QUALITYSTATUS REPORT2010

Stephen Malcolm Cefas/Defra UK

www.ospar.orgOSPAR Commission, QSR2010 presentation v2

Main Objectives

• to prevent and eliminate pollution

• to protect the sea from adverse effects of human activities

• to safeguard human health

• to conserve marine ecosystems and,

• to restore affected marine areas

In doing so

• to apply an ecosystem approach

• to apply the precautionary principle, the “polluter pays” principle, and BAT and BEP

• to adopt and implement programmes and measures

• periodic general assessments of the quality status of the North-East Atlantic and its sub-regions (Quality Status Reports)

About OSPAR

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OSPAR Maritime Area

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15 States in the North East Atlantic catchments:

Belgium Denmark Finland

France Germany Iceland

Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands

Norway Portugal Spain

Sweden Switzerland The United Kingdom

and the European Community

Involvement of IGOs and NGOs

OSPAR Contracting Parties

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What is a Quality Status Report?

QSRs are statements on the health status of the sea, including:

• analysis of the hydrodynamics, chemistry, habitats and biota

• the impact of humans over space and time against this background of natural variability

• the cumulative and relative impact of all the human pressures on the marine environment.

• evaluation of the effectiveness of the measures taken

• identification of priorities for action

• basis for further implementing the ecosystem approach

www.ospar.orgOSPAR Commission, QSR2010 presentation v2

North Sea Quality Status Reports

• published in 1987 and 1993

• drew together for the first time all available information on inputs to the sea, concentration levels and effects of pollutants

Quality Status Report 2000

• comprehensive assessment of the environmental quality of the North-East Atlantic

• based upon regional QSRs prepared for each of the five OSPAR regions

• based on six years scientific work on monitoring and assessment, supported by monitoring over a much longer period.

• major issues identified: the impact of fisheries and the continuation of work to combat hazardous substances

Quality Status Report 2010

• launched at the 2010 OSPAR Ministerial Meeting in Bergen, Norway

QSR History

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• to assess the quality status of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic

• to evaluate progress in applying the ecosystem approach to the management of human activities which may affect the marine environment, and (as part of this) in implementing the OSPAR Strategies;

• to highlight any new, changed or emerging threats to the marine environment;

• to identify priorities for regulatory action;

• to identify significant gaps in knowledge in order to define priorities for further scientific, economic and/or social investigations

• to cover, as far as possible, the initial assessment requirements of the EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive (c.f. Article 8 Initial Assessment)

QSR 2010 main objectives

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• Key findings

• Introduction

• North East-Atlantic

• Climate change

• Eutrophication

• Hazardous substances

• Radioactive substances

• Offshore oil and gas industry

• Use of living marine Resources

• Other human uses and impacts

• Protection and Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems

• Towards ecosystem assessment

• Regional summaries

QSR contents

Them

atic Chapters

www.ospar.orgOSPAR Commission, QSR2010 presentation v2

QSR Calendar• Preparation and groundwork phase

September 2006 - September 2007

• Development phase

September 2007 - April 2009

• QSR compilation and drafting phase

April 2009 - October 2009

• Stakeholder e-consultation

November 2009 – see OSPAR website

• Scientific Peer Review

November – December 2009

• Publication phase

January 2010 – April 2010

• QSR launch

OSPAR Ministerial meeting September 2010, Bergen

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WGsWGs

QSR Package

QSR2010

QSR2010

e-QSR

Data collection (e.g. CAMP, RID, CEMP) & Quality Assurance

WGsWGsEutrophication

Haz Subs

Specific Assessments

JAMPFisheriesShippingClimate

JAMPFisheriesShippingClimate

Special‘Utrecht’EcoQOs

Special‘Utrecht’EcoQOs

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Making the POINT: Thematic ChaptersConclusions & Recommendations

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Making the POINT: Key Findings

• Several bullet points detailing Key Findings

AND

• The QSR recommends ………..

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Making the POINT: Thematic Chapter Summary Tables with ‘Action Needed’

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• Ad

Some conclusions

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Qualitative summary of regional status in delivering OSPAR Strategy objectives (QSR fig 12.1)

Title

Successes

• Inputs of pollutants have reduced• Fisheries management has improved• List of species and habitats in need of protection• Tested Ecological Quality Objectives• Collective and innovative assessment approaches

Many challenges remain

• Loss of biodiversity continues• Climate change and ocean acidification• Increasing and new activities

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QSR 2010 :• Gave clear direction to revision of the OSPAR

Strategies and the new JAMP

• Provides a platform for national Initial Assessments under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

• Demonstrates the urgency and need to tackle impacts in the Arctic

• Highlights OSPAR’s attempts to integrate the ecosystem approach, inherent difficulties and data gaps

• Uses Best practice vis a vis Assessment of Assessment

www.ospar.orgOSPAR Commission, QSR2010 presentation v2

Contact

OSPAR Commission

Victoria House27-63 Southampton RowLondon WC1B 4DA / UKTel: +44 (0) 20 7430 5200Fax: +44 (0) 20 7430 5225Email address: secretariat@ospar.org Website: www.ospar.org

QSR: http://qsr2010.ospar.org

Photography: Audrey Baconnais-Rosez, Jennifer Labédie, John Dunn, David Johnson, Colin Moffat