Aims / outcomes

Project aims

Essentially the PREMIAM programme fulfils two fundamental objectives:

1. The development of marine assessment and monitoring guidelines (the PREMIAM Plan)
2. The development and maintenance of a network of scientific and logistical partners to deliver the plan (the PREMIAM Network)

In the delivery of these two objectives a number of sub-objectives will need to be addressed:

The PREMIAM Plan

• Assess the key scientific disciplines/techniques required to conduct robust post-incident impact assessment
• Generate a wider list of scientific disciplines/techniques that could be appropriate to the assessment of more specific incident types
• Develop the appropriate structure for the drafting of the guidelines
• Assess national gaps in the scientific disciplines and/or geographic coverage
• Facilitate the development and validation of new scientific techniques as appropriate to the PREMIAM objectives
• Draft the PREMIAM guidelines in consultation with appropriate national/international experts.

The PREMIAM Network

• Engage with the wider scientific, logistics and marine sampling communities to understand all potential contributions during impact assessment and monitoring
• Develop a web-based portal to promote the PREMIAM approach and to allow the wider community to interactively engage with the process
• Develop necessary workshop and exercise programmes to ensure maintenance of a "fit for purpose" response network.

Results and their use

In addressing the project aims PREMIAM will introduce and co-ordinate a professional, efficient and fit for purpose post-incident monitoring and impact assessment mechanism. Through the production of expert guidelines and the generation and maintenance of a national network of experts and service providers the project will result in an approach that will ensure:

• Speed - Fast response in order to gain early impact information or baseline information concerning areas at threat
• Cost effectiveness
• Expertise identification and availability
• Use of appropriate techniques
• Use of best-practice and the ability to learn from previous responses
• Co-ordination and integration.

The project is overseen by a steering group comprising representatives from all the main government stakeholders (including those with regulatory, response and conservation interests) which will ensure an integrated approach.

Ultimately the PREMIAM project will yield a co-ordinating body that can integrate fully with the current response bodies to provide an improved post-incident approach.