Marine Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (eBook)

The Application and Future Development of the IMO's Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Concept

Julian Roberts (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2006 | 2007
XXI, 289 Seiten
Springer Berlin (Verlag)
978-3-540-37699-6 (ISBN)

Infos

Despite the potential benefits that the IMO's Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) designation can deliver, recent practice within the IMO and by individual member states has considerably undermined confidence in this emerging concept. The focus of this book is on the events within the IMO that have led to this lack of confidence arising. In the process, this book presents an examination of coastal State practice with the PSSA concept.

Inhalt

Forward 5
Acknowledgements 7
Abstract 9
Table of Contents 11
List of Figures 15
List of Tables 17
Acronyms and Abbreviations 19
Chapter 1 Introduction 22
1.1 Background 22
1.1.1 Shipping and Marine Protected Areas 23
1.2 Problem Definition 27
1.2.1 Research Questions 28
1.3 Contribution of this Book 29
1.4 Study Methods 30
1.4.1 Existing Literature 31
1.4.2 Research Visits 31
1.4.3 Other Research Methods 32
1.5 Structure 32
Chapter 2 International Legal Framework for the Protection of the Marine Environment 34
2.1 Introduction 34
2.2 International Instruments 36
2.2.1 1958 Geneva Conventions 36
2.2.2 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment 38
2.2.3 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 41
2.2.4 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development 45
2.3 The Concept of Marine Protected Areas 50
2.3.1 Defining Marine Protected Areas 50
2.4 The Marine Protected Area Concept in International Law 52
2.4.1 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 53
2.4.2 Convention on Biological Diversity 53
2.4.3 International Biodiversity Conventions and Initiatives 58
2.5 Conclusions 63
Chapter 3 International Regulation of Shipping for the Protection of the Marine Environment 66
3.1 Introduction 66
3.2 Nature of the Impacts of Shipping 68
3.2.1 Operational Discharges 68
3.2.2 Accidental Discharges 69
3.2.3 Physical Harm 72
3.3 The Establishment and Role of the IMO 72
3.3.1 Background to the Organization 73
3.2.3 Standard Setting 77
3.4 Existing Instruments Administered by the IMO 80
3.4.1 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 81
3.4.2 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 82
3.5 Coastal State Versus Flag State Jurisdiction 85
3.5.1 Flag State Obligations and Jurisdiction 87
3.5.2 Coastal State Jurisdiction 89
3.6 Conclusions 101
Chapter 4 The Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Concept 104
4.1 Introduction 104
4.2 PSSA Overview 105
4.3 Development of the PSSA Concept 109
4.3.1 1991 PSSA Guidelines 111
4.3.2 Review of the 1991 Guidelines 113
4.3.3 The Revised Guidelines - Resolution A.927(22) 115
4.4 The PSSA Concept in International Law 117
4.4.1 The Legal Basis of the PSSA Concept 118
4.4.2 Relationship Between PSSAs and Marine Protected Areas 124
4.4.3 PSSA Links to the CBD 128
4.5 Conclusions 130
Chapter 5 PSSA Designation and Implementation of the PSSA Guidelines by the IMO 132
5.1 Introduction 132
5.2 Submitting a Proposal for PSSA Designation 133
5.2.1 PSSA Identification 134
5.3 Protection of PSSAs 136
5.3.1 Special Discharge Restrictions 137
5.3.2 Regulation of Navigation for Protection of the Environment 140
5.3.3 Application of Ships’ Routeing Measures 141
5.3.4 Update of IMO Measures to Protect the Marine Environment 143
5.3.5 Case Study - Mandatory Area to be Avoided in New Zealand 143
5.3.6 Vessel Traffic Services ( VTS) 147
5.3.7 Ship Reporting Systems (SRS) 150
5.3.8 To PSSA or not to PSSA? 152
5.4 Assessment and Approval of PSSA Proposals by the IMO 153
5.4.1 Consideration by MEPC 155
5.4.2 Consideration by NAV and MSC 157
5.4.3 Approval of a PSSA 159
5.5 Conclusion 160
Chapter 6 State Practice: Application of the PSSA Concept 162
6.1 Introduction 162
6.2 The Western European PSSA 164
6.2.1 Background 164
6.2.2 Existing Navigation Regime 167
6.2.3 Associated Protective Measures 168
6.2.4 Consideration by IMO 169
6.3 Extension of the Great Barrier Reef PSSA to Include the Torres Strait 171
6.3.1 Background 171
6.3.2 Existing Navigation Regime 175
6.3.3 Associated Protective Measures 177
6.3.4 Consideration by IMO 178
6.4 The Baltic Sea 181
6.4.1 Background 181
6.4.2 Existing Navigation Regime 184
6.4.3 Associated Protective Measures 185
6.4.4 Consideration by IMO 185
6.5 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 187
6.5.1 Background 187
6.5.2 Existing Navigation Regime 190
6.5.3 Associated Protective Measures 191
6.5.4 Consideration by IMO 192
6.6 Analysing the Benefits of PSSA Designation 193
6.6.1 Comprehensive Management Tool 194
6.6.2 Adoption of Additional Protective Measures 198
6.6.3 Approval of Exceptional Measures 198
6.6.4 Intrinsic Benefits of PSSA Designation 206
6.7 Conclusions 213
Chapter 7 Issues Identified with the PSSA Concept Through an Examination of State and IMO Practice 216
7.1 Introduction 216
7.2 Issues Identified with State Practice 217
7.2.1 Defining the Scope of a PSSA 217
7.2.2 Linkage Between Vulnerability and APMs 220
7.2.3 Appropriate APMS 221
7.2.4 IMO Process 222
7.2.5 Strategic Framework 225
7.3 Revision of the PSSA Guidelines 225
7.3.1 PSSA Definition 228
7.3.2 Linking the Identified Vulnerability with an APM 228
7.3.3 The Legal Basis for Associated Protective Measures 231
7.3.4 Procedural Issues 232
7.3.5 Effect of the Revisions 233
7.4 Unresolved Issues 233
7.4.1 Application of the PSSA Concept to Wide Geographic Areas 234
7.4.2 IMO Process 236
7.4.3 Strategic Approach 241
7.5 Conclusions 242
Chapter 8 Development of a Strategic Framework for the PSSA Concept 244
8.1 Introduction 244
8.2 A Strategic Approach for the Identification of Sites for PSSA Designation 245
8.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) 245
8.2.2 Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) 248
8.3 Application of Marine Spatial Planning Techniques to PSSA Identification 252
8.3.1 Global Level Analysis 253
8.3.2 Identification of Sites Vulnerable to the Impacts of Shipping 260
8.3.3 Outcome of the Analysis 264
8.4 Regional and Local Approaches for Identifying Candidate PSSA Sites 271
8.4.1 Application to PSSA Identification 273
8.5 Conclusions 275
Chapter 9 Conclusions and Recommendations 276
9.1 Introduction 276
9.2 Role of the IMO 276
9.3 The PSSA Concept in International Law 277
9.4 Benefits of PSSA Designation 278
9.5 Current Status of the PSSA Concept 279
9.6 Future Development of the PSSA Concept 280
9.7 Recommendations 281
Recommendation 1 281
Recommendation 2 282
Recommendation 3 282
Recommendation 4 283
Recommendation 5 283
Recommendation 6 283
Recommendation 7 283
9.8 Concluding Comments 284
Bibliography 286
About the Author 310

Textauszug

Chapter 5

PSSA Designation and Implementation of the PSSA Guidelines by the IMO ( P. 111)

5.1 Introduction

Chapter 4 provided an overview of the PSSA concept, its status in international law and, in particular, a prima facie analysis of the IMO’s PSSA Guidelines.1 However, in order to fully appreciate both the utility and the identified shortfalls in the PSSA concept, it is also necessary to understand the process by which the IMO considers proposals for new PSSAs. Accordingly, this chapter provides an overview of the requirements for submitting a proposal for the identification of a PSSA to the IMO, and considers how the IMO undertakes its evaluation of such proposals in order to make a final determination on designation.

In doing so, this chapter reviews the different elements of a PSSA proposal and, in particular, the range of measures available to protect such areas from the impacts of shipping activities. Consideration is therefore given to the range of IMO measures that are available to address environmental concerns, in particular, the application of ships’ routeing measures.

Having reviewed state practice in this regard, this chapter contrasts the application of routeing measures for environmental purposes with the designation of PSSAs. In doing so this chapter considers why some member States show a preference for the former, despite the PSSA concept being specifically established for the identification and protection of sensitive marine areas. As a case study, it describes the designation of the first mandatory area to be avoided, around New Zealand’s Poor Knights Islands marine reserve.

Numerous IMO committees and sub-committees have a role to play in the designation of a PSSA. In conclusion, this chapter provides an analysis of the roles of the different IMO bodies and the inter-relationship with each other in the context of PSSA designation.

5.2 Submitting a Proposal for PSSA Designation

The PSSA Guidelines make it clear that only IMO member States can submit proposals for the identification of a PSSA2 and that the IMO is recognised as the only international body with competence for designating areas as PSSAs and adopting APMs for their protection.3 Where appropriate, the IMO may consider joint proposals from multiple States bordering an area proposed as a PSSA.4 Any application for a PSSA must contain three parts:

(1) A summary of the objectives of the proposed PSSA identification, its location, the need for protection and proposal for APMs,

(2) A detailed description of the area, together with a chart, an explanation of the significance of the area based on the recognised criteria, and an explanation of the vulnerability of the area to damage from international shipping activities, noting the factors regarding maritime activities listed in the criteria, and

(3) A description of the proposed measures, showing how they will provide the needed protection from the identified threats of shipping damage.

As a result of the incorporation of Resolution A.885(21) into the 2001 Guidelines, the PSSA Guidelines make it clear that identification of a PSSA and its protection with legal measures are two separate but related matters.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.11.2006
• Zusatzinfo: XXI, 289 p. 16 illus.
• Verlagsort: Berlin
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie
• Themenwelt: Recht / Steuern ► EU / Internationales Recht
• Themenwelt: Recht / Steuern ► Öffentliches Recht ► Umweltrecht
• Themenwelt: Technik
• Schlagworte: biodiversity • Environment • IMO • Marine Environment Protection • marine pollution • Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) • UNCLOS
• ISBN-10: 3-540-37699-2 / 3540376992
• ISBN-13: 978-3-540-37699-6 / 9783540376996