Gulf of Maine Projects

Final Report: Evaluation of the Gulfwatch Monitoring Program

Data Interpretation

One underlying objective of any monitoring program is to make interpreted information (as opposed to raw data) understandably available to those who need it for decision-making. The production of a data table of analytical results is a small part of the monitoring program. To assure that data are properly used for management decisions, it must be interpreted in the context of the management question asked, taking into consideration relevant environmental complexities. Interpretation of contaminant data will require synoptic information on physical, chemical and biological processes that affect the degradation and transport of these contaminants. Information such as currents, tidal stage, temperature, salinity, light penetration as well as other parameters will be necessary to place contaminant concentration data in an environmental context. Given existing Gulfwatch spatial and temporal sampling schedules, unknown natural variability and present analytical skills, trend detection should only be expected where order-of-magnitude differences are observed. In the recommended program reassessment, Gulfwatch can certainly increase the level of detail of any of these issues but this improvement will come at a cost and should be undertaken only for specific reason.

Data Storage and Security

This important subject is not addressed in Gulfwatch reports. Data storage, on multiple media and in more than one location, is essential for long-term security. Sample archives (tissue and extracts) are also "data" and their secure storage should be seriously considered (and the archiving expense seriously addressed). Is there currently a provision for archiving samples for the long-term? Old samples could be invaluable to assess the magnitude and history of changes in contaminants that are not detectable with present analytical tools or not measured because the linkage with adverse biological effects have not yet been identified. Old samples also represent point-in-time analytical opportunities that cannot be repeated. This issue is admittedly beyond the scope of the present Gulfwatch program but should be incorporated into their long-range planning.

Interpretation in Context of Management Question Asked

Data collected in a monitoring program ideally focuses on a specific management question asked. Research programs may complement and supplement the program database, but the focus of program interpretation should remain on clearly stated management issues. As discussed above, the interpretation of monitoring data must include awareness of natural system complexities, natural variability and scientific uncertainty. Gulfwatch efforts have not maintained this focus as rigorously as it could have. One underlying objective of a monitoring program is to make information (as opposed to raw data) understandably available to those who require it for decision-making. One mechanism to maintain this focus is to give a high priority (and sufficient program resources) to data visualization. Spreadsheets of raw data are not normally useful to resource managers and significant program effort should be directed toward this goal. At this point in time, Gulfwatch is playing "catch-up" with the release and interpretation of monitoring data. The draft 5-year retrospective report (Jones et al, in prep) is the major vehicle to accomplish this and should be given top priority (discussion of this 5-year report follows below).

This particular criticism of data interpretation needs to be placed in perspective because the program has achieved goals that also are not adequately highlighted in reports reviewed. Two "management question" are: "What are the region-scale trends in chemical contaminants over a decadal time frame?" and "Is there a significant change in environmental concentration of selected chemical contaminants?" Gulfwatch has produced a baseline of contaminant distribution information that is essential to address these management questions. Due credit must be given for this result and review panel recommendations made to modify the program should not obscure this basic success.

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