Marine environmental monitoring programs: tips on design, measurement and interpretation

Marine environmental monitoring programs are these days a standard requirement for the oil and gas industry in all jurisdictions. Monitoring programs are generally required during the construction and siting of infrastructure in or near the marine environment and then also for the operational phases of that infrastructure. The types and scales of monitoring programs developed and implemented vary enormously from project to project and typically reflect the complex interplay between often competing factors such as legislative framework, environmental and political sensitivities, cost, industry standards, existing information, predicted levels of impact, access to technology, and the level of professional expertise engaged. With so many factors influencing the design of a program it is sometimes difficult to focus on the core requirements of any marine environmental monitoring program. Using case examples this paper provides some advice on choosing which potential impacts are important to monitor, developing a good study design (including the importance of baseline data collection and pilot studies), choosing the right parameters to monitor, avoiding the seduction of technology, and selecting appropriate statistical tests. The other topic covered is some advice on the interpretation of results with emphasis on the need for clarity at the beginning of a monitoring program about what the data collected will, or can, be used for.