Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events
	New Coastal Publications

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	IUCN Congress in Amman: Loss of species is unacceptable

Development & Trends
.	Almost 4000 seals in the Dutch Wadden Sea
	Ice crystals below ocean floor studied for energy production

Policy
	Lithuanian and Russian Factory Trawlers in U.S. Waters

Funds
	Call for proposals in the EU Programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources.'

Events recently announded
 
 

Please note:
The overview of the Coastal Guide conference and event  meeting list can be found at http://www.coastalguide.org/meetings/

New Coastal Publications
 
 
 

New Medasset reports available The following Summer 2000 Reports for the 20th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention), have now been completed and are available by e-mail. To order, e-mail: medasset@hol.gr.  Update Report on Marine Turtle Conservation in Zakynthos (Laganas Bay) Greece. Update Report and Review of Nature Conservation Measures in Patara SPA, Turkey. Habitat Assessment of the remaining significant nesting areas for the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) on the Turkish Mediterranean coast; Kazanli, Akyatan, and Samandag. · Informal Investigation of Conditions in Dalyan SPA, Turkey Status of the Nile Soft-shelled Turtle, Trionyx triunguis, in Turkey. An assessment in the Cukurova Delta with Recommendations for Conservation Management, by Max Kasparek, commissioned by MEDASSET.  The Zakynthos, Green turtle and Patara reports have already been published as T-PVS by the Council of Europe ­ Bern Convention.

USAID's Coastal Resources Management Program [CRMP] II: 1999 results -- increasing conservation and sustainable use of coastal resources; [2000], Annual Report; Total Pages: 52; Download: http://www.dec.org/pdf_docs/PDABS511.pdf

New hyperlinks to websites

Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT)
Integrated interdisciplinary approach to ecosystem research and coastal management in tropical coastal areas - research and training institution at the University of Bremen, Germany 

Estuarine Research Federation
An international organisation whose purpose is to promote research in estuarine and coastal waters, to promote communication between members of affiliated societies, to conduct meetings and to be available as a source of advice in matters concerning estuaries and the coastal zone. 

Nina•Niku Foundation for Nature Research and Cultural Heritage Research
An independent non-profit research foundation. It consists of two institutes, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)and the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), Norway 

IUCN Congress in Amman: Loss of species is unacceptable

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, held in Amman, Jordan, between 4 and 11 October 2000, reported that the loss of biological species has assumed dramatic speed and magnitude as more species move into the critically endangered category or go extinct. Overall at least 11,000 species are threatened with extinction according to IUCN's Species Survival Commission. Scientists believe that hundreds of thousands more are at risk. The Congress concluded its 8-day session with the approval of an ambitious new IUCN Action Plan and Programme, with over 100 specific resolutions that will shape IUCN's environmental agenda for the years to come. The resolutions addresses issues such as: 
 

• Linking climate change to biodiversity to ensure that reforestation activities designed to prevent global warming also give due consideration to critical biodiversity and habitat issues;
• Development of comprehensive approaches to conservation of marine ecosystems, including species-protective measures such as controlling over-fishing, and reducing the loss of seabirds and turtles to long-line fishing;
• Urging all coastal Baltic Sea States to establish national protected area and marine reserve systems, and that Baltic Sea countries in economic transition receive support for their establishment from countries with funds and expertise;
• IUCN and Spain agreed to open an IUCN office for the Mediterranean in Málaga, as a platform for interconnecting and supporting the work of NGOs and governmental agencies to preserve a broad range of Mediterranean ecosystems. This promises to become a major focal point for environmental action, especially in North Africa and the Middle East. 

Almost 4000 seals in the Dutch Wadden Sea

This year, research institute Alterra counted 3,300 Common Seals (Phoca vitulina) and 500-600 Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Dutch Wadden Sea. The seals are counted every year in July and August, this year resulting in a spectacular increase of 39%, compared to an increase of 5% last year. According to Alterra the increase of the last 10 years is a steady 17% and the low increase of last year was due to bad weather conditions causing the miscount of a lot of animals. Also the condition of the seals is good, according to Wadden centre Ecomare - only 6 seals needed recovery in the centre this year. Further information: Alterra: http://www.alterra.nl (in Dutch) EcoMare: http://www.waterland.net/ecomare/enframepage.htm

Ice crystals below ocean floor studied for energy production 

A growing number of scientists believe that frozen ice crystals of methane hydrates below the ocean floor could be harnessed in the near future for a large scale energy production. The methane hydrates are thought to exist in vast quantities below the world's continental margins where organic sediments have been trapped for millions of years by pressure and cold. On a recent expedition of the largest international Earth science research project in the world, the ODP (Ocean Drilling Program), scientists explored the Blake Ridge off the Caroline coast - a formation that alone may hold enough methane to meet U.S. natural gas needs for 105 years. The first commercial use of methane hydrates may be as a "flood gas" to increase efficiency of oil and gas extraction in existing wells in the Antarctic. This could begin as soon as in 15 years. While scientists vision methane hydrates as a potential worldwide energy source, the research is only at an early stage. At the moment it is unknown whether it is even possible to harvest methane hydrates with today's technology, and there is more to solve than just technical problems. Although methane is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel, when released unburned into the atmosphere it is a potent greenhouse gas. Moreover, releasing gases could create huge potholes in the ocean floor thus rupturing those lines and leading to hugely destructive undersea spills. Nevertheless the outlooks for commercial exploitation of methane hydrates are very tempting. Art Johnson, a senior scientist with Chevron Corp. in New Orleans told ENN news in an interview that "The potential is so huge it's hard to walk away from it." 
For further information, read the full article at http://www.enn.com/enn-subsciber-news-archive/2000/10/10072000/reu_resource_32235.asp or visit the ODP website at http://odp-sun3.tamu.edu/index.html. 

Lithuanian and Russian Factory Trawlers in U.S. Waters

Regional fishers are opposing a decision of the New England Fishery Management Council to open the Atlantic herring fishery in U.S. federal waters factory trawlers from Lithuania and Russia for processing and marketing to foreign markets. Marine conservationists are concerned about over-fishing the Atlantic herring, which serves as prey for a wide range of marine mammals, including endangered humpback and fin whales, as well as diving birds and larger fish. Currently, there is no federal herring plan with regulations for catch in the nation's 200 mile economic exclusive zone. Until a fishery management plan is submitted, opened for public review and approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the plan may be illegal. 

Comments of Phil Haring, Senior Fishery Analyst representing a summary of the basis on which the New England Fishery Management Council members made their decision to recommend the action to the Secretary of Commerce, at http://www.coastalguide.org/news/2000-21-haring.html

Further information: ENS http://www.ens.lycos.com/ens/oct2000/2000L-10-11-01.html
New England Fishery Management Council http://www.nefmc.org
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Call for proposals in the EU Programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources.' 

The third call for proposal in the EU Programme 'Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources.' is expected to be in mid-November. Proposers should be aware of the new provisions concerning the evaluation of proposals submitted in this programme. The new version of the 'Manual of proposal evaluation procedures' can be obtained from the following website: http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/evalman.htm 

The Quality of Life Programme is one of the thematic programmes of the EU Fifth Framework Research and Development Programme. This subdivision supports research aimed at development that is truly sustainable - for individuals, society and the environment. One of the themes focuses on Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Integrated Development of Rural areas. Proposals can be made for: network projects on research-coordination, developing standards and knowledge exchange; congresses; research and demonstration projects. 

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 22:
2 November,  2000

COASTAL GUIDE NEWS is a biweekly newsletter published by the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) with financial support of Stichting DOEN, the foundation of the Dutch lottery "Postcode Loterij" and the Department of International Nature Affairs of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries. For free subscriptions, comments or contributions to this newsletter, please contact news@coastalguide.org. 

© Articles may be reproduced free of charge with acknowledgement and citation of Coastal Guide News and the URL of the Coastal Guide (http://www.coastalguide.org). The articles of this and previous issues of Coastal Guide News can be found at http://www.coastalguide.org/news

Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Erik Devilee, Levente Galambosi, Irene Lucius, Hanneke Mesters, René van Oers, and Albert Salman. 

Established in 1989, the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC) is an association involving the largest coastal network in Europe with 750 members and member organisations in 40 countries. For more information please contact EUCC International Secretariat, POB 11232, NL-2301 EE Leiden, the Netherlands, tel.: +31-71-5122900, internet: http://www.eucc.nl

© European Union for Coastal Conservation