Download UNEP-MAP and the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the

United Nations Environment Programme
Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP)
UNEP-MAP and the Barcelona
Convention for the Protection
of the Marine Environment and
the Coastal Region of the
Mediterranean.
Lisbon, Portugal
20th June 2014
Virginie Hart, PhD
Marine and Coastal Expert for the MedPartnership
UNEP/MAP
The Mediterranean Action Plan and Barcelona
Convention: Adopted in 1976, revised in 1995
Four major pillars:
Marine & Coastal Environment and Sustainable
Development;
Barcelona Convention and 7 Protocols,
Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF),
Institutional set up: Contracting Parties bodies &
Secretariat + Regional Activity Centers (RACs)
22 Contracting Parties
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Israel,
Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Albania,
Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Monaco, France, Spain and the
European Union.
Status of Ratifications of the Barcelona
Convention and its Protocols
UNEP/MAP and its
Regional Activity Centers (RACs)
UNEP/MAP Secretariat, Athens Greece & the
Program on Pollution (MEDPOL)
Priority Actions Program (PAP/RAC): Coastal
Zone Management, Croatia, Split
Sustainable Consumption & Production
(SCP/RAC), Barcelona, Spain
Plan Bleu: Sustainable Development, SophiaAntipolis, France
Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), Tunis,
Tunisia
Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response
Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC)
Major lines of actions
UNEP/MAP Secretariat, Athens Greece
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Monitoring implementation of the Convention and where appropriate of
Protocols, and the Regional Plans
Mediterranean Strategy on Sustainable Development (MSSD) &
Sustainable Development Indicators
Ecosystem Approach (EcAp) an over arching principle of UNEP/MAP
work. Includes agreement on GES and related targets and long-term
monitoring. In line with MSFD but extended to all non-EU countries.
Coordinate preparing the State of the Mediterranean Marine and Coastal
Environment
The MedPartnership project involving 10 partners
Climate Variability and ICZM project; and
SWITCH-Med project with CP/RAC, on Sustainable Consumption and
production.
Major Line of Activities
Program on Pollution (MEDPOL), Athens, Greece
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Strategic Action Plan and National Action plans (NAPs) for
pollution: status of implementation, and updating priorities
in the NAPs
Implement and monitor regional plans on Marine litter, BOD
from WWTP & food sector, Mercury
Coordination of Pollution Monitoring and assessment (levels,
trends and loads) including related EcAP indicators. Database
updated. Includes Pollutant release and transfer register
(PRTR); and
Web-based tools for Effluent and Emission Limit Values (ELV),
Environmental Quality Objectives (EQO).
Major Line of Activities
Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA), Tunis, Tunisia
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Establishment of Ecologically or Biologically Significant
Marine Areas (EBSAs)
Maps and inventories of key habitats under the two Action
Plans for the Conservation of Marine Vegetation and for the
Conservation of the Coralligenous and other Calcareous Bioconcretions in the Mediterranean Sea completed
A web based Regional Ballast Water Information Exchange
System developed on ships’ ballast water and invasive
aquatic species issues.
Assessment and supporting the creation of Marine Protected
Areas (MPAs)
The 7 steps - #4
11 Ecological Objectives of EcAp
1. Biological diversity is maintained or enhanced
2. Non-indigenous species introduced by human activities
are at levels that do not adversely affect the ecosystem
3. Population of selected commercially exploited fish and
shellfish are within biologically safe limits
4. Alterations to the components of marine food webs do
not have a long-term adverse effects
5. Human-induced eutrophication is prevented
The 7 steps - #4
6. Sea-floor integrity is maintained, especially in priority
benthic habitats
7. Alteration of hydrographic conditions does not affect
coastal and marine ecosystems
8. The natural dynamics of coastal areas are maintained and
coastal ecosystems and landscapes are preserved
9. Contaminants cause no significant impact on coastal and
marine ecosystems and human health
10. Marine and coastal litter do not adversely affect coastal
and marine environment
11. Noise form human activities cause no significant impact
on marine and coastal ecosystems
Potential future uses of MyOcean
MyOcean, EcAp and Monitoring of the Mediterranean
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EcAp is composed of 11 Ecological Objectives, and 64 indicators.
MyOcean could contribute data for the entire basin to especially
compliment and fill in the gaps where data is limited.
I.e. For Eutrophication: Nutrient, chlorophyll, oxygen, net primary
production and phytoplankton biomass.
I.e. Alteration of hydrographic conditions: Large scale changes in
circulation patterns, temperature, pH, and salinity distribution; Long term
changes in sea level; Impact on the circulation caused by the presence of
structures; Location and extent of the habitats impacted directly by the
alterations and/or the circulation changes induced by them.
I.e. Pollution and Litter: Occurrence, origin (where possible), extent of
significant acute pollution events (e.g. slicks from oil, oil products and
hazardous substances); Trends in the amount of litter washed ashore
and/or deposited on coastlines, including analysis of its composition,
spatial distribution and, where possible, source
Potential future uses of MyOcean
Other potential uses.
Inclusion of data into the Climate Variability and Change
Data Platform (MedICIP) and potential analysis to be
discussed; and
 Other potential analysis (to be defined) such as inclusion
of analysis in next Mediterranean State of Environment
Report;
 Tracking marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea and Coast
 Future plans for ecosystem modeling,
 Contribution to the work on Ecologically or Biologically
Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs), and Marine Protected
Areas;
 tracking oil spills, and others.
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Potential future uses of MyOcean
Requirements from MyOcean
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There is a gap between MyOcean and Regional Seas Convention Secretariats
who need information rather than data and may lack expertise to know how to
use MyOcean data
MyOcean to meet with UNEP/MAP professionals. Can MyOcean also help in
advising how data can be used, and joint agreement on products. Attend EcAp
meeting to also present to countries;
MyOcean user training for key experts in MAP, as well as other Regional Seas.
Could be one meeting, as other Regional Seas (HELCOM, OSPAR) are following
similar approaches. Similar products could be developed for all;
Some products could be beyond scope of MyOcean, and new proposals and
cooperation with institutions could be developed
Finally main priority for data and information is in the coastal areas, and
therefore this gap in coastal data is an issue, where key habitats are coastal,
untreated urban and industrial wastes, changes riverine fluxes, damming of
rivers and reduction in sediments supplies to coast; coastal erosion etc.