OSPAR Convention Research Articles

An Inventory of Sediment Pollutions in a French Harbor: Comparison to a Nonpolluted Local Area Identified in Bay of Seine

Abstract Forty-nine sediments were sampled along the coast of the Seine bay: 19 from the Port-en-Bessin harbor and 30 from the Bay des Veys. Metallic and polychlorinated biphenyl contaminations were estimated in harbor sediments by their comparison to the OSPAR Convention guidelines. Sediments in Bay des Veys were considered as nonpolluted materials and metal concentrations were chosen as regional reference data to calculate anthropogenic factor and gave human contributions of each metal in harbor sediments. The source of the principal pollutants was principally associated with the careening activities and the use of antifouling paints. A statistical study of data showed strong relationships between metals, organic matter, and fine-grained fraction (<50 μm) of sediments, assuming mobility of metals to water column in case of removal.

Sub-seabed disposal of radioactive waste

This article considers two detailed reviews of the legal aspects of Sub-Seabed Disposal of Radioactive Waste, by Richard Macrory and Ray Purdy (January 2005) and the opinion of Christopher Katkowski Q.C. and Stephen Tromans, March 2005. In substance, both reviews conclude that for a sub-seabed repository accessed from land by tunnel, the relevant International Conventions, in particular the UN Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the London Convention and Protocol and the OSPAR Convention do not legally preclude the long term disposal of radioactive waste in sub-seabed brine formations which are accessed by tunnel from the UK land mass. Other important procedural and legal requirements such as environmental assessment would apply. The authors agree that any for such proposal to construct a sub-seabed repository to be lawful it would need to be shown that it would not result in pollution of the marine environment.

Dispute Concerning Access to Information Under Article 9 of the OSPAR Convention (Ireland) v. (United Kingdom)

334International tribunals — Applicable law — Permanent Court of Arbitration — Arbitration under Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, 1992 (“OSPAR Convention”) — Tribunal applying OSPAR Convention — Duty to apply other principles of international law but claim had to be based upon OSPARSea — Marine environment — OSPAR Convention — Obligations regarding exchange of information — Scope of obligation — Confidential information

The First MOX Plant Award: The Need to Harmonize Competing Environmental Regimes and Dispute Settlement Procedures

The MOX Plant award, rendered on 3 July 2003, contributes to elucidation of the right of access to environmental information under the OSPAR Convention. However, the ‘self-contained’ vision of the OSPAR Convention embraced by the majority on the panel – rejecting in effect the relevance of competing international environmental regimes and dispute settlement procedures – deserves criticism. First of all, it leads to the establishment of a more limited right of access to environmental information under the OSPAR Convention than is recognized under other arrangements. It also represents an approach which might exacerbate the fragmentation of an increasingly complex body of international law.

OSPAR Tribunal: Dispute Concerning Access to Information Under Article 9 of the OSPAR Convention (Ireland v United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)

OSPAR Tribunal: Dispute Concerning Access to Information Under Article 9 of the OSPAR Convention (Ireland v United Kingdom and Northern Ireland)

Quality assurance for the measurements and monitoring of radioactivity in the environment

During the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) of the European Commission—according to an institutional programme in support to the policy of the European Commission for the implementation of Art. 35 and 36 of the Euratom Treaty as well as in the framework of the OSPAR Convention for the protection of marine environment of the north-east Atlantic—at the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU—General Directorate Joint Research Centre—European Commission), a reference laboratory for the measurement of radioactivity in the environment (MaRE laboratory) has been set up. In this paper, the principles and philosophy in order to improve the quality and reliability of analytical data for the measurement and monitoring of radioactivity in the environment under a quality assurance (QA) programme are presented. Examples of how a QA programme at the MaRE laboratory is developed and applied are given. Internal and external quality control (QC) programmes are also discussed.

Permanent Court of Arbitration: Dispute Concerning Access to Information Under Article 9 of the Ospar Convention - Ireland v. United Kingdom

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Selection and prioritisation procedure of hazardous substances for the marine environment within OSPAR/DYNAMEC. Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic.

In 1998, the contracting parties to the OSPAR Convention agreed on a "Strategy with regard to Hazardous Substances": [... ] the prevention of pollution of the maritime area by continuously reducing discharges, emissions and losses of hazardous substances thereby moving towards the target of their cessation within one generation (25 years, year 2020) [... ]. In OSPAR, an ad-hoc working group on the development of a dynamic selection and prioritisation mechanism for hazardous substances (called DYNAMEC) has developed a dynamic selection and prioritisation scheme for the marine environment. The approach taken within OSPAR and DYNAMEC to implement the political agreement into practical instruments is summarised in the following.

Temporal trends of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Spanish North-Atlantic coast 1991–1999

Temporal trends for heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Galician and Cantabrian areas in Spain, where samples were yearly collected from 1991 to 1999, are presented. This study was carried out by the Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo of the Instituto Español de Oceanografı́a (I.E.O.) as part of the Spanish contribution to the Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) of the OSPAR Convention. The experimental work and subsequent statistical treatment, following OSPAR procedures and guidelines, are described. In order to carry out the statistical treatment of the data, median values of the different shell length classes were used for each contaminant, year and area. The Kendall τ-b correlation coefficient was used with the purpose of demonstrating the existence of a downward significant temporal trend in the pollution levels, according to the advice of ICES Working Group on Statistical Aspects of Environmental Monitoring. A decrease of copper levels was detected in Vigo, Pontevedra and Arosa, of mercury in Pontevedra and A Coruña, of lead in Vigo, Pontevedra, A Coruña and Bilbao and of zinc in Pontevedra and A Coruña. However, a cadmium positive trend was registered at Ria de Vigo. No significant trends were detected in the other cases.

Meeting of the OSPAR Commission, Kingston-upon-Hull, 21-24 June 1999

Meeting of the OSPAR Commission, Kingston-upon-Hull, 21-24 June 1999

The OSPAR Convention Comes into Force: Continuity and Progress

AbstractThe Ministerial Meeting of the OSPAR Commission held in Sintra on 22-23 July 1998 was a milestone in the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic, because it was the first meeting of the OSPAR Commission since the coming into force of the 1992 OSPAR Convention, and because Ministers adopted a number of important measures pursuant to the Convention. This article first analyses the provisions of the OSPAR Convention in the light of contemporary and subsequent international environmental law, and then outlines the measures adopted at Sintra, examining their history, their current significance and anticipated future developments.

The OSPAR Convention Comes into Force: Continuity and Progress

AbstractThe Ministerial Meeting of the OSPAR Commission held in Sintra on 22-23 July 1998 was a milestone in the protection of the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic, because it was the first meeting of the OSPAR Commission since the coming into force of the 1992 OSPAR Convention, and because Ministers adopted a number of important measures pursuant to the Convention. This article first analyses the provisions of the OSPAR Convention in the light of contemporary and subsequent international environmental law, and then outlines the measures adopted at Sintra, examining their history, their current significance and anticipated future developments.

New Developments in the Disposal of Offshore Installations

AbstractIn 1995, Greenpeace International protested the proposed ocean dumping of the offshore installation, Brent Spar. This protest prompted a strong public reaction which in turn led to the recycling of the Brent Spar on land and also to a reconsideration of the relevant legal regime under the OSPAR Convention. In July 1998, the OSPAR Commission meeting at the ministerial level adopted a ban on the disposal of offshore oil and gas installations at sea. Since that time, there have been further developments at the global, regional and national level. This article examines these developments at the OSPAR Commission, at the European Parliament, by the Scientific Group of the London Convention 1972, and in the United Kingdom, which is now implementing the OSPAR decision in its national regulatory regime.

The development of an international programme for monitoring the biological effects of contaminants in the OSPAR convention area

Programmes and measures to control pollution in the northeastern Atlantic, the North Sea, the Celtic Seas and the coastal zones of Western Europe are determined under the OSPAR Convention. An integral part of this process is the monitoring and assessment of pollution in the maritime area of Contracting Parties to the Convention. Historically such assessments were based on measurements of contaminants in water, sediment and biota. However, recently the Commissions have adopted a biological effects monitoring programme based on key issues identified for the region. The programmes developed to monitor the impact of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, tributyltin, heavy metals and the general quality status of the marine environment are described.

Meeting agrees cuts to radioactive emissions

Europe's nuclear industry will have to make substantial reductions to emissions of radioactive substances by the year 2000 following a decision reached by the continent's environment ministers at last week's meeting of the so-called Ospar convention (see above) in Sintra, Portugal.

The OSPAR Convention: 25 years of North Sea protection

The legislative framework for the environmental protection of the North Sea has developed extensively during the past two decades. This framework includes proposals within national, regional, European and global initiatives. This paper describes the development of the Oslo and Paris Commissions and their relationship with the North Sea Ministerial Conferences. The new OSPAR Convention, signed in Paris in 1992, is described as a model for protection frameworks for other regional seas.