Resources
Green Book
All Competent Monitoring Authorities (CMAs) undertaking
monitoring for the CSEMP use the programmes' monitoring manual, the
Green Book. The sampling requirements for each determinand/matrix
combination are outlined along with sampling frequencies and
procedure guidelines for sample collection and analysis.
Marine Monitoring Protocols Manual
A Marine Monitoring Protocols Manual is currently being
developed to make sampling standards and protocols used in UK
marine monitoring programmes publicly available.
AQC Schemes
It is important that data collected for the CSEMP are of a high
quality. To ensure consistent standards and comparability of
measurements all laboratories contributing data must participate in
the relevant AQC schemes, which are outlined in the Green Book.
MERMAN
MERMAN (Marine Environment Monitoring and Assessment National
database) fulfils the data storage and access requirements of
CSEMP. It was established in 2006, but holds data from 1988 onwards
for certain parameters. The British Oceanographic Data Centre
(BODC) currently manages the MERMAN database.
Assessments
Quality assured data collected by Cefas and other CMAs from
approximately 80 sites around the UK is entered and stored in the
MERMAN database. Data from MERMAN is then transferred to ICES and
OSPAR to fulfil UK monitoring commitments. Data held in MERMAN is
also used for national assessments, like Charting Progress 2.