TBT-Impacts:

The project TBT Impacts (Contract EC INCO-CT-2005-510658) addressed the issue of coastal resource degradation due to organotin compounds used in antifouling paints; started in March 2005 and has been financed by the European Commission for 4 years.

It targeted shipping (port activity), cruise tourism industry, coastal aquaculture and fisheries. It aimed to help policy formulation to mitigate the degradation caused by antifouling paints and their impacts on coastal fisheries, aquaculture and subsequently, human health. It generated tools for helping the restoration of degraded ecosystems considering the economic and environmental impacts of current global developments.

The project contributed to institutional capacity building by helping national governments with policy recommendations and by facilitated knowledge transfer between European and Asian research personnel of marine sciences. It addressed the consequences of the ban on using organotin containing antifouling paints (IMO) to shipping, cruise tourism industry and other coastal uses such as fishing, aquaculture through scenario building. Moreover, a cost – benefit analysis of using organotin compounds and their alternatives was conducted within the project.

The project provided information on the environmental distribution of TBT in European and Asian coastal environments and try to formulate safer antifouling measures. Within the project suitable quality control tools and a biomonitoring system to regulate TBT impacts that exist in coastal environments, and individuate safe fishing areas were developed; scientific knowledge basis for dissemination were provided to various stakeholders , and decision tools for policy making and build capacity for better management of coastal health were developed. The dissemination of the project outputs to the public have been achieved through workshops, newsletters and a website.

All foreseen activities have been duly completed by the end pof the project.

Task of Quality Consult in the project:

• summarize the information available on the distribution of organotin compounds as well as other antifouling paints in the European marine environment and compose a literature review;
• responsible for the organization of the Proficiency Testing schemes within the frame of the project and take care of the data evaluation;
• provide the Indian laboratories with suitable reference materials to be used in Proficiency testing schemes and in the establishment of analytical quality control charts.