Roberts Marine Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

The Application and Future Development of the IMO's Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Concept
2007
ISBN: 978-3-540-37699-6
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 289 Seiten

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.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Roberts, Julian

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Forward;5
2;Acknowledgements;7
3;Abstract;9
4;Table of Contents;11
5;List of Figures;15
6;List of Tables;17
7;Acronyms and Abbreviations;19
8;Chapter 1 Introduction;22
8.1;1.1 Background;22
8.1.1;1.1.1 Shipping and Marine Protected Areas;23
8.2;1.2 Problem Definition;27
8.2.1;1.2.1 Research Questions;28
8.3;1.3 Contribution of this Book;29
8.4;1.4 Study Methods;30
8.4.1;1.4.1 Existing Literature;31
8.4.2;1.4.2 Research Visits;31
8.4.3;1.4.3 Other Research Methods;32
8.5;1.5 Structure;32
9;Chapter 2 International Legal Framework for the Protection of the Marine Environment;34
9.1;2.1 Introduction;34
9.2;2.2 International Instruments;36
9.2.1;2.2.1 1958 Geneva Conventions;36
9.2.2;2.2.2 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment;38
9.2.3;2.2.3 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;41
9.2.4;2.2.4 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development;45
9.3;2.3 The Concept of Marine Protected Areas;50
9.3.1;2.3.1 Defining Marine Protected Areas;50
9.4;2.4 The Marine Protected Area Concept in International Law;52
9.4.1;2.4.1 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;53
9.4.2;2.4.2 Convention on Biological Diversity;53
9.4.3;2.4.3 International Biodiversity Conventions and Initiatives;58
9.5;2.5 Conclusions;63
10;Chapter 3 International Regulation of Shipping for the Protection of the Marine Environment;66
10.1;3.1 Introduction;66
10.2;3.2 Nature of the Impacts of Shipping;68
10.2.1;3.2.1 Operational Discharges;68
10.2.2;3.2.2 Accidental Discharges;69
10.2.3;3.2.3 Physical Harm;72
10.3;3.3 The Establishment and Role of the IMO;72
10.3.1;3.3.1 Background to the Organization;73
10.3.2;3.2.3 Standard Setting;77
10.4;3.4 Existing Instruments Administered by the IMO;80
10.4.1;3.4.1 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea;81
10.4.2;3.4.2 International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships;82
10.5;3.5 Coastal State Versus Flag State Jurisdiction;85
10.5.1;3.5.1 Flag State Obligations and Jurisdiction;87
10.5.2;3.5.2 Coastal State Jurisdiction;89
10.6;3.6 Conclusions;101
11;Chapter 4 The Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Concept;104
11.1;4.1 Introduction;104
11.2;4.2 PSSA Overview;105
11.3;4.3 Development of the PSSA Concept;109
11.3.1;4.3.1 1991 PSSA Guidelines;111
11.3.2;4.3.2 Review of the 1991 Guidelines;113
11.3.3;4.3.3 The Revised Guidelines - Resolution A.927(22);115
11.4;4.4 The PSSA Concept in International Law;117
11.4.1;4.4.1 The Legal Basis of the PSSA Concept;118
11.4.2;4.4.2 Relationship Between PSSAs and Marine Protected Areas;124
11.4.3;4.4.3 PSSA Links to the CBD;128
11.5;4.5 Conclusions;130
12;Chapter 5 PSSA Designation and Implementation of the PSSA Guidelines by the IMO;132
12.1;5.1 Introduction;132
12.2;5.2 Submitting a Proposal for PSSA Designation;133
12.2.1;5.2.1 PSSA Identification;134
12.3;5.3 Protection of PSSAs;136
12.3.1;5.3.1 Special Discharge Restrictions;137
12.3.2;5.3.2 Regulation of Navigation for Protection of the Environment;140
12.3.3;5.3.3 Application of Ships’ Routeing Measures;141
12.3.4;5.3.4 Update of IMO Measures to Protect the Marine Environment;143
12.3.5;5.3.5 Case Study - Mandatory Area to be Avoided in New Zealand;143
12.3.6;5.3.6 Vessel Traffic Services ( VTS);147
12.3.7;5.3.7 Ship Reporting Systems (SRS);150
12.3.8;5.3.8 To PSSA or not to PSSA?;152
12.4;5.4 Assessment and Approval of PSSA Proposals by the IMO;153
12.4.1;5.4.1 Consideration by MEPC;155
12.4.2;5.4.2 Consideration by NAV and MSC;157
12.4.3;5.4.3 Approval of a PSSA;159
12.5;5.5 Conclusion;160
13;Chapter 6 State Practice: Application of the PSSA Concept;162
13.1;6.1 Introduction;162
13.2; 6.2 The Western European PSSA;164
13.2.1;6.2.1 Background;164
13.2.2;6.2.2 Existing Navigation Regime;167
13.2.3;6.2.3 Associated Protective Measures;168
13.2.4;6.2.4 Consideration by IMO;169
13.3;6.3 Extension of the Great Barrier Reef PSSA to Include the Torres Strait;171
13.3.1;6.3.1 Background;171
13.3.2;6.3.2 Existing Navigation Regime;175
13.3.3;6.3.3 Associated Protective Measures;177
13.3.4;6.3.4 Consideration by IMO;178
13.4;6.4 The Baltic Sea;181
13.4.1;6.4.1 Background;181
13.4.2;6.4.2 Existing Navigation Regime;184
13.4.3;6.4.3 Associated Protective Measures;185
13.4.4;6.4.4 Consideration by IMO;185
13.5;6.5 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary;187
13.5.1;6.5.1 Background;187
13.5.2;6.5.2 Existing Navigation Regime;190
13.5.3;6.5.3 Associated Protective Measures;191
13.5.4;6.5.4 Consideration by IMO;192
13.6;6.6 Analysing the Benefits of PSSA Designation;193
13.6.1;6.6.1 Comprehensive Management Tool;194
13.6.2;6.6.2 Adoption of Additional Protective Measures;198
13.6.3;6.6.3 Approval of Exceptional Measures;198
13.6.4;6.6.4 Intrinsic Benefits of PSSA Designation;206
13.7;6.7 Conclusions;213
14;Chapter 7 Issues Identified with the PSSA Concept Through an Examination of State and IMO Practice;216
14.1;7.1 Introduction;216
14.2;7.2 Issues Identified with State Practice;217
14.2.1;7.2.1 Defining the Scope of a PSSA;217
14.2.2;7.2.2 Linkage Between Vulnerability and APMs;220
14.2.3;7.2.3 Appropriate APMS;221
14.2.4;7.2.4 IMO Process;222
14.2.5;7.2.5 Strategic Framework;225
14.3;7.3 Revision of the PSSA Guidelines;225
14.3.1;7.3.1 PSSA Definition;228
14.3.2;7.3.2 Linking the Identified Vulnerability with an APM;228
14.3.3;7.3.3 The Legal Basis for Associated Protective Measures;231
14.3.4;7.3.4 Procedural Issues;232
14.3.5;7.3.5 Effect of the Revisions;233
14.4;7.4 Unresolved Issues;233
14.4.1;7.4.1 Application of the PSSA Concept to Wide Geographic Areas;234
14.4.2;7.4.2 IMO Process;236
14.4.3;7.4.3 Strategic Approach;241
14.5;7.5 Conclusions;242
15;Chapter 8 Development of a Strategic Framework for the PSSA Concept;244
15.1;8.1 Introduction;244
15.2;8.2 A Strategic Approach for the Identification of Sites for PSSA Designation;245
15.2.1;8.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA);245
15.2.2;8.2.2 Marine Spatial Planning (MSP);248
15.3;8.3 Application of Marine Spatial Planning Techniques to PSSA Identification;252
15.3.1;8.3.1 Global Level Analysis;253
15.3.2;8.3.2 Identification of Sites Vulnerable to the Impacts of Shipping;260
15.3.3;8.3.3 Outcome of the Analysis;264
15.4;8.4 Regional and Local Approaches for Identifying Candidate PSSA Sites;271
15.4.1;8.4.1 Application to PSSA Identification;273
15.5;8.5 Conclusions;275
16;Chapter 9 Conclusions and Recommendations;276
16.1;9.1 Introduction;276
16.2;9.2 Role of the IMO;276
16.3;9.3 The PSSA Concept in International Law;277
16.4;9.4 Benefits of PSSA Designation;278
16.5;9.5 Current Status of the PSSA Concept;279
16.6;9.6 Future Development of the PSSA Concept;280
16.7;9.7 Recommendations;281
16.7.1;Recommendation 1;281
16.7.2;Recommendation 2;282
16.7.3;Recommendation 3;282
16.7.4;Recommendation 4;283
16.7.5;Recommendation 5;283
16.7.6;Recommendation 6;283
16.7.7;Recommendation 7;283
16.8;9.8 Concluding Comments;284
17;Bibliography;286
18;About the Author;310

Leseproben

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.