Current Status, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations of China’s Marine Monitoring Systems for Coastal Persistent Organic Pollution Based on Experts’ Questionnaire Analysis

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) monitoring and management in typical semi-enclosed bays is a major global environmental issue. This study concentrated on a questionnaire survey and analysis of marine environmental management and monitoring departments at all levels in China, and proposed suggestions on the construction and improvement of POPs monitoring and management system. Results show that POPs are initially involved in China’s current marine environmental monitoring system, and the monitoring strength and capability still need to be continuously improved, mainly in the recognition, funding input, relevant standards, monitoring, and evaluation technical regulations of marine environmental POPs monitoring. Therefore, in order to gradually improve the monitoring and management system of China’s offshore marine environment POPs, this study suggests starting from four directions: (1) Building POPs monitoring system of a marine ecological environment, and strengthening POPs monitoring in different environmental media; (2) strengthening land-based POPs emission and the related human activities’ intensity survey, and establishing a POPs information sharing database; (3) optimizing POPs monitoring technology in the marine environment, and improving POPs supervision and management technical support system; and (4) participating in regional and international marine environment POPs monitoring and evaluation projects, and strengthening the construction of talent teams.

Project introduction: in order to further protect offshore Marine environment in China, the research of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) management status, promote the offshore Marine environment pollution prevention and control work, needs to understand the current POPs monitoring work in offshore environment, through the surveillance staff questionnaire investigation of the project, his concern and timely sum up, organized the event, please participate.

Monitoring questionnaire survey (please thicken or color the options red)
(1) the general situation 1. Which of the following tasks are you most concerned about in the business development of Chinaʹs environmental monitoring system? A. To strengthen the monitoring of pollutant flux into the sea and its spatial and temporal distribution in the Marine environment.
B. We will strengthen integrated monitoring with ecological health monitoring and monitoring of various Marine functional areas as the core.
C. Realize the monitoring data and information sharing, improve the monitoring product deep processing ability.
D. Enhance the service awareness of Marine environmental monitoring agencies and improve their service efficiency.
E. We will innovate and optimize technologies for monitoring the Marine environment and develop and improve the system for Marine environmental assessment.
F. We will strengthen the building of the talent pool and build a professional and innovative talent pool.
G. We will improve the distribution of the Marine environmental monitoring system and promote the capacity building of local Marine environmental monitoring institutions.
H. We will actively participate in regional and international Marine environmental monitoring and assessment projects and properly address global environmental issues. 29. In your opinion, the main gap between the evaluation method of POPs monitoring results and actual demand in Chinaʹs offshore environment is :(choose 3-5 items) A. The evaluation method system is not perfect, and POPs can not be evaluated scientifically, objectively, quickly and comprehensively B. The future pollution trend of POPs in offshore environment cannot be predicted scientifically and accurately C. The regional characteristics of the Marine environment have not been fully taken into account by adopting unified national evaluation standards D. The status and trend evaluation of POPs in offshore environment are mostly in the qualitative stage, and the source and contribution of POPs cannot be directly determined E. The POPs capacity of the national and regional Marine environment has not been recognized F. There is a lack of mature methods for evaluating the ecological toxicology or ecological health damage caused by POPs G. There is a lack of POPs for offshore Marine ecological risk assessment aimed at protecting human health H. Other  A. Training courses shall be uniformly organized by relevant national monitoring departments B. Training courses will be held by the Marine area monitoring center, and the national center will send technicians to participate in the guidance C. Training courses shall be organized by provincial monitoring institutions, and technical personnel from the national center and the sea area center shall participate in the guidance D. Technical learning shall be conducted by the monitoring unit itself, such as inviting professionals from scientific research institutions to give lectures, or studying abroad for exchanges, etc E. Field sampling instruction F. Other 35. How is your participation in international cooperation and exchanges involving POPs Marine environmental monitoring (multiple choice) A. Host or participate in global international cooperation projects B. To host or participate in regional international cooperation projects C. Participate in international seminars on Marine environmental monitoring and assessment D. Visit and exchange with foreign Marine environmental monitoring institutions E. Attend lectures, lectures or technical training of foreign experts F. Never participated in international cooperation activities or projects (6) quality control and assurance 36. Do you think the current quality control and assurance system of our unit can meet the needs of POPs monitoring and guarantee work? A.Adapt and meet B. basic adapt and meet C. not adapt 37.
If not, what are the main problems (multiple choices)?
A. The quality assurance system of monitoring institutions has not been established and the quality management work has not been implemented properly; B. The environmental conditions of the laboratory cannot meet the monitoring needs, and the laboratory infrastructure is rudimentary;