The archive for marine samples (ROPME Marine Sample Bank- RMSB) is implemented at ROPME Secretariat since 2005 for storing subsamples of collected marine samples during all ROPME monitoring programmes under controlled condition. At present, RMSB contains some 5000 freeze dried subsamples of collected grab and core sediments during the conducted ROPME oceanographic cruises and those collected during the long term contaminant screening activities and the ongoing Mussel Watch Programme.
Towards upgrading the benefits of stored old marine samples in RMSB for retrospective studies of contaminants and other substances in the Region, it is planned to establish a module in the ROPME Integrated Information System (RIIS). The main task of the module is make available all data for each stored sample for following up the spatial and temporal integrated trends of the environmental status in the region for retrospective monitoring and studies. One essential objective of RMSB is to Network available data of stored samples besides offering/exchange of subsamples for further evaluation and research with Regional and International institutions and similar Banks.
