Designing of a biological effects monitoring programme for pollution assessment and control in the Mediterranean  <B>Designing of a biological effects monitoring programme for pollution assessment and control in the Mediterranean</B><P>C. Galdies</B><I><P> EuroMediterranean Centre on Insular Coastal Dynamics, Foundation for International Studies, University of Malta, Valletta, Malta</I><P> Agenda 21 for the Mediterranean<P> One of the most important issues defined on the basis of UNCED's Agenda 21, of relevance to the marine environment, is the unrelenting search for the scientific knowledge and understanding to combat and prevent marine pollution and the degradation of the marine ecosystem. The only way to be done is through a comprehensive management of the resources available, by collecting together fragmented approaches and initiatives into a harmonized effort.<P> This is particularly true for the Mediterranean region. As stated during the first meeting of 'MED 21' (Tunis, 1994) amongst other things, common action for the protection of the Mediterranean environment should be highly encouraged and a balanced development should be sought between the developed ad developing countries bordering the common sea. For this to take place there is first the need to establish a good communication link between the various initiators and then coordinate them together into a common programme that would complement this common objective i.e. to sustain the living coastal and marine resources of the Mediterranean.<P> Since the adoption of the Mediterranean Action Plan in 1975, individual Mediterranean countries and the Mediterranean region as a whole have made considerable progress in protecting the Mediterranean marine environment against chronic or accidental pollution. Pollution assessment started in the Mediterranean several decades ago in MAP, through its MEDPOL programme., in which a Mediterranean network of over 150 institutions participated in research and monitoring of marine pollution. The results of these activities have been used by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention as a basis for legal action and common measures to combat marine pollution.<P> Despite such progress, however, the coastal region of the Mediterranean is still under continuing pollution threat. In addition, there is still a lack of understanding when coming to assess the impact of pollution on living coastal resources which is still allowing uncertainties in the assessment of pollutionrelated problems and related management practices. Even though many data has been accumulated on the main pollutants, their sources, and basic pathways as well as on their fate in the environment, gaps in knowledge still exists (UNEP, 1995). Among them are:<BR> inadequate geographical coverage in the south <BR> missing links between levels and the effects on biological communities.<P> It is now becoming more and more evident that the solution to this problem lies in the sole promotion of a coordinated action in the regional assessment, prevention and elimination of marine pollution which at the sane time is oriented towards the region's economic and social development. In effect, the aim of my proposal is to fulfill this objective as well as to address a major issue identified during the ninth ordinary meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution and its protocols (UNEP (OCA)/MED Annex IX), in that 'it will try to boost the completeness of the existing network of national programmes for monitoring of pollution, which is to be based on adequate observation and monitoring techniques and incorporate mandatory data quality assurance programmes'. Apart from bringing together the existing initiatives and ongoing biological effects monitoring activities within this region, the proposal will also promote the much desired northsouth technology transfer and participation.<P>