OPMS - A web-based ocean pollution monitoring system

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Marine Biology
• Public Health

Background:

• Marine pollution, including fecal coliform and biotoxins like paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), presents significant risks to marine ecosystems and human health.
• Effective monitoring and control measures are crucial for mitigating these risks and ensuring public safety, particularly concerning shellfish consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Ocean Pollution Monitoring System (OPMS), a web application designed for visualizing marine pollutant fluctuations along Canadian coastal regions.
• To provide environmental managers and policymakers with a decision-support tool for shellfish safety and water quality management.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 20 years of data from approximately 15,000 shellfish harvesting sites across six Canadian provinces.
• Employed Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) to extract seasonal fluctuation patterns of fecal coliform and biotoxin levels.
• Developed a web application (OPMS) to visualize these patterns with fine granularity for user-selected geographical regions.

Main Results:

• The OPMS effectively visualizes seasonal and annual fluctuations of key marine pollutants, including fecal coliform and biotoxins (PSP, ASP).
• The system allows for detailed exploration of pollutant trends and their impact in specific geographical areas.
• The visualization provides actionable insights derived from extensive historical data.

Conclusions:

• The Ocean Pollution Monitoring System (OPMS) serves as a valuable decision-support tool for managing shellfish safety and coastal water quality in Canada.
• By visualizing complex data, OPMS enhances the ability of environmental managers and policymakers to address marine pollution challenges.
• The application facilitates a proactive approach to mitigating risks associated with marine pollutants.