Executive Summary 



• Shipping of field-collected samples is risky and, ideally, will be done by courier. 

 Both sets of duplicate samples should not be shipped together. Sample shipments 

 should be accompanied by a "letter of authority" from a local scientist and from 

 the Project; perhaps a UN Property Pass would also be useful in some places. 



• Production and use data for chlorinated biocides in the region is sparse. Record- 

 keeping has been poor and access to records is difficult. Several national 

 summary reports are available for parts of this global region and these may define 

 the extent of useful data. 



• An interlaboratory comparison exercise should be run between the Central Labs 

 prior to the initiation of any analyses of field samples. This exercise should 

 include a meeting of principal analysts to resolve any analytical differences (or 

 reporting differences) that arise. 



• There should be continuity with the analytical effort of the Initial Phase as IMW 

 expands to new global regions. Priority must continue to be given to the need for 

 high-quality data. 



• "Capacity Building" should be an integral component in the Project and Host 

 Country scientists should be supported with training manuals, workshops, 

 technical reports and QA Reference Standards. This component of the Project 

 should also assist with the creation of new coastal monitoring programs and with 

 the integration of EM W data and scientific network of scientists into existing 

 international efforts. 



• International Mussel Watch should remain flexible and respond to coastal 

 monitoring needs as identified by each global region. Monitoring of additional 

 chemical contaminants (e.g. selected metals, PAHs, nitrogen, and biological 

 agents (e.g. virus, red tide) should be considered as EMW moves to new regions. 



• There is a continuing need for EMW project oversight to maintain the database, 

 integrate the seperate efforts and provide continuity for the several phases and to 

 interface the global region scientific networks which develop. 



• The Project should foster increased scientific communication in the region in order 

 to give support to local scientists in the IMW network. Specific research projects 

 and student theses should grow from the EMW effort 



• Processes and procedures for better integration of the EMW data into regional 

 national decision-making needs to be addressed. 



The successful completion of this Initial Phase provides a base of information and a 

 scientific network for future international activities. The Initial Phase of International Mussel 

 Watch has successfully produced a unique high-quality database of chemical contaminants in 

 coastal organisms from a widespread geographic region. These data are useful to guide future 

 research and monitoring activities in the region. These data and their interpretation will also 

 provide a sound basis for formulation and implementation of policies for protection of human 

 health and for wise management of coastal ecosystems. 



We expect that this program will benefit from, and collaborate with, existing national and 

 regional efforts. This program should provide an impetus for additional national and regional 

 research and monitoring activities concerning pollution of coastal areas. An added benefit will be 

 dissemination to the world community of the results of a successful collaborative experience 

 involving sampling, sample storage, chemical analysis, quality assurance procedures and data 

 interpretation. 



