QUALITY STATUS REPORT 2010

1. QUALITY STATUS REPORT 2010 Stephen Malcolm Cefas/Defra UK

2. About OSPAR 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)

3. OSPAR Maritime Area

4. OSPAR Contracting Parties 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

5. 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

6. QSR History 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

7. QSR 2010 main objectives • 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)

8. QSR contents • 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 Thematic Chapters

9. 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

10. QSR Package QSR 2010 e-QSR Special ‘Utrecht’ EcoQOs WGs WGs JAMP Fisheries Shipping Climate Specific Assessments Eutrophication Haz Subs Data collection (e.g. CAMP, RID, CEMP) & Quality Assurance

11. Making the POINT: Thematic Chapters Conclusions & Recommendations

12. Making the POINT: Key Findings • Several bullet points detailing Key Findings AND • The QSR recommends ………..

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

14. Some conclusions • Ad

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

16. 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

17. Many challenges remain • Loss of biodiversity continues • Climate change and ocean acidification • Increasing and new activities

18. 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

19. 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