Benthos Analysis

Tender description

The Marine Institute Water Framework Directive Marine Benthic Ecological Quality Element Analysis. At present a requirement exists for the analysis of in-faunal sediment samples collected from a range of seabed locations around Ireland. It is intended that the successful company will extract the taxa from the sediment residue and identify them to species level. A requirement of the Water Framework Directive is that benthic macro- invertebrates must be sampled from coastal and transitional waters at least twice within a river basin cycle (6 years) in order to classify these waterbodies. Numerous samples will be taken from sites in matched habitats throughout the waterbody. Sampling and analysis will be carried out according to established protocols. The Directive requires the sampling of nominated coastal and transitional waters for benthic macro-invertebrates. This includes the field sampling, processing and analysis of samples. In addition, grab samples have been taken on vessels of opportunity and are considered suitable to fulfil obligations under the WFD. A series samples were collected in February 2016 and the successful tenderer will be required to carry out an analysis of the samples in strict accordance with the methodologies set out in Appendix 2 of the ITT.