Quality of the coastal and marine environment of the Ancash Region, 2018

Abstract

In November-December 2018, the environmental quality of the Ancash Region was assessed. Sampling was carried out in Coishco, El Ferrol, Samanco, Los Chimus, Tortuga, Casma, Huarmey, and Culebras cove Bays and in the Santa, Lacramarca, Samanco, Nepeña, Casma, Culebras, and Huarmey Rivers were typical of Cold Coastal Waters (CFW) and Surface Subtropical Waters (SSA) with influence of anthropic discharges and local variations of evaporation (result of shallower depths in the evaluated areas). Surface dissolved oxygen in Samanco was greater than 8 mg/L due to the presence of red tide; in Culebras cove and Huarmey, it was less than 3.50 mg/L due to coastal upwelling. The nutrients presented some values that surpassed the current regulations. Warm water diatoms were detected: Planktoniella sol, Proboscia alata, Rhizosolenia robusta, and Protoperidinium oceanicum. The potentially toxic dinoflagellates were: Dinophysis acuminata, D. caudata, and D. tripos found in all bays and coves and, Prorocentrum cordatum in El Ferrol, Samanco, Tortuga, and Casma. The total suspended solids pollutants on average did not exceed what was established (60 mg/L) by the National Environmental Quality Standards for Water. The biochemical oxygen demand in the lower river basin was within the current regulations.