This document proposes the creation of a Spanish Sediment Network to coordinate research and knowledge sharing between Spanish research groups and potential end-users on sediment issues. The network would integrate partners from different Spanish regions as well as international members from similar coastal areas. Its objectives are to create a national database of sediment projects and results, disseminate information through a website, and propose a long-term Spanish network over three years. The founding partners are research centers from Cantabria, the Basque Country and Cadiz who are involved in several national and EU-funded sediment characterization and management projects.

1. Proposal and Announcement Spanish Sediment Network
Proposal and Announcement
Spanish Sediment Network
Javier Viguri1*, MªJesús Belzunde2, Angel del Valls3
1 University of Cantabria, Chemical Engineering Department, Cantabria, Spain
2 AZTI, Technological Institute for Fisheries and Food, Basque Country, Spain
3 University of Cadiz, Faculty of Marine and Environment Sciences, Cadiz, Spain
* Corresponding author: Javier R. Viguri, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Química Inorgánica,
Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales y Telecomunicación (ETSIIT), Avenida Los Castros, s/n, 39005 santander, Spain
(vigurij@unican.es; http://departamentos.unican.es/quimica/)
Main Characteristics of the Spanish Sediment Network Proposal
Proposal to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology. RTD Natural Resources Programme (2000–2003). Special Actions. Thematic Priority:
Environmental Technologies
Applicant: University of Cantabria. Chemical Engineering Department. Cantabria. vigurij@unican.es. Partners: AZTI. Technological Institute for Fisher-
ies and Food. Basque Country. University of Cadiz (UC). Faculty of Marine and Environment Sciences. Cádiz
Network based on: 1) Natural Environment Integration: Atlantic and Mediterranean Areas. 2) Methods Integration: Research Resources 3) Interna-
tional Integration: SedNet Collaboration
Objective: Platform to exchange knowledge and transfer actions between Spanish RTD Organisations and potential end-users in an International
context
Context of the Objective:
• Integral Management of European Coastal Areas: Solid scientific knowledge, references and information about specific problems in a local and
regional context
• 6th EU Environment Programme 2001–2010: integration of local policy framework in a global context
• 6th EU RTD FP 2002–2006: Development of environmental quality values, including prenormative research
• RTD Spanish National Programme Natural Resources: Sediment Characterization Technologies
1 Needs and Relevance stances to be applied as chemical quality of water, sediment
Sediments are a basic ingredient to the morphologic evolution and biota, and demands proposals for quality standards, start-
of the coastal area and suppose an important socio-economic ing from the site investigation and characterisation of each mass
resource. Due to their nature, sediments are a trap for contami- of water. At this European level, the integration of the sediment
nants which are introduced to the environment by specific and management actions has been implemented, among other ac-
diffuse sources located at river basins, estuarines and marine tions by the European Network SedNet and its future continu-
areas. The pollutants can be ready to pass to the food chain or ity by the SedNet-excel Network.
can be mobilised by anthropogenic or natural means. For these The 2002 SedNet Inaugural Conference at Venice has allowed
reasons, the sediments have been proven an efficient tool to to establish a first contact between different Spanish groups
identify environmental impacts, and due to the exposure time involved in sediments. The absence of coordination at Spanish
to industrial effluents, they are valid for long term studies. level in this subject, and the recent accident of the tanker 'Pres-
Sediments are a resource to be managed in appropriate form tige', point out the demand for a Spanish framework to coordi-
making it necessary to achieve a good quality of sediments. In nate information, priorities and approaches in RTD and man-
this sense, rules and guidelines exist to evaluate the sediment agement activities related to sediments. This situation has
quality as well as decision-making frameworks. However, these motivated the authors of this paper to set up this proposal of
actions do not harmonise at an international level. In Spain, network to coordinate joint activities among the different re-
the Ministry of Public Works through the CEDEX, published search groups in Spain focussing on the research activities on
the 'Recomendations to dredged material management' in 1994, sediments and its ecosystem, and to transfer results to potential
based on a chemical list (inorganic and organic chemicals) and end-users in an international context (Fig. 1).
toxicity test.
At European level, the European Water Framework Directive Demand of Concentration, Structure,
International Framework
(EWFD) established a framework for the protection of inland (SedNet, IPPC, EWFD, Coordination and Diffusion of
surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and ground- RTD 6FP) RTD Actions in Sediments
water, which prevents further deterioration and protects and Proposal of
enhances the status of aquatic ecosystems. Starting from the
catchment area, the EWFD proposes a combined emission and International and National Integration in
Spanish Network
immission approach, applicable to sediments, as a strategy for RTD Strategies on Sediments
the coastal pollution prevention and management. In the field
of water policy, the EU has published a list of priority sub- Fig. 1: Context of the proposed Spanish Sediments Network
JSS – J Soils & Sediments 3 (3) 163 – 164 (2003) 163
© ecomed publishers, D-86899 Landsberg, Germany and Ft. Worth/TX • Tokyo • Mumbai • Seoul • Melbourne • Paris

2. Spanish Sediment Network Proposal and Announcement
2 Objectives Cadiz, University College Cork, CEFAS Burnham Laboratory, Institute
of Marine Research (IMAR). Application of the TRIAD method in differ-
The objective is a Spanish platform to exchange and transfer infor- ent estuaries of the Atlantic Space; the main deliverable is to set up an
mation and knowledge related to sediments between RTD groups integrated method to be applied by the coastal area managers to asses
and final-users in an International context. For the attainment of sediment quality.
this objective, several specific objectives have been planned: • Ministry of Science and Technology. National Research Program
• Continuous integration of network partners according to Spanish re- 2002–2005.
gions and integration of international members according to ecoregions a) 'Characterization of Dredged material by optimisation of an integra-
for transitional waters and coastal natural waters (Atlantic Ocean and tive approach to evaluate the environmental quality'. AZTI and Univer-
Mediterranean Sea), and ecoregions for rivers and lakes (Iberic- sity of Cadiz. Environmental quality evaluation of 3 port areas in Spain
Macaronesian region). – Bay of Cádiz, Stuary of
• Detection and integration in the network of final-users of RTD results Huelva and Stuary of Bilbao – by application of an integrative assess-
and network products. ment (contamination levels, toxic and adeverse effects under labora-
• National database of RTD groups, projects and results related with tory and field conditions using biomarkers and bioaccumulation in the
sediments. benthic ecosystem).
• Catalogue of sediment characterisation methodologies. b) 'Organic micro-pollutants in Cantabria marine sediments: Environ-
• Dissemination of RTD related information and network products through
mental Assessment'. University of Cantabria and Basque Country
a web site.
University. The integral approach of the project, with methodologies
• Proposal of a long term Spanish network (3 years).
related to the satellite remote sensing, phisico-chemical characteri-
sation and organic micro-pollutants contents in sediments, will pro-
3 Activities and Partners vide the relationships between the environmental risk assessment
variables in sediments and remote sensing data, which could be useful
Fig. 2 shows the Spanish Network Core with partners, activi- in the development of planning and making decisions related to the
ties and results. Starting with the core partners from the Uni- coastal zones.
versity of Cantabria, AZTI and University of Cadiz, the struc- • Ministry of Public Works 2003–2006. 'Design and application of in-
ture is based on the continuous integration of the RTD groups tegrated methods to assess the hazardousness of dredging material
from the different Spanish regions, international members from in Spanish ports'. Environmental assessment (contamination, toxicity,
similar European ecoregions (EWFD) and from SedNet, and bioaccumulation) of dredging material from 4 Spanish ports – Bay of
final-users involved in the sediment management as port au- Cádiz, Huelva, Bilbao and Pasajes – and suggestion in the Spanish
recommendations to the management of dredging in Spanish ports.
thorities, dredged agents, industrial activities and administra-
• Contracts with the Spanish Ports Authorities oriented to define a
tion. The core partners are involved in several RTD projects
battery of bioassays to evaluate the toxicity of the dredged material.
and contracts related with the characterisation and manage-
• Interlaboratory Test. CEDEX, in collaboration with the University of
ment of sediments. At international and national level the groups Cádiz. Characterization of sediment quality by means of sediment
participate in the following projects: bioassays using Spanish common species in the characterization of
• Interreg B Program (Proposal March 2003). 'An Integral Evaluation sediment toxicity together with classical chemical analysis. Final Meet-
(Biological effects-based – BEBA) of Sediments quality in the Atlantic ing, October 2003 in Cadiz. Special issue of the bilingual journal 'Ciencias
coastal and estuarine environment'. AZTI-Foundation, University of Marinas' including all the data and discussions during the meeting.
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164 JSS – J Soils Sediments 3 (3) 2003