OSPar

OSPAR, short for the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic, is a regional intergovernmental agreement to protect the marine environment in the North-East Atlantic. It originated from the Oslo Convention (1972) and the Paris Convention (1974) and was consolidated in the OSPAR Convention of 1992, creating a single framework for cooperation among its Contracting Parties and the European Union.

The convention aims to prevent and eliminate pollution, protect and conserve the ecosystem, and promote sustainable use of marine resources. Its scope covers chemical and radioactive pollution, land-based sources, discharges from offshore installations, the protection of habitats and species, eutrophication, hazardous substances, introduced species, and the impacts of human activity on the marine environment. It emphasizes an ecosystem-based approach and the precautionary principle in decision making.

The OSPAR Commission, the administrative body of the agreement, brings together representatives from Contracting Parties and the European Union, along with observers from scientific and non-governmental organizations. It conducts assessments, coordinates monitoring programs, and develops measures and recommendations. Working groups produce scientific advice, with regular Quality Status Reports that evaluate the ecological status of the marine environment and identify priority actions. The convention relies on both legally binding measures and non-binding agreements to implement pollution controls, biodiversity protection, and habitat conservation across the North-East Atlantic region.