Natural recovery of industrial impacted fjord systems

This project will focus on a researcher exchange between the Institute des sciences de la mer de Rimouski (ISMER), University of Quebec and the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI). Both institutes are involved in long-term research programs related to contaminated sediments, ecological risks and remediation measures. Similar climatic and oceanographic conditions in Norway and Canada make it worthwhile to cooperatively/bilaterally study the fate of organic contaminants in coastal and marine environments under cold climatic conditions. The funding applied for here will be used to contribute to a scientific mission to the Saguenay Fjord, Quebec Canada with the marine research vessel Coriolis II in june 2011 and subsequent dataanalysis and reporting. This mission is a cooperation between, ISMER and the University Laval Quebec , Canada. Prof. Gijs Breedveld, NGI has been invited to contribute to this mission. The main aim of the mission is to study the natural recovery of the fjord sediments after historica l industrial inputs. At present there is a lack of empirical knowledge on how the restitution of contaminated marine areas proceeds after the release of contaminants from primary sources has been reduced or have ceased. The Saguenay fjord is an unique sit e since part of the contaminated sediments have been capped with clean sediments following a major flooding in 1996. The long-term effect of capping as compared to uncapped areas will be the main focus of the research mission.