IAEA – UNEP collaboration to improve data quality in marine pollution monitoring programmes of Regional Seas

Presentation at the Technical Workshop on Selecting Indicators for the State of Regional Seas. This document outlines collaboration between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations Environment Programme to improve data quality in marine pollution monitoring within regional seas programmes. It describes the application of an ecosystem approach, defining objectives, indicators, and monitoring systems for assessing contaminants and pollution events. It emphasises the need for quality assured data to evaluate environmental status and support decision making. Methods include reference materials, analytical techniques, interlaboratory comparisons, proficiency testing, and training. The document highlights capacity building, standardised methodologies, and continuous performance assessment to ensure reliable and comparable analytical results across laboratories.