What is ISO 23732 about?
ISO 23732 focuses on marine environment impact assessment (MEIA). For environmental impact assessments (EIA) of plans for seabed mineral resource exploitation, objective, comprehensive and easy-to-apply analysis techniques are required.
ISO 23732 specifies a general protocol for the observation of the meiofaunal community in the deep seabed. By this protocol, the population density is obtained by analysis using an imaging flow cytometer, and the species composition is acquired by metagenomic analysis.
The standardized method can be used in any phase [baseline data acquisition, monitoring during and after mining (testing)] accompanying resource development, making it easier to compare data beyond differences in workers and waters.
ISO 23732 is intended for marine environment impact assessments (EIA) and other occasions where long-term image-based data are required.
Who is ISO 23732 for?
ISO 23732 on marine environment impact assessment (MEIA) is useful for:
- Marine industry
- Marine engineers and surveyors
- Testing agencies involved in the inspection of the marine environment
- Laboratories engaged in surveys of seafloor environments
Why should you use ISO 23732?
ISO 23732 establishes a convenient protocol for MEIA using meiofauna as biological indicators. The role of EIA is the determination of fluctuation or change in the community structure after environmental impacts. Data of species level composition and population size are essential information to assess the effect of impacts.
Meiofaunal analysis described in ISO 23732, has proposed following two methods , including: imaging flow cytometry, and environmental metagenomic analysis. By using theses methods, it becomes possible to grasp communities of meiofauna in the environment objectively, comprehensively, quickly, and easily.
Obtaining ISO 23732 helps marine engineers and surveyors in including risk results in management and engineering practices and the decision-making process throughout a project life cycle, for such aspects as design, construction, testing, operation, maintenance, disposal, management.