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OSPAR - remit, influence

and contribution towards

delivering a clean, healthy

and biologically diverse

North-East Atlantic, used

sustainably

Colin MoffatMarine Scotland Science

Convenor of OSPAR ICG-MAQ

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Our Seas and Oceans

Our seas and oceans are vital because

they are integral to fundamental global

systems, contributing to vital processes

These include:

• Oxygen production (40 – 50%)

• Thermoregulation of the planet

• Major role in nutrient cycling

• Major role in Earth’s hydrology

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Sea Scotland 2017 Objectives• Advocate a progressive approach to sustainable

development and marine stewardship during the

current period of constitutional uncertainty.

• Review national and international mechanisms

that can support progress towards sustainable

development while Scotland’s relationship with

the EU is evolving.

• Facilitate dialogue among Scotland’s marine

stakeholder community to consider opportunities

and risks, and to develop ideas to positively

shape our nation’s changing relationship with the

world.

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Local, National, Regional, Global

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OSPAR Commission

• Belgium

• Denmark

• Finland

• France

• Germany

• Iceland

• Ireland

• Luxembourg

OSPAR Maritime Area and Regions:

Region I: Arctic Waters

Region II: Greater North Sea

Region III: Celtic Seas

Region IV: Bay of Biscay/Iberian Coast

Region V: Wider Atlantic

• The Netherlands

• Norway

• Portugal

• Spain

• Sweden

• Switzerland

• The United Kingdom

• European Union

16 Contracting Parties

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OSPAR Maritime Area - 13.5 million km2

North Pole

36o N

• Arctic waters

• Cool-temperate waters

• Warm-temperate

waters

Wider Atlantic

Arctic Waters

Celtic Seas

Bay of Biscay and

Iberian Coast

Greater North Sea

• Shallow Continental

Shelf

• Continental Slope

• Deep Ocean basin

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Main Objectives

• Prevent and eliminate pollution

• Protect the maritime area against the adverse

effects of human activities

• Safeguard human health and conserve marine

ecosystems

• When practicable, restore marine areas

OSPAR Convention

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• Fisheries (no OSPAR measures)

• Shipping (preference for International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to take measures)

• Dumping and Dredging

• Offshore renewable energy

• Oil and gas exploration and production

• Oil and gas decommissioning

• Coastal defence and other structures

• Cables and pipelines

• Artificial reefs

• Land reclamation

• Sand and gravel extraction

• Tourism

• Marine aquaculture

• Underwater noise

• Dumped munitions

• Discarding of rubbish marine litter

Human Activities … and they can interact

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Clean

Healthy

Biologically

Diverse

Sustainable

Fishing

Aquaculture

Shipping

Renewables

Tourism

Oil and Gas

Aggregates

• Pressure indicators

• Cumulative impacts

• Scale

• Socio-economics

• Understanding ecosystem functions

• Natural variation

• State indicators

Science Needs Science Needs

Current physiographic conditions

Social Cultural

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How does OSPAR Deliver?

Basis of OSPAR• Decisions (Legally Binding)

• Recommendations

• Other Agreements

The North-East Atlantic

Environment Strategy• A decadal strategy

adopted by Ministers

• Ecosystem Approach

• Joint Assessment &

Monitoring Programme

5 Thematic Strategies• Biological Diversity &

Ecosystems

• Radioactive Substances

• Offshore Oil &Gas

Industry

• Eutrophication

• Hazardous Substances

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The N-E Atlantic Environment Strategy

OSPAR Agreement 2010-3

JAMP 2014 – 2021

OSPAR Agreement 2014-02

EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)

(Directive 2008/56/EC)

Commission Decision 2010/477/EU concerning

MSFD criteria for assessing GES

Dual Procedures – Single Track

JAMPMSFD

…… dynamic oceans and

seas which are clean,

healthy and productive …

clean & healthy

………. a clean, healthy

and biologically diverse N-E

Atlantic ocean, used

sustainably.

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Significant upward trend

Significant downward trend

No trend (5+ years data)

Insufficient data to assess trend

Trend not investigated (only

3 – 4 years data)

Red > ERM

Green > BAC but < ERL

Blue < BAC

Amber > ERL but < ERM

Fladen Ground

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1992 1993 19941995 1996 19971998 1999 2000 2001 20022003 2004 20052006 2007 2008

To

tal

pro

du

ced

wate

r d

isch

arg

ed

(m

illi

on

m3)

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

To

tal

dis

pers

ed

oil

in

pro

dcu

ed

wate

r (t

on

nes)

Total produced water

discharged (million m3)

Total dispersed oil in produced

water (tonnes)

OSPAR 2001/1

Status & Trends

PAHs in Sediments – OSPAR CEMP

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OSPAR Marine Protected Areas

• 448 OSPAR MPAs

• Covers 5.9% of the

OSPAR Maritime

Area

• 16.7% of territorial

waters protected

Strategic Objective:

• Achieve a network of well-

managed marine protected

areas which is ecologically

coherent,

• Includes sites representative

of all biogeographic regions

in the OSPAR Maritime Area,

• Consistent with the target for

effectively conserved marine

and coastal ecological

regions under the

Convention on Biological

Diversity.

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.

UN SDGs

Fisheries

Collaboration and Cooperation

Observer Status

Science

OSPAR is the way 15

Countries and the EU

Cooperate to protect the

marine environment of

the North-East Atlantic

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Dissemination - Assessments & Recommendations

Maps Portal

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Bottom Fishing Intensity

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Conclusions & Acknowledgement

Thanks to Dr Darius Campbell, Executive Secretary

of OSPAR, for provision of information used in this

presentation

OSPAR Provides a:• Clear vision

• Legally binding framework

• Balance between use and protection

• Forum for Cooperation and Collaboration

• Innovation, development and periodic assessments