Marine Environment Protection for the North and Baltic Seas

3,79

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246

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3706

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German Advisory Council on the Environment

2004

rok

Contents

Summary Report 21

1 Introduction and Background . 33

1.1 North and Baltic Seas Still at Risk 33

1.2 Main Pollution Sources: An Overview 33

1.3 Regimes and Actors in Marine Environment Protection: An Overview 35

1.4 Key Scientific Institutions and Basic Data . 38

2 Protected Resources, Pollution Status and Pollution Pathways . 41

2.1 The North Sea 41

2.1.1 Habitat and Economic Area . 41

2.1.2 Pressures from Intensive Fisheries . 43

2.1.2.1 Overexploitation of Fish Stocks . 43

2.1.2.2 Negative Impacts on Non-Target Species 47

2.1.2.3 Summary . 47

2.1.3 Pressures from Pollution . 48

2.1.3.1 Heavy Metals and Arsenic 49

2.1.3.1.1 Heavy Metals 49

2.1.3.1.2 Arsenic . 57

2.1.3.2 Organic Compounds 57

2.1.3.3 Oil Inputs . 63

2.1.3.4 Radioactive Substances 65

2.1.4 Nutrient Inputs and Eutrophication . 66

2.1.4.1 Eutrophication in the Wadden Sea . 67

2.1.4.2 Nutrient Inputs: Sources and Trends 67

2.1.5 Environmental Risks and Pressures from Shipping . 71

2.1.5.1 Atmospheric Emissions 72

2.1.5.2 Introduction of Non-Indigenous Species . 74

2.1.6 Pressures from Local Encroachments . 75

2.1.6.1 Raw Materials Extraction, Energy Generation, Dumping of Dredged Materials and Coastal

Protection . 75

2.1.6.2 Tourism 77

2.1.6.3 Environmental Risks from Mariculture 78

2.1.7 Cumulative Pressures and Decline in Marine Habitats 79

2.1.7.1 Loss of Species Diversity 79

2.1.7.2 Destruction and Loss of Habitats 81

2.2 Baltic Sea . 81

2.2.1 Habitat and Economic Area . 81

2.2.2 Pressures from Intensive Fishing . 85

2.2.2.1 Overexploitation of Fish Stocks . 85

2.2.2.2 Negative Impacts on Non-Target Species 86

2.2.2.3 Summary . 87

2.2.3 Pressures from Pollutants 87

2.2.3.1 Heavy Metals and Arsenic 87

2.2.3.1.1 Heavy Metals 87

2.2.3.1.2 Arsenic . 91

2.2.3.2 Organic Compounds 91

2.2.3.3 Oil Inputs . 93

2.2.3.4 Radioactive Substances 94

2.2.3.5 Military Legacies . 95

2.2.4 Nutrient Inputs and Eutrophication . 95

2.2.4.1 Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea 95

2.2.4.2 Nutrient Imputs: Sources and Trends . 96

2.2.5 Environmental Risks and Pressures from Shipping 100

2.2.6 Pressures from Local Encroachments . 101

2.2.6.1 Raw Materials Extraction, Energy Generation, Dumping of Dredged Materials and Coastal

Protection . 101

2.2.6.2 Tourism 102

2.2.6.3 Mariculture: Environmental Risks . 103

2.2.7 Cumulative Pressures and Decline in Marine Habitats in the Baltic . 103

2.2.7.1 Loss of Species Diversity 103

2.2.7.2 Destruction and Loss of Habitats 105

2.3 Summary: Outlook for the North and Baltic Seas 105

2.3.1 Human Impacts on the North and Baltic Seas . 106

2.3.2 Research Programmes and Research Needed . 107

3 Protecting the North and Baltic Seas: Action and Measures Needed 111

3.1 Paths to Sustainable Fisheries . 111

3.1.1 Socio-Economic Conditions 111

3.1.2 International Management Rules . 113

3.1.3 Paths to a Sustainable Common Fisheries Policy in the EU 115

3.1.3.1 Common Organisation of the Market: A New Approach 116

3.1.3.2 Structural Policy: A Change in Course 116

3.1.3.3 Provisions for Environmentally Sound Management and Code of Practice . 118

3.1.3.3.1 Fishing Quotas and Fishing Effort Restrictions . 118

3.1.3.3.2 Area-Specific Fishing Restrictions and Bans . 120

3.1.3.3.3 Measures to Reduce By-Catches and Protect the Sea Bed . 120

3.1.3.3.4 Monitoring and Enforcement . 121

3.1.3.3.5 Deficits in the Effectiveness of CFP Management Provisions and Code of Practice . 122

3.1.3.4 The Extra-Community Fisheries Regime 122

3.1.3.5 Managing the Common Fisheries Policy 123

3.1.4 National Policy and Scope for Action . 124

3.1.5 Flexible Management of Fishing Rights and a Sustainable Fisheries Industry . 125

3.1.6 Summary and Recommendations for Sustainable Fisheries 128

3.2 Protecting the North and Baltic Seas: Harmful Substances and Radionuclides 130

3.2.1 Protection from Harmful Substances . 130

3.2.1.1 Internationally Agreed Generation Target 130

3.2.1.2 Harmful Substances in the North and Baltic Seas: EU Measures and their Implementation at

National Level . 134

3.2.1.2.1 Water Framework Directive and Marine Environment Protection . 134

3.2.1.2.2 Chemicals Policy and Marine Environment Protection . 136

3.2.2 Protection From Radionuclides 139

3.2.3 Summary and Recommendations for Protection From Harmful Substances 140

3.3 Reducing Eutrophication in the North and Baltic Seas 141

3.3.1 Tough Targets at International Level 142

3.3.1.1 International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea and the OSPAR Agreement .

142

3.3.1.2 Provisions of the Helsinki Convention 143

3.3.2 The Need for Coherent Action 144

3.3.3 EU Measures to Reduce Eutrophication and their Implementation at National Level 145

3.3.3.1 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 145

3.3.3.2 The Nitrates Directive . 145

3.3.3.3 Deficits in Germany’s Implementation of the Nitrates Directive 146

3.3.3.4 Urban Waste Water Directive . 147

3.3.3.5 Deficits in Germany’s Implementation of the Urban Waste Water Directive 148

3.3.3.6 Implications of the Water Framework Directive’s Focus on Results 148

3.3.3.7 Nitrogen Inputs and Transportation 149

3.3.4 Summary and Recommendations for Reducing Eutrophication . 150

3.4 Protection from Shipping-Related Pressures and Risks 151

3.4.1 Current Status . 151

3.4.2 Multi-level Governance and Shipping 151

3.4.2.1 Flag State Principle and the Right to Innocent Passage 151

3.4.2.2 EU Legislation and its Increasing Impact on International Provisions 151

3.4.2.3 ‘Subordinated’ National Level 153

3.4.3 Measures for Increased Shipping Safety . 153

3.4.3.1 Port State Control and Classification 153

3.4.3.2 Phasing Out Single Hull Tankers 155

3.4.3.3 Training of Ships’ Crews 157

3.4.3.4 Safe Navigation 157

3.4.4 Measures to Prevent Cumulative, Shipping-Related Pollution of the North and Baltic Seas 158

3.4.4.1 Preventing Discharges of Operating and Cargo Residues and the Dumping of Ship-

Generated Waste 158

3.4.4.2 Atmospheric Emissions from Shipping 159

3.4.5 Liability, Compensation and Sanctions 159

3.4.6 Preventing the Introduction of Non-Native Species 160

3.4.7 Germany: Division of Shipping Regulation Responsibilities . 160

3.4.7.1 Basic Principles 160

3.4.7.2 Joint Accident Task Force 161

3.4.8 Protection from Shipping-Related Pressures and Risks: Summary and Recommendations 161

3.5 Protection of Regional Habitats and Species . 163

3.5.1 Protected Areas 164

3.5.1.1 Habitat Protection under International Conventions on Protecting Species and Habitats . 164

3.5.1.2 HELCOM and OSPAR Protected Area Programmes . 165

3.5.1.3 Habitats and Birds Directives: Protected Areas . 165

3.5.1.4 National Marine Protected Areas 166

3.5.1.4.1 Existing Protected Areas . 166

3.5.1.4.2 Implementing the Habitats and Birds Directives 167

3.5.1.5 Evaluation 167

3.5.2 Marine Planning . 169

3.5.3 Regulation, Approval and Monitoring of Local Activities 170

3.5.3.1 Cross-Sectoral Management Targets and Tools . 170

3.5.3.1.1 Best Available Technology and Ecosystem Approach 170

3.5.3.1.2 Further Research on Anthropogenic Impacts . 171

3.5.3.1.3 Environmental Impact Assessments 171