MASTER PLAN FOR THE PORT OF TRIESTE – IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTEGRATED MONITORING PLAN (Port TS Monitoring)
Chemical and biological monitoring of coastal waters and marine benthic communities in the Port of Trieste
The integrated monitoring plan consists of the monitoring of various environmental components, including the aquatic environment – coastal marine waters – and is divided into three phases: the pre-construction phase (2021–2024), for the collection of data needed to establish the baseline value of the component, to be used as a reference for subsequent comparisons; the construction phase (from 2024 onwards), which will provide an overview of the environmental situation relating to construction site activities for the development of the port facilities; finally, a post-construction phase is planned, during which monitoring will enable an assessment of any potential effects the development of the Port of Trieste may have on the marine system.
Monitoring of coastal marine waters is carried out at four fixed points, corresponding to four buoys equipped with multi-parameter probes at three different depths, where an assessment of the physical characteristics of the water column is performed, measured continuously (contact: D. Deponte). In addition, water samples are taken on a seasonal basis to estimate the trophic status of the port system and to investigate and assess the concentration of numerous contaminants in the port waters, including certain priority substances and emerging contaminants. At the same intervals, a number of ecotoxicological tests are carried out using biological assays on single-celled algae and sea urchins. Finally, the abundance and biodiversity of the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities are assessed.
Regarding the monitoring of marine biocoenoses in the offshore area of the Trieste Site of National Interest, sediment sampling is carried out once a year near the breakwaters and ship entrance channels to study the soft-bottom faunal communities. In addition, the occurrence and health of seagrass beds are monitored, with particular reference to the species Cymodocea nodosa along the coastal strip of Muggia and Punta Sottile.