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Information & Meetings
	What's new on the website
	Conference meetings
	New Coastal Publications
	Vacancy announcement

Organisations
	New Website Links

Environment
	Oil clean up in Marmara Sea progressing
	Update on Oil spill in Brittany

Development & Trends
	Discussion on oil platform disposal

Policy
	New wildlife sanctuaries in the Mediterranean
	European Fishing quota reduced
	No license for gas drilling In Wadden Sea
	Plans for airport in North Sea shelved

Funds
	Tacis CBC Small Project Facility

What's new on the Coastal Guide website

Check out the environmental threats to the Spanish Doñana wetlands, two years after the mine disaster.
 
 

New Conference meetings
 

April 13 - 15	The Oceans at the Millennium: Key Issues in Marine Affairs, National Maritime Museum, London, UK. Info: Fax: +44 20 8312 6711, e-mail: research@nmm.ac.uk, Conference website
May 25 - 26	Workshop "Seafood Sustainability in a  Changing Climate" - Northeast Pacific Ocean and Coastal Zones,  University of Victoria, Victoria, BC Canada. Info: e-mail: brian@cori.bc.ca, Conference website

The year 2000 overview of the Coastal Guide conference meeting list
 

New Coastal Publications
 
 

Operative methods for mapping and monitoring phytobenthic zone biodiversity in the Baltic Sea Nordic Council of Ministers, Store Strandstaede 18, DK-1255  Copenhagen, Denmark. Fax +45  3396 0202. ISBN 92 893 0232 1. (1998, 72 pp). This is the second report from PHYTOBIOS (PHYTObenthic BIOdiversity Surveillance) project. It includes a proposal for a monitoring program for surveying the biodiversity of the phytobenthic zone, as well as methods for carrying out this program.

Exploring coastal morphodynamics of Ameland (the Netherlands) with remote sensing monitoring techniques and dynamic modelling in GIS By Marieke A. Eleveld (1999, 226 pp.).Thesis University of Amsterdam. ITC, P.O.Box 6, 7500 AA Enschede, The Netherlands. ISBN 90 6461 1666 7. Coastal landforms are constantly changing. This thesis indicates how the changes can be detected, monitored and modelled. The study area, the coastal island of Ameland, exhibits a large variation in morphodynamic systems. At some sites erosion and at other locations accretion dominates. Many data are available, since it has served as a test area for various sensing techniques. These data can be useful for the study and management of coastal areas.

Ship to shore... a practical guide to coastal and marine interpretation CoastNET, School of Conservation Sciences, Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus, Poole, Dorset BH12 5BB, U.K. Fax +44 1202 595255. ISBN 1 85899 080 7 (1999, 103 pp.) Price UK £ 10 (UK) or UK £ 18 (overseas). This manual provides the necessary information to answer all the typical questions asked by field staff when developing coastal and marine information programmes. The question-based format, together with check sheets for guidance and sources of information, aims to provide practical help to site managers, wardens, rangers and the increasing number of environmental educators working on the coast.

Naturschutzrecht im Ostseeraum Ed. by Erk Volkmar Heyen (1998, 249 pp.). NOMOS Verlagsgesellschaft, Postfach 10 03 10, 76484 Baden-Baden, Germany. Fax +49 7221 21 04 27. ISBN 3 7890 5663 4. Price DM 78,00.  (excl VAT ) This book contains ten contributions (six in German and four in English language), of which nine on national nature conservation legislation in the Baltic area and one on international conventions, legal instruments, directives, policies etc. In existing arrangements commitments are only general, little more than an agreement on common objectives. Specific commitments on nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources are lacking. Agreement on more specific nature conservation measures, particularly for the protection of the fragile Baltic Sea ecosystems, remains an urgent task. Therefore mobilisation of political will is very important.

Perspectives on Integrated Coastal Zone Management By Wim Salomons, R.Kerry Turner, Luiz Drude de Lacerda and S. Ramachandran (1999, XVIII + 386 pp.). Springer-Verlag, Postfach 31 13 40, D-10643 Berlin, Germany. Fax +49 30 821 40 91. ISBN 3 540 65565 4. Price DM 279,00. All coastal areas are facing a growing range of stresses and shocks, the scale of which now poses threats to the resilience of both human and environmental coastal systems. Responsible agencies are seeking better ways of managing the causes and consequences of the environmental change process in coastal zones. This volume discusses the basic principles underpinning a more integrated approach to coastal management and highlights the obstacles that may be met in practice in both developed and developing countries. Successful strategies will have to encompass all the elements of management. This book includes a CD-ROM with computer visualisation of field data and water quality modelling. There are also movie clips of spectacular scenes.

Vacancy announcement

Seas at Risk Policy Officer
(Fisheries, species & habitats)
30 hour week - competitive remuneration
 

SEAS AT RISK is looking for a Policy Officer to work on fisheries and marine species and habitat protection issues. The position will involve campaign work at an international level within EU institutions, the OSPAR Commission, and the North Sea Conference process.

SEAS AT RISK is an independent non-governmental federation of national and international environmental organisations concerned with the protection and restoration of the marine environment. It has participant organisations in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The SEAS AT RISK Secretariat is based in
Utrecht in the Netherlands, but the successful candidate may be able to work from their home country if they desire.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the monitoring of relevant political and environmental developments; the provision of technical and
political advice to the SEAS AT RISK Board; the development and promotion of SEAS AT RISK policy, and the resourcing and coordination of national SEAS AT
RISK participant organisation activity in support of international SEAS AT RISK work.

Candidates should possess relevant academic qualifications and have considerable experience of marine environmental protection generally, and fisheries and marine species and habitat protection issues in particular. Ideally the candidate will have a track record of international work in these areas, but candidates who are looking to move from the national to the international sphere should also apply. A sound understanding of the political as well as the technical elements surrounding these issues is essential. A good knowledge of relevant EU institutions is desirable.
Experience of working within an environmental NGO will be an advantage.

Candidates must be fluent in English, computer literate, and have a diplomatic manner. Well developed written and oral communication skills, a high degree of flexibility, and a willingness to travel are essential. To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter explaining your interest in the post to:

John Maggs, Coordinator
SEAS AT RISK, Drieharingstraat 25, NL-3511 BH Utrecht
Tel: +44 (0)1736 332741; Fax: +44 (0)1736 332742
E-mail: jmaggs@seas-at-risk.org

Closing date: January 21st 2000

New Website Links

Blackseaweb: real time information and data on the several ecological aspects of the Black Sea marine environment

 IAEA Marine Environment Laboratory (IAEA-MEL) in Monaco:  help UN Member States  understand, monitor and protect the marine environment and to co-ordinate technical aspects of international ocean protection, training and assistance programmes

National Maritime Museum UK : the largest maritime museum in the world
 
 

Check out the other Website Links on the Coastal Guide
 
 

Oil clean up in Marama Sea progressing

Since the fully laden Russian tanker VOLGONEFT 248 broke apart during a heavy storm near Istanbul on 29 December 1999, bulk oil removal is progressing well on concrete walkways along the affected shoreline. Some 35 workers are employed in these cleanup operations. The oil is of a pasty, non-sticky constituency and so easy to collect. Once the bulk oil has been removed attention will switch to final clean-up using hot water washing
The tanker was carrying 4,364 tones of Heavy Fuel Oil, of which 1,290 tones were spilled from two ruptured tanks. The shoreline affected is about 5 kilometers long, from Avcilar to Ciroz. The middle portion (1.5
kilometers) is heavily polluted and consists of concrete platforms and sand beaches, primarily used for recreation.
Further information:
The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited ITOPF

Update on Oil spill in Brittany
TotalFina - the owner of the oil which has polluted the south coast of Brittany - announced a 7 million euro clean-up emergency fund and allocated more funds to empty what is left in the sunken wreck. And: The French government pledged to use its presidency of the European Union stating in the second half of this year to push for tighter international regulations on oil tankers in order to prevent future accidents of this type.
As the media reported extensively, the Maltese tanker ERIKA sank on December 12 of last year in the Biscay Bay. The ship broke in two and sank with 25,000 tons of heavy crude oil. High speed winds, creating 2-3 m high waves, limited the effectiveness of eight response vessels from France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, and Norway. The situation grew worse during the storm on December 26 when about 10,000 tons of ERIKA’s heavy oil polluted 400 km of coastline, from Pouldreuzie in the north to Notre-Dame-de Monts in the south. 300,000 birds were killed, and thousands of polluted seabirds were washed ashore, many of them have been transported to bird rescue centres in Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands. Seals are also affected.
Further information:
The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited ITOPF
The oil-spill-web

Discussion on oil platform disposal

A missed opportunity with the Brent Spar?  Read different opinions about oil platform disposal and recycling on our website and join in the discussion!
 

New wildlife sanctuaries in the Mediterranean

In November 1999, the first European whale and dolphin sanctuary was established by the Ministers of the Environment of Italy, France and Monaco in the Mediterranean between the French Cote d'Azur, Monaco, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, and the Ligurian coast of Italy. The sanctuary is the largest marine protected area in the Mediterranean with an area of 84,000 km², with 2000 whales and around 35,000 dolphins living here during the summer months.
This treaty commits France, Italy and Monaco to coordinate monitoring activities and to intensify efforts against land based and marine sources of pollution. Furthermore, the three countries will also coordinate research programs and public awareness campaigns.
Further information:
Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP)
Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (RAC/SPA)

The President of Greece signed a decree to establish the National Park of Zakynthos for the protection of sea turtles on 1 December 1999.
For more information see the webpage of the Sea Turtle Protection Society STPS of Greece
 

In order to conserve fish stocks, the Council of the European Union reduced Total Allowed Catches (TACs) for the year 2000  by Council Regulation (EC) No 2742/1999 of 17 December. Spain - supported by Portugal and France  - does not accept the catch proposal for anchovy in Gulf of Biscay. The reaction in the Netherlands was more positive. The TACs for fish species that are most important for the Netherlands stayed mostly the same. However, for whiting it dropped from 2,185 to 975 tons. Though whiting is not considered a very important catch, Mrs. Faber (Dutch secretary of state) announced that she - backed by Denmark, Belgium and Germany - would plead for revision of the Hague Preferences (1976) in which it is stated that countries that are very much dependent on fishery income are entitled to a minimum catch.
A WWF study of 1999 concludes that the European Fishery Industry receives too many subsidies, which it uses to enlarge and improve its fleets. Valuable fish stocks are being overfished by  up to 60%, WWF claims.
Further information:
European Commission DG Fisheries
WWF

In December, the Dutch Government decided not to license NAM (Dutch Mineral Oil Company) for gas exploitation in the Wadden Sea. A majority in Parliament is against drilling for gas because they fear irreversible damage to this unique habitat. The Government asked for a second opinion from several experts. Their reports showed differing conclusions, so Parliament decided that drilling was not allowed, because there were insufficient guarantees of ‘harmlessness to the Wadden Sea’. The government, however, will not rule out a license in future. They expect new technology and scientific insights that will lift the objections. NAM is disappointed. According to NAM documents and practice experiences show drilling not to have negative effects on the environment.  Waddenvereniging and Greenpeace are satisfied, because they don’t expect new developments for the next 10 to 25 years.
Further information:
Greenpeace

Last month, the Dutch government decided on financial grounds against the plan to build a new airport in the North Sea. The plan foresaw an airport of 4,000 ha. 20 km off shore, and a five track high speed train connection. It would have created a deficit of 6 to 12 billion euro. An alternative plan for an airport 10 km off shore, connected to the main land by a railway tunnel and a bridge was discarded as it would have disfigured the coastline and endangered large bird populations near the shore. Instead, Schiphol is allowed to grow further according to strict, yet to be defined, environmental standards.
Further information:
Stichting De Noordzee  (in Dutch)
 

Tacis CBC Small Project Facility

The call for proposals to the Tacis Cross Border Co-operation Small Project Facility is out! This facility supports local and regional cross-border co-operation between NIS, CEE and EU countries, among others in the field of environmental protection. Deadline is 15 March. More information on http://europa.eu.int/comm/scr/tender/index.htm
 

© European Union for Coastal Conservation