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This paper is an extension of an earlier paper on a Trophic Index TRIX, a linear combination of the log of 4 state variables: ChA, aD%O, minN & TP (Vollenweider et al. 1998), to characterizing succinctly the trophic levels of coastal marine areas, and to discuss questions that since have arisen in applying and developing the index further. This entails in depth review of some procedural aspects such as data processing including transformation of rough data; the statistical distribution of TRIX; comparisons over different spatial and temporal scales; discrimination limits between two contiguous means of TRIX; interrelationships between TRIX and its components, and between TRIX and other water related variables. Further to statistical properties of TRIX, attention is given to integrative features and other implicit functional relationships pertinent to the description of trophic characteristics of coastal systems, among which to mention the term "efficiency". This theoretical framework has been applied to data from two trophically different responding coastal systems, i.e. the Emilia-Romagna coastal area of the Adriatic Sea and the Tuscany coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea to illustrate some of the arising interpretative problems in using TRIX. Finally, analyses of the two system are juxtaposed in an alternatively slightly modified reference diagram in which the trophic location and the extent of variability are shown in relation to the N/P ratio and related efficiency

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The Mytilos project was carried during the last 3 years (2004-2006) in order to evaluate the level of chemical contamination along the coasts of the western basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Active mussel watch consisted of caged (12 weeks) Mytilus galloprovincialis at 123 stations along the Mediterranean coasts of Spain, France, Italy, North Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Results indicated total PAHs levels in the range 22-106 μg/kg dry weight. All large towns or industrial areas from all countries of the basin were affected. Analysis of the origin of contamination demonstrated mainly a pyrolytic origin except in some areas such as Maddalena, Napoli, Alger, and Cornigliano (Genova). Statistical analysis of the PAHs accumulation data enabled the characterisation and ranking of each coastal area. The overall results give scientific and technical basis for large-scale monitoring of the PAH contamination in the entire western Mediterranean basin.