Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events
	New Coastal Publications

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	Dutch study quantifies impact of fishing nets on birds
	IMO underestimated risk of big oil tankers
	Paris MOU reacts to Erika accident
	World Environment Day 2000 – “Time to Act”

Development & Trends
	Belgium and Holland compete for biggest off-shore wind mill park

Policy
	Last chance to comment on EC coastal conservation policy!
	Iran reacts to CITES decision
	European Council tries to improve salmon disease control
	Bathing Water: EC moves against Finland and Denmark

Funds
	RTD accompanying measures

Events recently announded

Please note:
The overview of the Coastal Guide conference and event  meeting list can be found at http://www.coastalguide.org/meetings/
 
 

New Coastal Publications
 
 

Important Bird Areas in Europe: priority sites for conservation  BirdLife Conservation Series No. 8; 2 vol. Ed. by Melanie F. Heath and Michael I. Evans. (2000, 866 & 791 pp) BirdLife International, Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge, CB3 0NA, UK.  Fax: +44 1223 277200, email:  birdlife@birdlife.org.uk. Available from: Natural History Book Service, 2-3 Wills Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5XN, UK, Fax:  +44 1803 865280  email: sales@nhbs.co.uk http://www.nhbs.com  Softback vol 1. ISBN: 0 946888 34 5  Price: GBP 48,75  , Softback vol 2 ISBN: 0 946888 35 3  Price: GBP 48,75   Softback 2 vol set  ISBN: 0 946888 36 1 Price: GBP 75,00 , Hardback 2 vol set ISBN: 0 946888 37 X  Price: GBP 99.98  This publication presents essential information on all known Important Bird Areas in Europe (vol 1: Northern Europe, vol 2: Southern Europe) and builds on and updates the first pan-European IBA inventory published in 1989. Data collection and analysis play a highly influential role in underpinning the conservation and management of IBAs. Useful for conservationists, ornithologists, governmental and non-governmental agencies, policy-makers, researchers, consultants and planners, the data represented here are intended to guide practical management and actions at IBAs and to target political and legal mechanisms to achieve the adequate protection of IBAs. Through the rigorous application of standard and quantitative ornithological criteria, the international importance of the network of sites identified is assured. The criteria applied justify the importance of each site, and their global standardisation facilitates comparisons between sites at local, national, regional and global levels. These criteria are compatible with those used to designate wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention and Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive.

De Oceaan… onze toekomst Chaired by Mário Soares (2000, 279 pp.). Sdu Uitgevers, Postbus 20014, 2500  EA Den Haag, Fax +31 70 3789783, http://www.sdu.nl  , ISBN 90 3991 703. Price NLG 59,50. This report of the Independent World Commission on the Oceans represents the first attempt to deal holistically with the full range of problems confronting the oceans on the eve of the 21st century. Based on the deliberations, experience and input of some 100 specialists from around the world this book advances innovative ideas aimed at improving governance of the oceans and coastal zones, so as to make more sustainable use of the ocean commons. The publication is the translation into Dutch of the 1998 publication ‘The Ocean ...Our Future’

CoastGIS’99: Geomatics and coastal environment  Proceedings Brest 9-11 September 1999. Ed. by Jacques Populus and Lionel Loubersac (2000., 320 pp.) Editions Ifremer PB  70, 29280 Plouzané, France  Available from: ALT Brest, Service Logistique  3, rue Edouard Belin  BP 23, 29801 Brest Cedex 9,  Fax: +33  2 98020584   email: alt.brest@alt.cci-brest.fr   &  Epshom  13, rue du Chatellier, BP 426, 29275 Brest Cedex, Fax: +33 2 98 4712142  ISBN 2 84433 036 3,  ISSN 0761 3962  Price: FF 220 – euro 33,54 This publication contains a selection of 25 papers - in French or English - presented at the CoastGIS’99 symposium, a gathering of over 150 scientists, planners and industrialists representing the international community for geographic information environment. The scientific technical and socio-economic stakes for data, systems, communication and representation modes are discussed. In the light of regional experiences, the focus is on institutional constraints: how to draw up and then disseminate as widely as possible the high-quality information on the physical and human environments which can help to protect and make better use of coastal areas.

Sterfte van watervogels door visserij met staande netten  RIZA rapport nr: 99.060. Mennobart R .van Eerden, Wouter Dubbeldam & Jan Muller (1999, 42 pp.)  Ministerie van Verkeer en Waterstaat, Rijksinstituut voor Integraal Zoetwaterbeheer en Afvalwaterbehandeling RIZA.  Available from KABRI mail service Lelystad, Tel: +31 320 285333, Fax: +31 320 241121, ISBN 90 369 5288 3. Price NLG 25,00.  For contents, see article under “Environment".

 

New hyperlinks to websites

ERIKA : actions de l'Ifremer:  Erika oil tanker accident in December 1999 (in French)

ICZM Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia: integrated coastal zone management centre

Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law: resource centre for information on international fisheries law and management

National Coalition for Marine Conservation: conserving ocean fish, addressing overfishing, bycatch and habitat reduction (USA)

SIOCAM Strategic Initiative  for Ocean and Coastal Management: enhancing the capabilities of existing and future ocean and coastal management projects through the systematic identification, documentation and sharing of best practices and lessons learned. SIOCAM is a Global Project of UNDP 

Whale-Watching-Web: whale watching world-wide
 

Check out the other Website Links on the Coastal Guide
 

Dutch study quantifies impact of fishing nets on birds

Nylon stationary nets in Dutch IJsselmeer and Markermeer drown at least 50,000 waterfowl each year, much more than expected, states a study of RIZA (Dutch National Institute for Integrated Freshwater Management and Waste Water Treatment). It was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries and is based on the number of birds that were handed in over the last 10 years voluntarily by fishermen for ecological research. Fish chasing birds run the highest risk. A ‘horizontal’ chase is many times more dangerous than a ‘vertical’ visit to the bottom of the waters. The great number of merganser victims may be explained by their ‘horizontal’ visits to the bottom. Other species that lose more than 5% of the populations, trapped in the nets, are tufted duck, scaup, pochard, golden eye, smew, and goosander. For some species the annual loss rate is quite high: 10-20% of birds living in the area. Compared to the West European population the loss is less than 5 % for most species, whilst estimated total annual loss rate is over 20%. However, every year golden eye loses the greater part of its IJsselmeer population. Rare species, such as red necked grebe and red throated diver, are victims too. Seven species lose over 1 % of their international population each year in the Netherlands. 
The study also offers proposals for reduction of by-catch. These range from use of less or different fishing equipment to establishment of no-fishing areas/hours. Mrs. Faber, State Secretary for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries of the Netherlands wants fishermen to take measures to reduce or even stop unwanted catch of birds, e.g. by applying easily visible nets, which the fishermen for obvious reasons don’t want. The researchers expect more from conspicuous floating markers, which are known to deter birds.
Dutch BirdLife International partner (Vogelbescherming Nederland) hopes for improvements as IJsselmeer and Markermeer are proposed areas for the EU Birds Directive, and the Dutch Government is almost forced to take action soon.  Reduction of fishing is one option, the ban of stationary nets at least at night another. 
Contact RIZA: Mr. M.R. van Eerden (co-writer of study), tel: +31 320 298331, fax: +31 320 298308, e-mail: m.veerden@riza.rws.minvenw.nl
Vogelbescherming: tel: +31 30 6937700, e-mail: algemeen@vogelbescherming.nl (ask for information department). For distribution, see section “coastal publications” of this newsletter.

IMO underestimated risk of big oil tankers

The IMO (International Maritime Organization) guidelines for the design of oil tankers severely underestimates the damages to the bottom structure of large tankers in the case of collision, according to Danish researchers from the Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark in Lyngby. Consequently, slick disasters of the biggest oil tankers will be worse than experts previously expected. The researchers developed a model which investigates the effect of ship size on damage distributions in the case of collision and grounding. The study shows that a larger tanker has a higher probability of a larger relative damage than a smaller tanker in grounding whereas the damages to the side structure caused by ship collisions are found to be relatively smaller for larger ships. So far the IMO has argued in its ‘Interim Guidelines for Approval of Alternative Methods of Design and Construction of Oil Tankers in Collision and Grounding’ that grounding and collision damages have the same probability density distributions regardless of a particular structural design and ship size. The findings of the Danish researchers show that the increase is steeper than a linear relationship. This result may have major implications for the 158 member states of the IMO and for the way ships are designed.
For more information see:
IMO: http://www.imo.org
Department of Naval Architecture and Offshore Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark: http://www.ish.dtu.dk
 

Paris MOU reacts to Erika accident

Older tankers are to come under intense scrutiny of port state control inspectors from signatories of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU). The decision was taken at the MOU's 33rd Port State Control Committee meeting in Southampton. The meeting also agreed to produce white, grey and black lists of flag states. Based on this, ships will be given low, medium and high priority for inspection. Oil tankers over 15 years of age and over 3,000 gt will be subject to checks focusing on both structural and operational aspects. 
http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/shippingtimes/ships07.html
http://www.parismou.org/Whatsnew/2000-0516a.html
 

World Environment Day 2000 – “Time to Act”

Each year, UNEP selects a city as the main venue for the celebrations of the World Environment Day on 5 June – this year it is Adelaide, Australia. The day will culminate with the presentation of UNEP's Global 500 awards to environmentalists, who have made outstanding contributions to the protection of the environment, and other events like an environmental parade with water as the theme. The World Environment Day is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations want to stimulate world wide awareness of the environment and to enhance political attention and action. It inspires thousands of journalists to write and report on the environment and is a day for seminars, roundtable meetings and symposia all around the world. 
Further information: UNEP: http://www.unep.org/wed/
Adelaide, Australia: http://www.environment.gov.au/wed/
 

Belgium and Holland compete for biggest off-shore wind mill park

Belgium plans to build what might become Europe’s largest off-shore wind turbine farm in the North Sea, if the cabinet decides positively on the project in the near future. In the meantime, the two companies Electrabel and Jan de Nul signed an agreement on collaboration to jointly build the wind mill farm of a total generating capacity of 100 MW, providing 300 million kWh annually, with the perspective of increasing capacity four fold in a second phase. The legal obligations awaiting the two companies will include the preparation of an environmental impact assessment until the end of the year 2000 and a public participation process for local stakeholders. 
The location chosen is 12 km off the Belgian coast near Knokke-Heist. As the sea is only three meters deep, the windmills can be erected on simple foundations sunk into the sea bed. Opponents of the project expect negative impacts on fish and birds. However, if the political aim of covering 3.5 percent of the country's electricity consumption from renewable sources is to be fulfilled, alternatives to off-shore wind farms are difficult to come up with in a country as densely populated as Belgium.
Also the Dutch off shore wind mill park near Egmont aan Zee got a step closer to realisation when the Province of North Holland stated no objections to the project in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Economy of the Netherlands on 10 May. The park will be built at least eight km away from the coastline in order to minimise impacts on birds. It will be a pilot to test the feasibility of such types of wind farms. The turbines are expected to start operation in 2002 or 2003 and to produce 100 MW electricity. 
Elctrabel/Jan de Nul press release: http://press.electrabel.be/news/en2042.asp?Lang=en
Information on renewables in the Netherlands and Belgium: http://www.emis.vito.be/energie/index.htm
Stichting De Noordzee: http://www.noordzee.nl/ruimtelijkeordening/ (in Dutch)
Ministerie van Economische Zaken: http://info.minez.nl/energie/wind/wind019.htm (in Dutch)

Last chance to comment on EC coastal conservation policy!

As the 5th Environmental Action Programme (EAP) is running out, DG Environment of the European Commission (EC) has started the preparations of a new programme. The draft of the 6th EAP will in part be based on the “Global Assessment of the European Community Programme of Policy and Action in relation to the environment and sustainable development”, published end of last year. Until 31 May 2000, Europe’s citizen’s are invited to submit comments on this EC document in view of shaping the 6th EAP. The document can be downloaded at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/newprg/global.htm
Although coastal zones were one of seven priorities of the 5th EAP, analysis of achievements and failures are very brief compared to the other issues. Some months earlier, the European Environment Agency concluded in its “State and Outlook report on EU’s environment” that both pressures on and state of coastal and marine areas show only unfavourable developments, the bleakest conclusion of all environmental issues addressed. 
As the EC Assessment states that “the 6th EAP should in the first place address the shortcomings in the implementation of the 5th Programme”, coastal issues consequently deserve more attention than before. There is one week left to get this message across by sending comments to new-env-prg@cec.eu.int or fax number +32-2-2990895. 
The European Parliament and Council will be expected to give more input than for the 5th EAP but also to take more responsibility for the implementation of the 6th EAP. The new document will be strategic with clear targets and objectives and valid for about ten years, according to DG Environment. 
More information: 6th EAP: http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/newprg/index.htm
EEA report: http://themes.eea.eu.int/showpage.php/activities/energy?pg=40330
 
 

Iran reacts to CITES decision

As the Financial Times reported on 11 May, Iran wants to strengthen the guidelines for the export of its caviar gained from stocks of the Caspian sturgeon. To keep in line with CITES (see Coastal Guide News No. 9), caviar is an important factor of export for Iran, 90 tonnes last year. Iran wants to raise the caviar price on the world market by 40 % this year and may cut the production. However, due to the migratory nature of the sturgeon this measure cannot guarantee fish levels throughout the Caspian as long as mismanagement by other Caspian states threatens the stock. 
 

European Council tries to improve salmon disease control

On 13 May, the Council Directive 2000/27/EC entered into force. It amends Directive 93/53/EEC on minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases. The aim is to better control outbreaks of infectious salmon anaemia in fish farms and its spread to wild salmon.
Official Journal of the European Communities:
http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/dat/2000/l_114/l_11420000513en00280029.pdf

Bathing Water: EC moves against Finland and Denmark

The European Commission (EC) has decided to send Reasoned Opinions to Finland and Denmark for non-respect of the Bathing Waters Directive. Both countries fail to fully meet the Directive's standards for water quality for all bathing areas. They have also failed to ensure that bathing waters are sufficiently sampled in all their territories. 
The Bathing Water Directive (Council Directive 76/160/EEC concerning the quality of bathing water) is important for public health, aiming to ensure that bathing waters meet minimum quality criteria by establishing a set of binding Community standards (or values) for a range of key parameters (such as bacteria present) and by requiring Member States to carry out regular water quality monitoring. Under the Directive, Member States must supply annual reports to the EC. 
The latest version of the bathing waters report for the whole of the European Union can be found at the following web site: http://europa.eu.int/water/water-bathing/tourist.html 
From the report it can be seen which beaches and bathing areas in Finland and Denmark do not comply.
 
 

RTD accompanying measures

Those eligible to participate in the European Commission Programme  “indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration on improving the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base” are invited to submit proposals for accompanying measures such as studies in support of the programme and in preparation of future activities, exchange of information, conferences, seminars, dissemination activities, bringing together partners etc. The indicative overall budget is EUR 8 million, the first evaluation deadline is 8 September. More information under http://www.cordis.lu/improving
 

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 11:
Wednesday, 31 May 2000

COASTAL GUIDE NEWS is a biweekly newsletter published by the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) with financial support of Stichting DOEN, the foundation of the Dutch lottery "Postcode Loterij" and the Department of International Nature Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. For free subscriptions, comments or contributions to this newsletter, please contact news@coastalguide.org.

Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Erik Devilee, P.J. van der Hulst, Irene Lucius, René van Oers and Albert Salman.
 

Established in 1989, the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) is an association involving the largest coastal network in Europe with 750 members and member organisations in 40 countries. For more information please contact EUCC International Secretariat, POBox 11232, NL-2301 EE Leiden, the Netherlands, tel.: +31-71-5122900, internet: http://www.eucc.nl
 

© European Union for Coastal Conservation