Background to Greenpeace's Demands for 1998 UN International Year of the Ocean

Greenpeace International has prepared a seven-page, detailed "Statement in Recognition of the International Year of the Ocean," which focuses on ten issue areas (in roman numerals, below), and lists a total of 24 action poi nts - including the 10 key demands referred to in the press release (in bold type below). The paragraph references in parentheses refer to their location in the seven-page Statement, which is available on request from Greenpeace International.

I. Precautionary Approach: Governments and others must actively support the effective implementation of this important, evolving principle in international law and policy, which prescribes preventive measures where human activities may harm the marine environment or sea life, even when there is not conclusive evidence to prove a causal relation between actions and their effects.

II. Fisheries/Aquaculture: There is a global fisheries crisis. Part of the problem derives from there being too many fishing boats, especially large-scale vessels whose capacity greatly exceeds the amount of fish that can be caught on a sustainable ba sis. There also are high levels of bycatch, waste and discards due to the widespread use of non-selective fishing gear and techniques. And intensive aquaculture for high-value species such as shrimp and salmon are wreaking havoc on coastal and marine ec osystems, as well as coastal/fishing communities.

1. The capacity of world's large-scale, industrial fishing fleet, comprised of factory trawlers, longliners and other large, multi-purpose fishing vessels, must be cut by at least 50% by 2005. (Paragraph 2)

2. Subsidies for destructive fishing practices and technologies must be eliminated, reflagging and "flags of convenience" fishing vessels need to be banned, large-scale fishing vessels should not be allowed to move from northern to southern w aters, and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement needs to be ratified and implemented. (Paragraphs 3-4)

3. In order to prevent the destruction of coastal mangrove or other ecologically sensitive areas, a global, open-ended moratorium should be adopted on any further intensive shrimp aquaculture unless it is both ecologically sound and socially equitable (Paragraph 6)

III. Whales/Marine Mammals: The current International Whaling Commission (IWC) moratorium on commercial whaling is in jeopardy, and unless firm action is taken to bring the situation under control, unregulated whaling looks set to increase beyond t hat now taking place in the Antarctic region (by Japan) and in the North Atlantic (by Norway).

4. IWC Member states at this year's 50th anniversary session in Oman must stop all commercial whaling and keep all whalers out of international whale sanctuaries. (Paragraph 8)

IV. Toxic/Hazardous Wastes: Despite some positive steps, e.g., the ban on sea dumping of toxic waste and ocean incineration, environmentally harmful ocean dumping practices continue on several fronts, including disposal of oil and gas platforms and contaminated dredge spoils.

5. Governments and others must secure the effective implementation of the ban on the dumping of toxic and nuclear wastes at sea, including expeditious ratification and early entry into force of the new, 1996 London Convention Protocol, which governs oc ean dumping practices. (Paragraph 9)

6. Governments must ban the dumping of oil platforms and other offshore installations at sea. (Paragraph 11)

V. Radioactive Discharges: Nuclear reprocessing facilities in Europe are the source of continuing discharges and emissions causing unacceptable marine pollution.

7. The OSPAR Ministerial Conference in Lisbon, Portugal in July 1998 must commit to banning the discharge of radioactive reprocessing wastes into the marine environment. (Paragraph 12)

VI. Nuclear Transport at Sea: Transport by sea of plutonium, spent nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste continues with insufficient control and regulation, despite the environmental risks, and at minimum a strong, environmentally sound and ef fective, comprehensive IMO Code of Conduct, that is mandatory, is urgently needed.

VII. Climate Change: The world's ecosystems and social structures continue to be threatened by climate change. Stopping the expansion of industrialized country fossil fuel reserves, including but not limited to those in marine and coastal areas, is a n urgently needed first step in the longer term phasing out of fossil fuels.

8. Industrialized governments planning to develop coastal or offshore oil fields should cancel those plans, announcing instead the start of their shift to a fossil-free future. (Paragraph 14)

VIII. Vessel Source Pollution: Oil and hazardous substance spills wreak havoc on marine and coastal ecosystems, reflecting one of the many deadly consequences of world dependence on oil as a major fuel source. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) needs to help find constructive ways to reduce that dependence, while at the same time adopting and enforcing environmental protection standards, such that the real (higher) costs of producing, transporting and using oil are reflected in the costs o f doing business.

9. The IMO must develop comprehensive, effective environmental and liability/compensation standards for oil tankers and other vessels, as well as all offshore oil and gas activities, including application of all IMO discharge limitation criteria under the six Marpol annexes, and amend Marpol Annex VI (air pollution) to include greenhouse gases. (Paragraphs 15-19)

IX. Law of the Sea Treaty: The benefits of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea are substantial, including its basic duties for all States to protect and preserve the marine environment and to conserve marine living species. While it entered into force in November 1994, with 122 countries now party thereto, several major maritime countries (e.g., U.S., Canada, Peru and Liberia) remain conspicuously absent from the list of States Parties. Those countries, and others that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention, should take expedited steps to become parties as soon as possible.

X. Marine Biodiversity: Marine and coastal biodiversity serves as the foundation of the natural ecosystems that produce and maintain fisheries and other marine life. Marine biodiversity, however, is increasingly under threat due to human activities causing harmful and irreparable damage. A variety of actions under the aegis of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other regimes are needed to address issues involving alien, invasive species, research, and marine protected areas.

10. Governments should take steps within the CBD, IMO and elsewhere to prevent the introduction of alien species, including genetically modified organisms (GMOs), into the marine environment. (Paragraph 22)

Greenpeace is committed to working with like-minded individuals, governments, NGOs and the private sector in achieving the above actions, among others. For developing countries, effective financing, technology transfer and capacity building measures a nd mechanisms are essential. There also are a range of institutional issues requiring urgent attention, e.g., coordination, ombudspersons, oversight, compliance and sanctions. We stand ready to participate in discussions on these and other important to pics, with the hope that the "Year of the Ocean" will make a meaningful contribution to the long-term health and viability of the world's oceans.

The full Statement by Greenpeace International, or for further information please contact:

James Gillies, Press Officer, Greenpeace International tel: +31 20 524 9548;

Matthew Gianni, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaign Coordinator tel: + 31 20 523 6279