Law A S S E S S M E N T O F I M P A C T Initial assessments of the dangerous goods manifest by size container ship. Overall, it was determined that there Cefas identified the most hazardous chemicals and priori - was a serious risk of major environmental damage if these tised these for removal. In the event, because of the chemicals and the oil were released into Lyme Bay, particu - restricted space within and around the stacks of containers larly as the prevailing winds and tidal currents would spread within the ship this proved impossible and the salvors pro - pollution along the coast to the east, towards Chesil Beach ceeded downwards in each hold in turn. The stowage plan and the Fleet, considered the most vulnerable intertidal was coded, though, so that the salvors would know when areas. particularly hazardous materials were being removed. From Of the 4,000 tonnes of oil on board the MSC Napoli when the viewpoint of aquatic toxicity, a pyrethroid insectide she first got into trouble, most was safely transhipped and (lamda-cyhylothrin) represented the worst case. It was esti - removed and only around 150 tonnes of oil, mainly from the mated that one drum of the pure compound carried the flooded engine room of MSC Napoli , was lost in Lyme Bay. potential for acute toxicity within a 6km by 6km area in a Most of this oil rapidly came onshore and was removed by water depth of 30m. In one container, 3.5 tonnes of the for - contractors retained by the owners and insurers of the ves - mulated insecticide was held in 16 drums, but the concen - sel, along with most of the containers and their contents. trations of the active ingredient were not given. Other No dangerous goods containers were lost into the sea, and pesticides present within the cargo included carbendazim, they were all taken ashore safely in Portland Port where they profenfos, propaquizafop, fluazifop-p-butyl and glyphosate. could be emptied without risk of contamination of the sea. This last weedkiller was carried in four containers totalling Containers which sank between being lost from the vessel 66.6 tonnes. Amongst the other chemicals carried were and the beach were located by sonar surveys and divers and diphenylamine, dibutyl tin oxide, p-dichlorobenzene, were recovered to shore. isophoronediamine, phosphorus, solvent naphtha, tetra - Contamination of both the water column and shellfish in chloroethylene and xylenes. Such a mixture of dangerous Lyme Bay due to oil lost from MSC Napoli was modest, goods is not by any means unusual on a medium- to large- localised and would not be expected to persist. 32 Lessons learnt Robin Law T N R A E L S N O S S E L

Standing Environment Groups proved their worth during the This was also the first incident in which a grounded con - MSC Napoli incident, as the Environment Group formed to tainer ship was unloaded to shore. It was fortunate that advise the responders worked together smoothly and effec - Portland Port was available for this purpose, with little traffic tively from their first meeting on 20th January 2007. of its own, but was still a technically difficult and demanding Toxicity testing of hold water proved to be a very effec - operation. To repeat this for the largest container ships now tive means of assessing the threat posed by concentrations at sea, more than three times the size of MSC Napoli , would of a broad range of chemicals. This was the first incident in be a vastly more difficult operation. This would greatly extend which this approach was used as a control measure. More the timescale of the salvage operation and the scale of the detail can be found in Kirby et. al. (2008). environmental monitoring required for impact assessment. 33 Acknowledgements A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

Work undertaken by Cefas, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Natural England and the British Trust for Ornithology was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under R&D contract ME1308. We would like to thank the crews of the fishing and survey vessels Aleyna, Amy R, Branscombe Pearl II, Dorado, Nicola L, Plymouth Quest, Prospector, Quarter Bell, Sambe and Sarah Jayne for assis - tance with sampling; and Francois Cabioc’h of CEDRE for information on surveys undertaken on the coasts of NW France. 34 References S E C N E R E F E R

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(British Crown copyright, courtesy of the Maritime and T O G

Coastguard Agency) R A P H S

MSC Napoli grounded in Lyme Bay, 20 January 2007 Booming around the MSC Napoli .

Transhipping oil from MSC Napoli to the Forth Fisher . Removing containers from the MSC Napoli .

Protective boom in place at an estuary mouth. Processing containers in the “hospital” at Portland Port. 36 S H P A R G O T O H P

Refloating the MSC Napoli . The bow section of MSC Napoli arrives in Belfast for recycling.

Head Office Centre for Environment, Tel +44 (0) 1502 56 2244 Fisheries & Aquaculture Science Fax +44 (0) 1502 51 3865 Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Web www.cefas.co.uk Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK Cefas is an executive agency of Defra

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