Marine Science
SEPA’s Marine Science Section monitors and assesses the quality
of Scotland’s estuaries and coastal waters. We do so in partnership
with
Marine Scotland and Scottish
Natural Heritage to meet the UK and Scottish Governments’
vision of maintaining “clean, safe, healthy, biologically diverse
and productive marine and coastal environments, managed to meet the
long term needs of nature and people”.
The unit has about 60 staff located in
Aberdeen, Dingwall, East Kilbride and Edinburgh, with boat crew
based in Inverkeithing and Troon. Staff are organised into 4 units
under the headings of Marine Chemistry, Marine Ecology, Marine
Development (including boat crew) and OceanMet (Oceanography and
Meteorology).
The monitoring work carried out by Marine
Science focuses mainly on the chemical and ecological requirements
of European Union (EU) directives within three nautical miles of
the shore. This includes the former dangerous substances and
shellfish waters directives, which are now both part of the Water
Framework Directive (WFD), and the urban waste water treatment and
nitrates directives. Results from this work are used in WFD
classification, reported annually to the Scottish Government and
submitted to the EU, to OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic) and to a UK marine
database. Some of the data will also be used to provide information
for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
OceanMet staff use their knowledge of the
physical environment in marine waters and mathematical and physical
modelling to provide information to external customers and SEPA’s
environmental protection staff on the dispersion and dilution of
effluents. Similar work for pollutants released to air is carried
out by meteorologists in the OceanMet Unit.
Providing expertise and advice on a wide range
of issues is a significant part of the work of Marine Science
staff. This ranges from regulatory support advice for SEPA
colleagues and answers to freedom of information (FOI) enquiries,
to responses to specific industries and evidence to the Scottish
Government to support policy development.
The Marine Science Section uses a wide range
of new technologies including environmental genomics and ferry box technology. We also contribute to a
wide range of marine issues, including biodiversity,
hydromorphology, emergency planning, UK and Scottish monitoring
strategies and research and development.
Further information