The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the OSPAR Convention)

International cooperation to protect the marine environment of the north-east Atlantic is achieved through the OSPAR Convention. With the adoption of Annex V in 1998, the convention embraced a more holistic responsibility for environmental protection in the region, including its biodiversity. The convention had its origins in the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (the Oslo Convention) (adopted in 1972) and the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources (the Paris Convention) (adopted in 1974) which were brought together in 1992 as the OSPAR Convention. With the adoption in 2008 of the EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive, the Convention is expected to play a key role as one of the Regional Sea Conventions with specific responsibilities for delivery of some aspects of the Directive.

The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (The OSPAR Convention) was adopted in Paris, France in September 1992 and entered into force in March 1998. The OSPAR Convention replaced both the Oslo and Paris Conventions, with the intention of providing a comprehensive and simplified approach to addressing all sources of pollution which might affect the maritime area, as well as matters relating to the protection of the marine environment other than those relating to the prevention and elimination of pollution. It retained all decisions, recommendations and agreements adopted under the previous Conventions, subject to termination through the adoption of new measures under OSPAR. An OSPAR Commission was established to administer the Convention and to develop policy and international agreements. In July 1998 parties agreed on a new Annex V on the protection and conservation of the ecosystems and biological diversity of the maritime area, and a new appendix 3 with criteria for identifying human activities for the purpose of Annex V. The Commission has adopted five strategies for directing its work. Measures and programmes within the Biodiversity Strategy include the identification of ecological quality objectives for the North Sea, development of lists of species and habitats in need of protection, identification and selection of marine protected areas, and the prevention and control of adverse impacts from human activities. Much of this work is moving from its initial developmental phases into delivery phases, including via monitoring programmes, updated assessments on status and the identification of programmes and measures for improved management of human activities.

The UK ratified OSPAR in 1998, and Annex V and Appendix 3 in June 2000. The OSPAR Commission Secretariat is based in London; UK implementation is coordinated by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), with contributions to OSPAR Committees by a variety of government departments, the devolved administrations and agencies. Defra's Marine Biodiversity Team lead on the UK's input to implementation of Annex V, which is delivered through the OSPAR Biodiversity Committee.

JNCC plays an active role in providing advice to Government to support OSPAR commitments, particularly in relation to implementation of Annex V on Biodiversity Strategy. This includes supporting Defra at Biodiversity Committee meetings, in the Working Group on Marine Areas, Species and Habitats (MASH) and through its various intersessional groups and activities. This advice has centred on the main work areas of species and habitat protection; ecological quality objectives; marine protected areas; and assessment of the impacts of human activities. JNCC takes the lead role for OSPAR in the mapping of habitats on the OSPAR List. In 2007 JNCC introduced a strategic assessment framework to help guide the future direction and priorities for biodiversity assessment and monitoring. This framework has been actively used in assessing the status of biodiversity for the OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010 and is expected to assist in delivery of biodiversity issues under the EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

During the latter half of the last century deliberate dumping of substances and spillage disasters in the North-East Atlantic highlighted the need for international cooperation to combat marine pollution in this region. Accordingly, the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (the Oslo Convention) was adopted in 1972 to address pollution at sea, while the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Land-Based Sources (the Paris Convention) was adopted in 1974 to address marine pollution by discharges of dangerous substances from land-based sources, watercourses or pipelines.