1. Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, CPUT
Monitoring contaminants in coastal areas: Implications for MPA management
C. Sparks & R. Toefy 
Department of Conservation and Marine Sciences, CPUT

2. Introduction Monitoring Coastal area & management
Definition & boundaries?
Are we talking to each other & agreeing on management objectives (EMPS)?
Multiple legislative frameworks (DEA vs DAFF), sectors & interests
Monitoring
We cannot manage what we do not know!

3. Contaminants in coastal environment
Research questions for MPA management:
So what are the concentrations of contaminants in coastal areas?
How do we know what the effects of these are?

4. Empirical evidence in support for: 1. need to monitor contaminants & 2
Empirical evidence in support for: 1. need to monitor contaminants & 2. research on effects of contaminants
CPUT:
Monitoring
2012 -> Metals in water, sediment & organisms (West & South coast)
Metals in marine organisms
Effects of contaminants: Biomarkers
2012 – Antioxidants
2015 – TBT & imposex (Cape Town)

5. Monitoring Metals (sediment)
(Recommended Guideline Value (RGV)
BCLME, 2006)

6. (RGV)

7. Mytilus vs Perna

8. Variability of metals (False Bay)

9. Value of monitoring metals?
Indicates concentrations in environment but does not say much about effect on organisms / populations.
Different tolerance levels of animals…

10. Biomarkers
Biomarkers provide information on both the level of pollutant exposure as well as the health of the organism or population so affected (O’Donoghue and Marshall, 2003)
Considered to be sensitive ‘early warning’ tools for biological effect measurement in environmental quality assessment (McCarthy and Shugart, 1990)

11. Antioxidants as biomarkers?
Source: kcgoff.blogspot.com

12. Catalase (CAT) activity
* = significantly different to start of the exposure (p<0.05)

13. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC): oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC)

14. AO results: in situ? Challenges: high variation (SE)
Other factor(s) causing stress?
Further research required

15. Biomarker: Tributyltin (TBT) & imposex
Antifouiling paint
Banned since 2008
Specific biomarker: imposex
Impact on biodiversity?

16. 2015 Pilot study

17. We need to include contaminant monitoring &
biomarker research to inform management decisions…

18. Helderberg MPA study…

19. Conclusion Increased pollution –> decreased biodiversity
What contaminants are in coastal areas?
What are impacts of contaminants on ecosystems?
Biomarkers -> early warning indicators of health
Need to include contaminant monitoring to determine priority areas (catchment to coast?)
What are the quality standards / guidelines?
Challenges:
Costs? (metal analysis at CPUT: >R200k thus far)
HR Capacity
Management objectives / priorities?

20. Thank you!
Source:
Acknowledgements: Thank WWF & CPUT for funding Tel: