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Endless Oceans

Endless Oceans. Or what goes around comes around?. The value of the oceans. They generate half of earth’s oxygen Largest ecosystems on earth Fishing: economical and nutritional importance Medical usefulness. Perception of marine pollution.

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Endless Oceans

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  1. Endless Oceans Or what goes around comes around?

  2. The value of the oceans • They generate half of earth’s oxygen • Largest ecosystems on earth • Fishing: economical and nutritional importance • Medical usefulness

  3. Perception of marine pollution Τhe“the solution to pollution is dilution” belief,led to environmental disasters Nowadays,national and internationals laws start to take measures against marine pollution

  4. “Pollution” means introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the sea, including estuaries, which are liable to create hazards to human health, to harm living resources and marine ecosystems, to cause hindrance to legitimate uses of the sea including fishing, to impair the quality for the use of sea water, and to lead to a reduction of amenities. (Art. 2 (1) Helsinki Convention 1992)

  5. Major Threats - Plastic Pollution - Waste Dumping - Acidification Especially in the Baltic Sea - Accidental Discharge of Oil - Eutrophication

  6. Source Pollution Clear location and causality Nonpoint Source Pollution Plenty of locations, intensity varies in time, causality not always evident

  7. Preventing tanker accidents UNCLOS General provisions: Art. 192-206 Pollution from vessels: Art. 211 Detailed rules in a. Other agreements (duty to cooperate, art. 197) b. International minimum standards

  8. Preventing tanker accidents UNCLOS (coastal states) Territorial waters: “sovereign rights” to regulate, but innocent passage. Cannot go beyond international minimum standards for design, construction, manning or equipment.

  9. Preventing tanker accidents UNCLOS (coastal states) EEZ: “jurisdiction” to regulate. Only byond international minimum standards if special area (but still not for design, construction, manning or equipment).

  10. Preventing tanker accidents MARPOL Annex I about oil. An international minimum standard. Clear substantive provisions. Effective enforcement scheme.

  11. Preventing tanker accidents Helsinki convention References to MARPOL, but also complementary provisions. For example on shipping routes and the use of an automatic identification system.

  12. Eutrophication Increased use of artificial fertilizer Snow melting and heavy rains cause runoff Water absorbs all pollutants it comes in contact with Excessive nutrient enrichment in the Sea

  13. Algae Blooming Toxic in big density → Human consumption Low oxygen in the water → Numerous maritime organisms suffocate, causing imbalance in the maritime ecosystem

  14. Helsinki Convention Effectiveness depends on HELCOM recommendations National implementation depends on the governments self-commitment No influence on EU’s subsidy policy

  15. EU legislation on eutrophication • Urban Waste water Directive • Water framework Directive • Nitrates Directive • Marine strategy Directive

  16. Concluding remarks Tanker accidents - Clear, easy to understand - Well defined in space and time - One source - Media attention - Costs a lot of money immediately - The polluter loses money (!)

  17. Concluding remarks Land-based nonpoint source pollution - Diffuse - Several sources - Not isolated in time and space - The sovereignty of States - The pollutor (maybe) makes money

  18. What goes around comes around Complexity → Uncertainty Threats to Human Health Affecting Tourism → World Economy Destabilization of the Oceans Ecosystem

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