Robin des Bois and the OSPAR Commission. Cork, Ireland. June 26-29, 2017

OSPAR is an International Cooperation Convention dedicated to the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, which came into effect in 1998. France, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland , Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union are members, as well as Luxembourg and Switzerland due to the influence that the rivers flowing through them have on the Atlantic. Robin des Bois (Robin Hood) has had observer status at the OSPAR Commission since 2005.   Is OSPAR Losing Ariadne’s Thread? Cork Ireland, 26-29 June 2017, 17 floors above the river Lee overlooking endless green hills on one side Church towers on the other the OSPAR Commission for the protection and conservation of the North-East Atlantic finalised and launched the Intermediate Assessment (IA) 2017. The IA 2017 (1) presents an overview of scientific knowledge through 47 assessments and provides a preview of OSPAR’s steps towards addressing the agreed goals to reduce human impacts on the marine environment by 2020. The findings show that there is a clear reduction in monitored hazardous substances but that further measures are needed to protect vulnerable species and habitats. Despite challenges, notably in addressing marine litter and managing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) (2), the IA shows clear progress towards the North East Atlantic Environment Strategy (NEAES). The NEAES is the guiding force of the Convention. It establishes the targets for the Radioactive Substances, Offshore Industry, Hazardous Substances and Eutrophication, Human Activities and […]