OSPAR Commission 2006: Overview of OSPAR Assessments

2,39

MB

1998 – 2006

89

stron

3747

ID

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

2006

rok

Atlantic

Main conclusions .5

Conclusions principales9

1. Basis for the assessment 13

1.1 Approach to the overview . 13

1.2 OSPAR maritime area 13

1.3 Assessment of the state of play with regard to implementing OSPAR Strategies .. 14

1.4 Ecosystem approach to the management of human activities .. 14

2. Background to assessments: Exogenous driving forces 15

2.1 Natural driving forces and variability 15

2.2 Climate change .. 16

2.3 Populations .. 17

2.4 Urban waste water 18

2.5 Changes to industries and their structures .. 18

2.6 Agriculture . 19

2.7 Fisheries. 20

2.8 Shipping . 22

2.9 Offshore oil and gas industry .. 23

3. Biodiversity 24

3.1 Aims of the Biological Diversity and Ecosystems Strategy.. 24

3.2 Species and habitats in need of protection.. 24

3.2.1 Selection criteria for species and habitats in need of protection . 24

3.2.2 Initial OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species and Habitats . 24

3.2.3 Progress with regard to protection.. 27

3.3 Non-indigenous species. 28

3.4 Marine protected areas .. 28

3.4.1 Selection criteria .. 28

3.4.2 Status of the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas in 2006 28

4. Hazardous substances 30

4.1 Aims of the Hazardous Substances Strategy . 30

4.2 OSPAR List of Chemicals for Priority Action .. 30

4.3 Emissions, discharges, losses 32

4.3.1 Reductions in emissions, discharges and losses 32

4.3.2 Trends in waterborne and atmospheric inputs.. 34

4.4 State of the marine environment with regard to hazardous substances 35

4.4.1 Assessment criteria. 35

4.4.2 Status of concentrations and trends 37

5. Eutrophication .. 40

5.1 Aims of the Eutrophication Strategy. 40

5.2 Emissions, discharges, losses 40

5.3 Eutrophication status .. 43

5.3.1 Assessment criteria. 44

5.3.2 Overview of eutrophication status 46

6. Radioactive substances.. 48

6.1 Aims of the Radioactive Substances Strategy 48

6.2 Emissions, discharges, losses 49 contents

6.2.1 Overview of sources .. 49

6.2.2 Assessment criteria. 50

6.2.3 Assessment of discharges.. 51

6.3 Status of the marine environment. 52

7. Oil and gas industry .. 53

7.1 Aims of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Strategy 53

7.2 Emissions, discharges, losses and structures 54

7.2.1 Discharges, spills and emissions from offshore oil and gas installations 54

7.2.2 Inventory of offshore installations in the OSPAR maritime area.. 57

7.3 Status and effects in the marine environment 57

7.3.1 Cutting piles 57

7.3.2 Injection of cuttings and produced water . 58

7.3.3 Environmental effects of lead and other heavy metals in mineral weightmaterials 58

8. Other human activities . 60

8.1 Dumping. 60

8.2 Dredging. 61

8.3 Dumped ammunition 62

8.4 Tourism and recreational activities .. 63

8.5 Offshore installations .. 64

8.6 Fishing. 65

8.7 Shipping . 66

8.8 Mineral exploitation .. 67

8.9 Microbiological contamination. 67

8.10 Litter . 69

8.11 Mariculture 69

8.12 Underwater noise.. 70

8.13 Artificial reefs 71

8.14 Exploration and placement of structures for the exploitation of oil and gas 72

8.15 Coastal defence and land reclamation .. 73

9. Means of integration . 74

9.1 System of Ecological Quality Objectives .. 74

9.2 Integrating OSPAR Strategies 77

9.2.1 General relationship between EcoQOs and OSPAR Strategies . 77

9.2.2 Human activities reflected by EcoQOs . 78

9.2.3 Implementation of EcoQOs. 79

References 81

Glossary and abbreviations 84