Water quality indices as tools for assessment of the Eastern Harbor’s water status (Alexandria, Egypt)

Abstract Based on weekly sampling, the present short-term study was set out over a one-year cycle in Eastern Harbor (Alexandria, Egypt). This aims to assess water quality monitoring data. Among 13 indexes used define harbor, 6 depend physical and chemical variables, other are biological criteria. Chlorophyll concentrations phytoplankton cell numbers were also as indicators for assessing trophic status. The indicated that status mesotrophic poor-bad classes major trend but oligotrophic condition dominates winter, eutrophic poor class dominate autumn. Looking suitable tools such highly dynamic marine basin is not simple task, identification of common relying single assessment approach hard realize. Despite consensus between some approaches, significant discrepancies observed classification results temporal scale, inability indices sort all types bodies harbor. might represent an integral part holistic ecosystem-based management coastal waters.