Mussel Watch Programme (MWP)

Since the introduction of the “Mussel Watch” approach by Goldberg in 1975, bivalves are widely chosen in the aquatic environments as an ideal bio-monitors for the regular National and Regional monitoring programmes. The current results from the implementation of this approach succeeded to identify hot spots of contaminants and in following up their spatial distribution in the marine environments.

“Mussel Watch” approach based simply on using the characteristic feeding habits of bivalves as filter feeders and can accumulate tremendous quantity of contaminants in their tissues; reflecting the present quality and quantity of bio-available chemicals in their surrounding waters.

ROPME initiative towards the implementation of a Regional Mussel Watch Programme in RSA is a response to increasing public and scientific concern about the quality of the marine environment in the Region. In fact, such programme already implemented successfully almost over the world as an economic and easy monitoring tool and for orienting environmental monitoring activities in the Region towards priorities in the sound integrated coastal zone management.


 Conceptual model for setting goals and priorities for monitoring of POPS from LBA using RMW in RSA

The first step of the Programme implementation was conducted through holding a Regional Workshop of experts during May 2007 on relevant subjects to Mussel Watch. The objectives of this Workshop aimed to:

 • Exchange and disseminate of experience
 • Inventory of available data and information
 • Selection of endemic suitable test bivalves organisms
 • Experimental sites prioritization
 • Identification of experienced field laboratories and needs for training
 • “Mussel Watch” programme designing
 • Standardization of Regional Guidelines (equipments and methodology)
 • Prioritization of monitoring and research issues
 • First list of considered contaminants
 • Identification of qualified laboratories and needs for capacity building
 • QC/QA and inter-calibration issues
 • Mussel samples banking
 • Exchange, documentation and dissemination of results
 • Nomination of RMW core team and task forces
 • Nomination of regional reference laboratories
 • Initiation of a 1- year pilot working plan

The workshop ended by charting out a detailed scientific programme and management plan to ensure the successful implementation of one-year pilot phase. Moreover, a sampling guideline was prepared and Regional Task Force was formed to follow up the implantation of the programme.

 1st RMW Workshop (Tehran, May 2007)		  
 Selected sampling sites for the 1-year pilot RMW programme (2007-08)

 RMW sampling Guidelines for the 1-year pilot RMW Programme

Among the existing bivalves in RSA, the programme limited the monitoring to four species:

 • Rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) in I. R. Iran and Oman
 • Pearl oysters (Pinctada radiata) in Bahrain and Qatar
 • Venus Clam (Circentia callipyga) in Kuwait
 • Asiatic Clam (Meretrix meretrix) in Saudi Arabia

In this stage of the programme, the target contaminants in bivalves and in their bed sediments were limited to a group of trace metals and petroleum hydrocarbons. The sampling periods were designated to tow months a year (November 2007 and May 2008)

 RMW Sampling Strategy		  
 
 
Sampling activities in ROPME Member States for RMW Programme during 2007-2008
I.R. IRAN




STATE OF QATAR
  STATE OF KUWAIT




SAUDI ARABIA
 

During January 2010 a Second Regional Workshop on ROPME Mussel Watch Programme was convened in Sultanate of Oman. The objectives of the Workshop of this were to review and assess the achievements made during the 1-year phase and reflect on the sustainability of the programme in the Region. The Workshop discussed the applicability of the elaborated RMW Guidelines , identified the gaps and needs and planed for a sustainable Programme in the region.


Second RMW Workshop (Muscat, January 2010)

One of major objective of the Workshop was to harmonize the RMW Relevant planned and current ROPME activities, mainly:

• Baseline Assessment of Radioactivity in the ROPME Sea Area (BAR 2010)
• Oceanographic cruises
• Contaminant Screening Activities
• Reconstruction of pollution history
• Organotins’ survey
• Preparation of the State of the Marine Environment Report (SOMER)
• ROPME Integrated Information System (RIIS)
 

By the end of the workshop, the following main elements were developed and adopted for the long-term ROPME Mussel Watch Programme in the Region:
• Designated Sampling Locations and timing
Totally 27 locations have been selected as Reference locations for RMW Programme : 1 location each from Kingdom of Bahrain, State of Kuwait and State of Qatar); 4 each from Sultanate of Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates and 6 locations from I. R. Iran. Each location will be represented by sampling at 3 stations as followed previously during the one-year pilot phase. Sampling frequency will be once a year during winter season when spawning in the Regional bivalves is minimum. However, RMW program will launch in February 2011.

• Target Bivalves
Same four bivalve’s species as considered previously

• Target Analytes
Based on the ROPME approach towards linkages and harmonization of MW Program with other ROPME activities, organotins and a set of radionuclides will be analyzed in bivalves and sediment and water, beside trace metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.

• Guidelines
The previously prepared sampling guideline will be more elaborated in a form of an integrated Manual for the RMW activities to include recommended analytical procedures for selected Analytes and QA/QC aspects.

• Sample Banking
Adequate sub-samples of collected sediments and bivalves from different stations at each location will be considered for archiving purposes at ROPME-Marine Sample Bank (RMSB)

• Training
As per observed needs during the pilot phase of the RMW Program, it is planned to organize a Regional training Course on the techniques for the assessment of bivalve maturity and for unifying sampling collection protocol.

• Data Management and Reporting
The reproduced data, metadata and information from RMW activities will be hosted on ROPME Integrated Information System (RIIS) and published in technical reports for circulation among Member States and worldwide.