The project, overseen by the Environmental and Food Agency of Iceland, is to fulfil the OSPAR (Oslo and Paris agreement) and AMAP (Arctic Monitoring Assessment Program) agreements. The data has been submitted to the ICES databank (ices.dk), collection of data began 1989. The Icelandic Fisheries Laboratories (IFL) (now Matís) is the coordinator for marine biota monitoring and is responsible for methods relating to sampling, preparation and analysis of samples.

The samples were analyzed at IFL/Matís and at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Iceland. Trace metals and organochlorines were analysed in cod (Gadus morhua) caught in March 2006 and in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) collected in August/Sept 2005.

Although the report´s writers place emphasis on that the data has not been statistically evaluated in connection with previous results in order to evaluate time trend or spatial difference, “there are apparently no obvious changes in contaminant concentrations pattern seen in previous years?.”

Iceland is unique in terms of geology, oceanography and meteorology. High levels of heavy metals, particularly cadmium, occur naturally in the environment in Iceland. Therefore, natural background values need to be kept in mind when comparing contamination levels with other countries. Marine monitoring began in Iceland 1989.