Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events & Courses
	New Coastal Publications

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	One-fourth of world coral reefs already destroyed
	Will new oil exploration in the White Zone threaten marine life?
	Downward spiral effect of overharvesting wild salmon
	Olympic Rowing Centre near Athens threatens integrity of National Park

Development & Trends
.	Crucial world climate conference about to start
	Another tanker accident off the French coast
	Discussion on Marine Science Plan for Europe launched

Policy
	European Commissioner Fischler calls for more international co-operation

EUCC News launched

Dear readers, 

EUCC, the publisher of COASTAL GUIDE NEWS, is today launching a second electronic newsletter, EUCC NEWS, targeted at EUCC members. EUCC NEWS contains information about the organisation, its people and policies, projects and initiatives. It also includes funding opportunities which COASTAL GUIDE NEWS readers will miss from now on. We would like to encourage all non-members to consider membership in the EUCC, Europe's largest coastal network. This will not only restore your access to topical funding information, but make you eligible for EUCC's numerous services and involve you in an international network that promotes conservation and sustainable use of our coasts! Learn more about who we are and what we do on http://www.eucc.nl/members. We would be delighted to welcome you as a new colleague! The Coastal Guide Editorial Team 

Courses on wetland restoration and management 

The Wetland Advisory and Training Centre (WATC) of RIZA, Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (part of the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management) announces with following courses:

6 June - 5 July, 2001 
2nd International Course on Wetland Restoration, Lelystad, the Netherlands The course aims to train skills necessary for wetland restoration and it will offer opportunities to exchange experiences. Closing date for application is 1 February 2001 

23 August - 3 October, 2001 8th International Course on Wetland Management, Lelystad, the Netherlands The course aims to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to draw up and implement a concise wetland management plan. Closing date for application is 1 March 2001 

Applicant Profiles: 
· at least several years of professional experience
· competence in the English language
· at least B.Sc. or equivalent academic degree, or working experience to such a level 

Further information and application forms: Wetland Advisory and Training Centre (WATC) Attn. Secretariat International Course on Wetland Restoration/Management P.O. Box 17, 8200 AA Lelystad, the Netherlands. Tel. +31 320 298346, Fax +31 320 298339, E-mail: watc@riza.rws.minvenw.nl 
 

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
 

Legal Regulations, Legal Instruments and Competent Authorities with Relevance for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas of the OSPAR Maritime Area  By D. Czybulka & P. Kersandt (2000, 84 pp). BfN - Skripten 22. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn. Fax +49 228 8491 200, e-mail: pbox-dobi@bfn.de. The authors (of the Law Faculty, University of Rostock) provide a systematic, detailed and up-to-date overview of the implementation aspects of marine legislation (UNCLOS, EEZ and other), with special reference to EC-legislation. The report is of special interest to everybody involved in marine and offshore planning and management, in any sector.

Marine and Coastal Protected Areas. A guide for Planners and Managers By Rodney V. Salm, John R. Clark and Erkki Siirila (2000, xxi + 371 pp.). IUCN, 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009-1053, U.S.A. Fax + 1 202 478 0051, Netherlands. ISBN 2 8317 0540 1.  This book (Third Edition) addresses mainly the conservation of the natural resources of tropical coasts and seas. The volume is arranged in three parts. Part I introduces Marine Protected Areas (MPA's) as an important approach to managing coastal and marine resources. Part II considers principles and mechanisms for planning and managing protected areas in four different environments: coral reefs, estuaries and lagoons, small islands and beaches. Part III presents case histories and examples from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.

New hyperlinks to websites

The Dart Estuary
A Partnership promoting sustainable use of the Dart Estuary, UK 

Tjärnö Marine Biological Laboratory, Göteborg University and Stockholm University Research projects, mainly in coastal ecology and taxonomy 

Monachus.org
Dedicated to the Mediterranean, Hawaiian and Caribbean Monk Seals 

Phocoena.org
Porpoise science and conservation 

Rye Bay Countryside Office
Aims to improve the quality of the environment in the Rye Bay area, UK 

One-fourth of world coral reefs already destroyed

Scientists around the world gathered at the Ninth International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS) in Bali, Indonesia and concluded that global warming and human impacts have already caused the destruction of one-fourth of the worlds coral reefs and are severely threatening another third. Coral reefs play an important role in marine ecosystems and their loss would place thousands of species of fish and other marine organisms at risk of extinction (see also Coastal Guide News No. 20. Climate change is having a significant impact on the world's coral reefs as high water temperatures cause corals to expel the algae they live symbiotically with, leading to the death of the corals. It also makes them more susceptible to marine diseases. Elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming, directly harm corals, whose skeletal growth declines in carbon dioxide-enriched water. Other scientific panels at the conference discussed threats facing coral reefs, among them destructive fishing practices, land-based pollution, and introduced species and diseases. 
For further information, read the full press release at http://www.seaweb.org/whatis/001029release.html or download the Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000 report of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network at http://www.coral.aoml.noaa.gov/gcrmn/Status_2000.pdf. 

Will new oil exploration in the White Zone threaten marine life? 

An assessment has been ordered by the UK government into the environmental impact of oil and gas exploration between Shetland and the Faroe Islands, known as the White Zone. The three-month consultation has been launched prior to the start of bidding for exploration licences. The consultation will also seek views on draft regulations to implement the European Union Habitat Directive that protects certain species against offshore oil and gas activity. Environmental groups fear oil development in the region would "vandalise" one of the most important areas in Europe for whales and coral reefs. 
BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_992000/992263.stm Oil & Gas Directorate: http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/whatsnew/new_home.htm UK Offshore Operators Association: http://www.ukooa.co.uk

Downward spiral effect of overharvesting wild salmon

A recent North-American study found evidence that the decaying carcasses of adult wild salmon fertilize lake ecosystems providing consequently food for the juvenile fish. If fewer fish return to the lakes due to overharvesting in the ocean, fewer juveniles survive. However, the same study suggests that climate change also plays a role in the development of wild salmon populations. The researchers therefore call for new, flexible management policies that take climate and lake nutrient levels into account. This in turn could lead to a more accurate estimate of the maximum number of salmon the fishermen could harvest. 
For further information, visit http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/NewsMedia/00news/10-20-00_Finney.html 

Olympic Rowing Centre near Athens threatens integrity of National Park

The four largest Greek environmental NGOs are opposing the plan of the Greek government to build a Rowing Centre in the National Park Schinias-Marathon for the 2004 Olympic Games. The large-scale construction project does not only impose a serious threat to local biodiversity but could also set a precedent for other National Parks and natural areas in Greece, so the alliance claims and appeals for international support. So far, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has not rejected the project. 
A draft letter of protest to the IOC as well as further information can be obtained from the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, hspn@hol.gr
 

Crucial world climate conference about to start

Ministers and diplomats from some 160 countries will meet in the Dutch city of The Hague from 13 to 24 November to accelerate international action towards reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A global strategy on climate change was agreed under the 1992 United Nations Climate Change Convention and its 1997 Kyoto Protocol, promoting financial and technical co-operation on climate-friendly policies and technologies and setting targets and timetables for emission reductions by developed countries. Most governments, however, have still not ratified the Protocol, which means that its emissions targets for developed countries - 5% reduction compared to 1990 levels for the period 2008-2012 - are not yet in effect. Many governments are waiting for an agreement on the operational details of how the Protocol will work in practice. The Hague meeting must decide these details and ensure that they will lead to action that is both economically efficient and environmentally credible. It must also strengthen the effectiveness of the many activities taking place under the Convention. 
Further information on the Convention process: 
Climate Change Secretariat: http://cop6.unfccc.int/
Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment of the Netherlands: http://www.climatechange2000 

Another tanker accident off the French coast

The Italian tanker Ievoli Sun sank on 31 October 18km north-west of the Channel island of Alderney on French waters. It was loaded with 6,000 tonnes of toxic chemicals and 4,000 tonnes of styrene, a hydrocarbon used to make plastics. This is the second major tanker disaster on the French coast in a year, the first being the Maltese-registered tanker Erika last December. The sinking of the Ievoli Sun immediately raised questions around maritime safety rules. The 11-year old Ievoli Sun had been cited for major deficiencies three times in Dutch ports but was allowed to continue shipping. However, President Jacques Chirac said France would do everything to tighten maritime safety rules in the future. Meanwhile, it seems that the initial threat of an environmental disaster due to the sinking of the Ievoli Sun have been averted. 
For further information, read the full article at Planet Ark at http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=8756, or read an article about ship certificates in the Coastal Guide News issue 17

Discussion on Marine Science Plan for Europe launched 

The European Science Foundation (ESF) Marine Board has launched a public forum to promote communication and debate about a Marine Science Plan for Europe. Everyone concerned is invited to participate. The discussion started at the EuOcean conference in Hamburg two months ago and is well documented in papers and session reports that can be accessed via the same website as the public forum (http://www.esf.org/life/ac/Marine_Board/forum.htm). Many of the arguments stated at the conference are also reflected in the European ICZM strategy (see Coastal Guide News No. 20 ). The need to interact with policy makers and end-users and to cooperate with countries neighbouring the EU, for better integration on a European level, long-term collection of relevant data, and interdisciplinary research involving the social sciences. 
 

European Commissioner Fischler calls for more international co-operation

One of the main outcomes of the International Conference on Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance held in Brussels 24-27 October was the recognition that continuing and increasing international co-operation between the European Community and third countries is needed. International co-operation is on the increase particularly within the framework of Regional Fisheries Organisations. 
For further information, visit the Fisheries Commission website at http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/autres/conf_en.htm

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, 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