Optimizing Nutrient Monitoring in Coastal and Marine Ecosystems: High-Throughput Segmented Flow Analysis as a Tool for Informed Blue Economy Governance

Anthropogenic nutrient loading from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and rapid coastal urbanization threatens the ecological integrity of marine and inland aquatic ecosystems. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus inputs drive eutrophication, degrading critical fisheries habitats, aquaculture ventures, and regional marine biodiversity. Effective conservation and sustainable blue economy governance rely heavily on precise, high-frequency spatial and temporal monitoring of ambient nutrient concentrations. However, traditional manual spectrophotometric methods are severely bottlenecked by limited sample throughput, heavy labor demands, and compromised sensitivity in complex matrix environments like marine or brackish waters.

This presentation showcases the application of the SEAL Quattro Continuous Segmented Flow Autoanalyzer (CFA) as a robust technical solution for large-scale environmental monitoring. By automating colorimetric chemistry, the micro-flow system achieves ultra-low detection limits (0.1 μg/L for phosphorus and nitrogen species) and handles high sample throughput, generating extensive datasets across vast geographical zones.

The utility of this technology is highlighted through its role in monitoring macro-nutrients (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonium, and silicate) in dynamic coastal zones. High-resolution baseline datasets generated by the analyzer allow researchers to model nutrient plumes, map localized eutrophication risks, and assess the direct impacts of coastal developments. By providing rapid, reproducible, and ISO/IEC 17025-compliant environmental data, this automated technology shifts aquatic resource management from reactive mitigation to proactive, science-driven policy enforcement.