OSPAR - Riverine Input Monitoring Points

The OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment for the North East Atlantic plays a major part in safeguarding and conserving the habitats and species of the marine environment.

The Scottish coastline was divided into 7 regions (the River and Island Purification Boards) at the time that the Scottish monitoring network was developed to report the amalgamated nutrient loads and inputs for the OSPAR-RID (Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges) programme. This layer displays the location of riverine inputs monitoring points. For more information see - Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges (RID) (https://www.ospar.org/content/content.asp?menu=00200304000109_000000_000000).

The Comprehensive Study on Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges (RID) aims to assess the input of selected contaminants to the OSPAR maritime area and its regions which are carried via rivers into tidal waters or are discharged directly into the sea (for example through sewage pipelines or activities like aquaculture applying substances directly in the sea). The RID Study currently focusses on mandatory monitoring and reporting of the concentrations and loads of the metals cadmium, copper, lead, mercury and zinc, the organic pollutant lindane, nitrogen and phosphorus species and suspended particulate matter. Monitoring of PAHs, mineral oil, PCBs and other hazardous substances, especially organohalogens, are recommended for voluntary monitoring.