⇒ OSPAR Commissionhttps://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/4842024-03-28T18:51:47Z2024-03-28T18:51:47ZConvention-wide Practices and Procedures in relation to marine dumped chemical weapons and munitions (2004 Update).https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/18902022-03-09T18:34:04Z2004-01-01T00:00:00ZConvention-wide Practices and Procedures in relation to marine dumped chemical weapons and munitions (2004 Update).
As part of a broader overview of the issue of dumped conventional and chemical munitions in
the OSPAR area, in response to a request by OSPAR (OSPAR 00/20/1, §10.15), Ireland has
prepared the following assessment of the practices and procedures of Contracting Parties in
relation to marine dumped chemical weapons and munitions. In order to collate the relevant
information to complete this task, a questionnaire (attached as Appendix I) was circulated to
Contracting Parties to gather information on the following three key topics:
a. Reporting, Recording and Assessment of Encounters with Marine Dumped
Conventional and Chemical Munitions;
b. Guidelines for Fishermen and Other Users of the Sea and its Coastline; and
c. Surveillance and Management Practices.
2004-01-01T00:00:00ZCEMP Guidelines for marine monitoring and assessment of beach litter.https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/18862022-03-02T10:20:47Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZCEMP Guidelines for marine monitoring and assessment of beach litter.
1.1. The reduction of pollution of the marine environment by macro- and microlitter is one of the great environmental challenges facing society today.
1.2. Under its draft North-East Atlantic Environment (NEAE) Strategy 2020-2030, OSPAR has a strategic objective to significantly reduce marine litter to levels that do not cause adverse impacts. This level, referred to as “Good Environmental Status” (GES), is also the objective set by the European Union (EU) in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC).
1.3. Measures to reduce the input of marine litter and to remove litter from the marine environment are presently being implemented through actions at the OSPAR level (OSPAR Marine Litter Regional Action Plan/ML RAP) and through national actions. For Contracting Parties (CPs) who are EU Member States, measures implemented within the scope of the MSFD also contribute towards this objective. To direct these actions and assess their effectiveness in reducing marine litter pollution, but also to assess if GES and associated threshold values (TVs, Werner et al. 2020) are being achieved, indicators have been developed. Regarding marine litter, one of these indicators is the “Abundance, composition and trends of marine litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines, including analysis of its spatial distribution and, where possible, sources”, referred to as “beach litter”. The indicator reflects spatial differences and temporal changes in abundance, composition and sources of marine litter in the coastal environment and is used as a proxy for litter pollution in the OSPAR marine environment.
1.4. Beach litter is defined by OSPAR as any persistent, manufactured or processed, solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment, and encountered on beaches. A part of this litter originates from the sea, through deliberate or accidental losses from vessels (including cargos and waste), and transported to and deposited on the coast from the sea by winds and water currents. Another part is directly deposited on the coast by humans, e.g. tourists, fishers or the results of fly-tipping. Litter is also deposited further inland on riverbanks, directly into rivers, in urban areas and in the countryside and is subsequently transported by rivers, rain and wind into the marine environment and onto beaches. In addition, sewage infrastructures discharge litter items directly or indirectly, via rivers and sewage outlets into the sea and these items can be washed ashore.
1.5. The aim of this document is to provide guidelines for the monitoring and assessment programme for the OSPAR beach litter indicator that allows effective (i) detection of spatial differences and temporal changes in abundance, composition and, if possible, sources of litter encountered on beach monitoring sites and within country-regions, (ii) assessment of GES and associated TV achievement and (iii) evaluation of the effects and efficiency of OSPAR ML-RAP actions.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZOSPAR inventory of measures to mitigate the emission and environmental impact of underwater noise (2016 update).https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/18142021-12-16T01:57:20Z2016-01-01T00:00:00ZOSPAR inventory of measures to mitigate the emission and environmental impact of underwater noise (2016 update).
The 2009 JAMP Assessment on the environmental impact of underwater noise recommended
amongst others that OSPAR Contracting Parties in a next step should develop guidance on measures
to mitigate noise emissions and the environmental impacts of underwater noise on the marine
environment (OSPAR 2009a). The Quality Status Report 2010 recommended that OSPAR should
increase efforts to develop, review and apply mitigation measures to reduce the impacts of
underwater noise and develop Guidelines on best environmental practices (BEP) and best available
techniques (BAT) for mitigating noise emissions and their environmental impacts (OSPAR 2010).
The purpose of this inventory is to provide OSPAR Contracting Parties an overview of effectiveness
and feasibility of mitigation options to avoid or reduce emissions and impacts of underwater noise,
and to support OSPAR EU Member States in establishing programmes of measures in relation to
underwater noise under the MSFD by 2015. The inventory is designed to help avoid and reduce the
introduction of underwater noise and/or its impacts on the marine environment through a common
understanding of best mitigation options and by aiding Contracting Parties in their choice of options
in the management of underwater noise sources and ultimately by the application of best available
techniques (BAT) and best environmental practice (BEP), as defined in Appendix 1 to the OSPAR
Convention, for activities generating impulsive and/or continous noise underwater noise.
Developing and employing adequate mitigation measures would help OSPAR Contracting Parties and
any other interested party in their efforts to reduce potentially negative effects of anthropogenic
underwater noise on the marine environment and to reach Good Environmental Status (GES)
according to the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in terms of underwater noise
pollution for their national marine waters (Art. 9).
2016-01-01T00:00:00ZGuideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR Maritime Area. Edition 1.0.Wenneker, BarbaraOosterbaan, Lexhttps://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/14662020-12-16T23:37:17Z2010-01-01T00:00:00ZGuideline for Monitoring Marine Litter on the Beaches in the OSPAR Maritime Area. Edition 1.0.
Wenneker, Barbara; Oosterbaan, Lex
A guideline for monitoring marine litter on
beaches has been developed by OSPAR
as a tool to collect data on litter in the
marine environment. This tool has been
designed to generate data on marine litter
according to a standardized methodology.
A uniform way of monitoring allows
for regional interpretation of the litter
situation in the OSPAR area and
comparisons between regions.
The guideline has been designed in such
a way that all OSPAR countries can
participate, bearing in mind adequate
quality assurance of the data generated.
It is based on the method developed
during the OSPAR pilot project 2000-
2006 and complimented with information
derived from UNEP’s own realisation of a
worldwide guideline.
The data collected according to the
OSPAR guideline can be fed into the
UNEP programme as the methods are
compatible.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZOSPAR scoping study on best practices for the design and recycling of fishing gear as a means to reduce quantities of fishing gear found as marine litter in the North-East Atlantic.https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/13992020-08-26T17:51:22Z2020-01-01T00:00:00ZOSPAR scoping study on best practices for the design and recycling of fishing gear as a means to reduce quantities of fishing gear found as marine litter in the North-East Atlantic.
The OSPAR Convention is the mechanism by which 15 Governments and the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North‐East Atlantic. In 2014, OSPAR adopted a Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter (RAP ML), which sets out the policy context for OSPAR’s work to prevent and reduce the occurrence of marine litter in the North‐East Atlantic. In the latest OSPAR assessment of beach litter (2019), fishing related items was one of the top three most common litter types recorded on OSPAR beaches. To begin to address this important issue and to fulfil the objectives of the RAP ML, OSPAR is considering the design and recycling of fishing gear, and how this could play a part in reducing the amount of fishing gear found as marine litter in the OSPAR Maritime Area. This scoping document sets out current understanding of the provisions, challenges, barriers, solutions and best practice examples for design and recycling of fishing gear, while also providing suggestions for next steps. The information collated in this document may aid Contracting Parties in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility schemes for fishing gear containing plastics, as foreseen under the EU Directive (EU) 2019/904. The study was based on a detailed questionnaire, sent out in July 2019 to stakeholders across the fishing sector, and additional expert interviews. Preliminary conclusions were discussed and verified in an expert workshop in February 2020, organised in collaboration with the European Commission in the context of the implementation of the EU Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (EU/2019/904).
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZGuidelines for the Implementation of Articles 7 and 9 of Annex II to the OSPAR Convention. (Agreement 2012-01).https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/5362018-10-21T09:43:34Z2012-01-01T00:00:00ZGuidelines for the Implementation of Articles 7 and 9 of Annex II to the OSPAR Convention. (Agreement 2012-01).
Procedures and criteria for determining and addressing Force Majeure situations as referred to in Article 7 of Annex II of OSPAR Convention / Procedures and criteria for determining and addressing emergency situations as referred to in Article 9 of Annex II OSPAR Convention. --- Under Article 7 of Annex II of the OSPAR Convention, Annex II does not apply in case of force majeure, due to stress of weather or any other cause, when the safety of human life or of a vessel or aircraft is threatened. Such dumping is to be conducted so as to minimise the likelihood of damage to human or marine life and must be reported immediately to the OSPAR Commission, together with full details of the circumstances and of the nature and quantities of the wastes or other matter dumped. Where the article applies, it permits the dumping, without a permit, of wastes and other matter which would otherwise be prohibited under Article 3. Article 7 focuses on extremely urgent situations involving vessels or aircraft in, on or over the ocean that have to dump wastes or other matter immediately or almost immediately in order to safeguard human life or the safety of a vessel or aircraft.
PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING AND ADDRESSING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 9 OF ANNEX II OF THE OSPAR CONVENTION. Under Article 9 of Annex II of the OSPAR Convention, a Contracting Party may allow the destruction or disposal of wastes or other matter at sea which would otherwise be prohibited under the Annex in emergency situations when the wastes or other matter concerned cannot be disposed of on land without unacceptable danger or damage. However, unlike Article 7, note that Article 9 does not disapply the permit requirements of Article 4. Article 9 does not only cover wastes or other matter arising within the marine environment, but is also relevant to wastes arising on land. When relying on Article 9, Contracting Parties must first consult each other with a view to finding the most satisfactory methods of storage or the most satisfactory means of destruction or disposal in the circumstances. The OSPAR Commission is to be informed of the steps adopted following this consultation. Under the Article, Contracting Parties have pledged to help one another in Article 9 situations.
2012-01-01T00:00:00Z