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OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR -who are we?. 15 States in the North East Atlantic catchments: Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Iceland Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain

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OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

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  1. OSPAR Commissionfor the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

  2. OSPAR -who are we? 15 States in the North East Atlantic catchments: Belgium Denmark Finland France Germany Iceland Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands Norway Portugal Spain Sweden Switzerland The United Kingdom and the European Community

  3. Mapping the sea

  4. Evolution of current charts The physical world Mapping the sea Locations, projections, bathymetry - From portolans to Admiralty charts The living world

  5. First waves • 1969: the Torrey Canyon • 1970: ICES warning - concern for the land means threats to the sea • 1971: preparations for Stockholm and the Stella Maris • 1972: the Oslo Convention and Stockholm • 1974: the Paris Convention

  6. The ripples spread • 1992: UNCED and the need for integration • 1993: North Sea QSR - pollution isn’t the only problem • 1997: Ecosystem approach - Kyoto protocol • 1998: New OSPAR annex on biological diversity and ecosystems • 2002: WSSD commitments

  7. The need for a strategy • How else can we integrate the different sectors: • climate change • pollution (land-based, offshore, shipping, dumping) • use of sea space (fisheries, shipping, offshore) • impact on species and habitats

  8. Ecosystem approach • WSSD commitments require the application of the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities. • All international organisations need to show how their programmes fit in with this approach • OSPAR and HELCOM have done so.bb

  9. Role of Regional Seas Organisations (1) We have been working on marine issues for a generation, and have a body of experience to offer in the fields of hazardous substances, radioactive substances, eutrophication, offshore oil and gas industries, and the protection of marine biodiversity.

  10. Role of Regional Seas Organisations (2) Main strength: We are required to be holistic • we must assess “the quality status of the marine environment and its development” including both an evaluation of the effectiveness of …measures taken…and the identification of priorities for action”. • the assessments must cover water, sediments and biota, as well as human activities and natural and anthropogenic inputs.

  11. Role of Regional Seas Organisations (3) Regional seas organisations have a flexible range of procedures open to them, and have been innovative in deploying them. They can continue to play such an innovative role.

  12. Resource needs Implementing a marine strategy needs resources. There needs to be a similar level of effort throughout the management of the hydrological cycle. Is there a risk that the EC Water Framework Directive’s status will pre-empt resources?

  13. Envoi A European Marine Strategy must • orchestrate the actions of all European States, the European Union and international bodies towards ambitious, clear and coherent objectives in all the fields affecting the marine environment • win cooperation and commitments by all the various governments and organisations concerned. This requires careful choice of the appropriate form of instruments.

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