ECOSTAT, Stresa, Italy, 3-4 July 2006 Progress on Intercalibration Milestone 6 COAST GIGs ECOSTAT, Stresa, Italy, 3-4 July 2006 Dave Jowett, Coast Group Chair and NE Atlantic GIG Co-ordinator

GIGS: Quality elements in focus (Green – yes, fully; yellow – yes, partly) Benthic-invertebrates Phytoplankton Macroalgae/Angiosperms Fish NE Atlantic  Baltic  Black Sea  Med  X    

Status of Methods Green = nationally agreed, Yellow = under development, Red = No method development

Summary of outputs 2006/7 Fully complete by September 2006 North East Atlantic Fully complete by September 2006 Partially complete September 2006 - full completion 2007 No result 2006 - completion expected in 2007 (or later)

Summary of outputs 2006/7 Fully complete by September 2006 Baltic Fully complete by September 2006 Partially complete September 2006 - full completion 2007 No result 2006 - completion expected in 2007 (or later)

Summary of outputs 2006/7 Fully complete by September 2006 Mediterranean Fully complete by September 2006 Partially complete September 2006 - full completion 2007 No result 2006 - completion expected in 2007 (or later)

Summary of outputs 2006/7 Fully complete by September 2006 Black Sea Fully complete by September 2006 Partially complete September 2006 - full completion 2007 No result 2006 - completion expected in 2007 (or later)

Issues NE Atlantic MSs are still working on classification schemes Some may not be ready until after 2007 - not used in RBP I Would not intercalibrate until 2008 at the earliest Partial output only in 2006 - is that OK? Much better picture if allowed to continue into 2007 Major issue has been differences in sampling and analysis techniques Need to harmonise as much as possible

Issues Black Sea Co-operation between two countries needs to develop further this year Results ARE possible for two QE Data availability is a big issue No plans to cover other two QE Need further exercise from 2007

Issues Mediterranean Results are possible now for macroalgae, angiosperms and phytoplankton Need to reassess typology for many QE Application of the BSP has been difficult Transitional waters post 2007

Issues Baltic For all QE only a sub-set of MS can intercalibrate at this time Chlorophyll boundaries ae being set National boundaries are being agreed How to translate to other MS in future Most elements will be better in 2007

General Issues & Questions All GIGs will produce some results in 2006 Are these accepted? All GIGs will produce more and better results by mid 2007 Do we continue? YES or NO? Need decision as soon as possible

General Issues & Questions There are some differences between GIGs e.g. chlorophyll in NEA/MED is 90%ile but in Baltic it is the mean Differences in setting reference conditions Does this matter? In most GIGs sub-set of MSs will agree boundaries now or by 2007 Once agreed those boundaries will be fixed Do the other MSs have to fit in with these agreed boundaries How is this “enforced”

General Issues & Questions How do we update the MS6 report between now and September? Do updates become MS7 and can we update on an ad hoc basis But …… while there are “difficulties”! … the Intercalibration exercise has been VERY valuable in developing MSs own classification tools So we should keep the momentum going somehow!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTON! END THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTON!