title: Introduction to the PICES practical workshop: objectives, overview of the study area, and projects conducted by the participants.
abstract: We coordinated a collaborative research project to investigate environmental conditions in Vancouver Harbour, British Columbia, Canada, between 23 May and 7 June 1999. This special volume of Marine Environmental Research presents a collection of papers giving results of these studies. The project was part of a practical workshop sponsored by the Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ) committee of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES). Twenty-four scientists from PICES countries (USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, Korea, and China) participated. A wide variety of data was collected, including community structure of benthic invertebrates and fish, evaluation of fish health using biological markers and exposure data, evaluation of contaminant exposure in inter-tidal invertebrates, imposex in gastropods, and information about natural toxins produced by algae. The workshop provided an opportunity for PICES participants to gain an improved appreciation of the approaches and techniques used by other member countries to assess the effects of marine pollution. The purpose of this introductory paper is to briefly describe the project, provide background information on how it was organized, and give an overview of our knowledge about the harbour's environment.
authors.affiliation: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, West Vancouver Laboratory, 4160 Marine Drive, West Vancouver BC, Canada V7V 1N6. levingsc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
authors.forename: Colin D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Levings
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Carla M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stehr
authors.forename: Steve C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Samis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001955:British Columbia; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000506:poisoning; D007391:International Cooperation; D007448:Invertebrates; D010575:Pesticides / Q000506:poisoning; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D010575:Pesticides; D014873:Water Pollutants