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CIIMAR Watch Book of Protocols
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This isn't a study with findings, but rather a detailed instruction manual that scientists at CIIMAR Watch will use to consistently monitor the health of Portugal's northern coastline, tracking everything from water chemistry to microplastics to marine life. Having standardized methods matters because it means data collected over years by different researchers can be reliably compared, helping us spot real trends in ocean pollution and ecosystem health rather than differences caused by inconsistent sampling. This kind of long-term coastal monitoring ultimately helps protect seafood safety and coastal environments that humans depend on.
The CIIMAR Watch Book of Protocols compiles the Standard Operating Procedures for sampling adopted within CIIMAR Watch, CIIMAR’s long-term marine monitoring programme dedicated to the systematic observation of the northern Portuguese coast. This publication provides a harmonised methodological reference for the collection of physical, chemical, biochemical and biological data across the Porto Watch and Viana Watch observatories, covering coastal, estuarine, intertidal and subtidal environments. It includes the CIIMAR Watch sample identification and coding system, as well as detailed protocols for current velocity measurements, CTD deployment, nutrients, chlorophyll, contaminants, microplastics, environmental DNA, cetacean monitoring, ichthyoplankton, benthic biodiversity, kelp forest monitoring, underwater acoustics and UAV surveys.
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