International Agreements
The Marine Strategy Team has a responsibility to co-ordinate Scottish Government input into UK government on international marine agreements such as the Oslo and Paris Conventions to protect the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic (OSPAR), the North Sea Conference and the EU thematic strategy on marine environment.
Oslo and Paris Conventions (OSPAR)
A ministerial meeting of the Oslo and Paris Commissions in September 1992 adopted the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. The UK is a signatory to the Convention, and the Scottish Government actively contributes to the UK line at all meetings.
The Convention aims to protect the marine environment in this area with the application of the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle, best available techniques (BAT) and best environmental practice (BEP).
Since 1998 the OSPAR Commission adopted strategies to direct its future work in the following main areas:
- protection and conservation of ecosystems and biological diversity;
- hazardous substance;
- radioactive substances;
- eutrophication; and
- environmental Goals and Management Mechanisms for Offshore Activities.
Further information on OSPAR can be found on their website.
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North Sea Conference
The First International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea ('North Sea Conference') was held in Bremen 1984 with participation from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the European Commission. The aim was to provide political momentum for the strengthening of work conducted within the relevant international bodies, and to ensure more efficient implementation of the existing international rules related to the marine environment in all North Sea States.
The outcome of the Bremen Conference was the initiation of a continuous process in which focus is put on the protection of the North Sea at regular Ministerial Conferences. At each Conference, ministers have made commitments to take certain measures aimed at protecting or enhancing the environment of the North Sea. The Fifth North Sea Conference took place in March 2002 in Bergen, Norway.
The Fifth International Conference addressed a wide range of issues of importance for the Protection of the North Sea, including establishing an ecosystem approach to management, protection of species and habitats, sustainable fisheries, shipping, hazardous substances, eutrophication, offshore activities, radioactive substances, promotion of renewable energy, marine litter, spatial planning and future co-operation. The outcome of this conference (including more information on the Conference) can be found on the NSC website.
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EU Marine Thematic Strategy and Marine Strategy Directive
In October 2002, the European Commission published a Communication on developing a ' Thematic strategy for the Protection and Conservation of the Marine Environment' (Thematic Strategy). The principal reason for developing this Strategy is that the marine environment is subject to a variety of threats and pressures, i.e., loss of biodiversity and habitats, contamination by hazardous substances, commercial fishing, oil and gas exploration, shipping, waste dumping and physical degradation of habitats. While measures to control and reduce these pressures and impacts do exist, there is no holistic, integrated policy for marine protection.
The draft Marine Strategy Directive, proposed to implement the Marine Thematic Strategy, requires Member States to develop national Marine Strategies for their marine area designed, collectively, to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) for Europe's marine environment by 2021.
The Directive is currently being considered in Brussels and a Directive is expected late in 2007.
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