Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events
	New Coastal Publications

Organisations
	New hyperlinks to websites

Environment
	Climate change talks in Bonn
	New benefits of eating fish revealed but fish stocks in decline
	International oil companies pollute the Caspian environment

Development & Trends
	Smart nets can save dolphins and whales

Policy
	Scientists call for marine reserves
	IWC considers commercial whale hunt
	International Plan of Action against pirate fishing

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

 

Pechora Delta: Structure and dynamics of the Pechora Delta ecosystems (1995-1999) By M.R. van Eerden (ed.). Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA, Zuiderwagenplein 2, 8200 AP Lelystad, the Netherlands. Fax +320 24 92 18. ISBN 90 369 5334 0 (2000, 367 pp.). This is a research report on the Pechora Delta in northern Russia, which contributes to the understanding of its biological functioning, which is related to the presence of large-scale, intact landscapes, both from a geomorphological and from an ecological point of view.

Managing a Sea: The Ecological Economics of the Baltic By Ing-Marie Gren, Kerry Turner and Fredrik Wulff (2000, 138 pp.). Earthscan Publications Ltd, 120 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JN, U.K. Fax +171 278 1142. ISBN 1 85383 608 7. Price UK £ 16.95. This interdisciplinary volume presents a comprehensive blueprint for managing a sea. Focusing on the Baltic Sea, it employs a range of methods and techniques, including nutrient budgets and simulation models, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), economic valuation and policy analyses, to arrive at an assessment of causes and consequences of pollution in the sea and the management of its resources. The book is an exemplary study in the application of ecological economics to complex natural resource systems.

MarineDataBroker: http://www.marinedatabroker.com
Development of a seamless, minimum intervention link (Data Broker) to allow end users working in the marine environmental emergency application domain to access and use large distributed datasets of environmental parameters

Moray Firth Partnership: http://www.morayfirth-partnership.org
A voluntary organisation focuses on the coast and sea from Duncansby Head in Caithness to Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire

TheUKcoastmap.com: http://www.theUKcoastmap.com
The UK coastal map creator, a brand-new service providing users and managers of the UK coast with on-line access to geo-spatial data for the UK coastal zone.

Check out the other Website Links on the Coastal Guide 
 

Climate change talks in Bonn

Climate change talks will resume 16-27 July in Bonn. So far US and EU delegations failed to agree on the issue how to meet targets to cut greenhouse gas pollution. The EU opposed US proposals to allow states to meet targets by buying credits from countries that have met their goals, as well as counting carbon dioxide absorbed by forests and farms. The EU maintained that nations must make real cuts to greenhouse pollution. Then US government asked more time to review its policies. The Kyoto protocol which calls industrialized nations to trim carbon dioxide emission by about five percent in 2010 must take effect in international law in 2002.

New benefits of eating fish revealed but fish stocks in decline

Two new studies reveal the positive health effects of eating fish while a recently published report by the FAO confirm that world fish stocks are dwindling. Research by the University of Bristol proofed the important effect of oily fish, eaten by women during their pregnancy, on children's intelligence. This so-called "Children of the 90s" study tested how well the children recognised depth in 3D images: "stereopsis", a proxy measure for brain development. High levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHC) in oily fish might contribute to highly developed brains, while it is a major structural component of brain, nerve and eye tissue and plays a vital role in the early development of these organs. An American study showed that oily fish also cuts a women's risk of suffering the most common type of stroke. Women can reduce the risk of a thrombotic stroke by up to 48 percent by eating fish two to four times per week. Omega-3 fatty acids found in many types of cold-water fish is credited with preventing the build-up of blood clots that cause ischemic strokes, which make up 83 percent of strokes. The substances found in fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines can also lower blood pressure in at-risk people. The bad news it that eating fish may also expose you to accumulated pollutants such as mercury. Furthermore, according to the new FAO "State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2000" report, fisheries continue to decline world-wide, prompted by rising fish catches, consumption and trade. "Most of the world's fishing areas have apparently reached their maximum potential for capture fisheries production, with the majority of stocks being fully exploited" the report warns.
For more information, read the health report from the Bristol group in: http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/2/316, and the article "Fish Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" in: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/feb2001/2001L-02-20-06.html. The FAO report 2000 is published in: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X8002E/X8002E00.htm
 

International oil companies pollute the Caspian environment

Over the years the Caspian Sea and its shorelines have become subject of large-scale oil and gas extraction. While its reserves are believed to dwarf the North Sea region, the increasing demand on the world market have boosted oil and gas production in the region. However, increasing oil production causes a burden on the environment, which it is unable to cope with. The Caspian region is heavily polluted due to great oil spills from platforms and emissions from stationery machinery. According to a recent report published by the Azerbaijan State Committee on Ecology, the main contributors to the increasing pollution of the region are the foreign oil companies such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP Amoco and Chevron. According to the report the main reason for the pollution is because of the conflict between high production costs and low oil prices in 1998 and 1999. This created less financial space for the oil companies to set up an efficient exporting infrastructure as well as an efficient system for the elimination of waste material. The result was that for example BP's Chirag platform, the largest in the region, dumped its waste material back into the sea, wreaking havoc in the environmental system of the Caspian. Although the oil prices have surged since 2000, the situation has not improved. The destruction done to the environment during 1998 and 1999 is still noticeable today, while the international oil companies do not seem too eager to improve the waste elimination system, or pay compensation for the damage done. CENN, the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network, is currently lobbying with Caspian governments (who are involved in joint ventures) as well as oil companies to create an independent environmental monitoring committee involving NGO's. So far this issue is undecided.

Smart nets can save dolphins and whales

According to a 1996 study by Atlantic Gillnet (Gloucester, Mass.), for every 22 swordfish caught, one whale or dolphin is killed as by-catch. It is known that every year about 80,000 cetaceans unintentionally end up in fishing nets around the world, and often so come to an end in a gruesome death. The unintentional catch of sea mammals has always been seen as a problem. Dolphins and whales are protected species, however the fishing nets do not have any criteria for their catch. The nets, spanned across the eastern and western shores of Europe and North America, are usually invisible to the eye because of the nylon material. The sonar of dolphins and whales pass right through the nets, and so they swim straight into their deaths as though they were blind. However, Atlantic Gillnet, has developed a new net, specially made to prevent dolphins ands whales getting caught into it. This "smart net" has a substance - barium sulphate - processed in the nylon material so that it reflects the cetacean sonar. Tests already proved successful and it remains now to be seen if the conventional nets will be replaced by the smart nets in the near future.

Scientists call for Marine Reserves

At the recent American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Jane Lubchenco released a scientific consensus statement signed by 150 of the world's leading marine scientists declaring that there is now compelling scientific evidence that marine reserves conserve both biodiversity and fisheries, and could help to replenish the seas. "All around the world there are different experiences," says Dr. Lubchenco, "but the basic message is the same: marine reserves work, and they work fast. It is no longer a question of whether to set aside fully protected areas in the ocean, but where to establish them. We urge the immediate application of fully protected marine reserves as a central oceans management tool."
The study can be downloaded from http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu. More information on http://www.compassonline.org/new.htm.

IWC considers commercial whale hunt

After a 15 year moratorium, commercial whaling could resume under a scheme being considered by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) at its meeting in Monaco in February. The Revised Management Scheme or RMS is the set of rules (including those that cover inspection and observation) that would be used if the IWC agreed to allow commercial whaling again and its completion and adoption into the IWC. The recommendations from the Monaco meeting, must be approved by the IWC's regular conference in July, to be held in London, before the moratorium can be lifted.
Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org/~oceans/
International Whaling Commission: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/iwcoffice/iwc.htm
 

International Plan of Action against pirate fishing

In some important fisheries, pirate fishing accounts for up to 30 percent of total catches. Not only do pirate fishing vessels catch fish illegally, their methods destroy marine ecosystems world wide. To target illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing (IUU), 114 countries have adopted a new plan, establishing non-binding measures to tackle pirate fishing, at a FAO-meeting in Rome. The measures include: a ban on fishing from any vessel unless authorised; states shall not support or subsidise companies, vessels or individuals involved in IUU fishing; countries shall ensure that, before registering a fishing vessel, this does not and will not support or engage in IUU fishing; discouragement of flag-hopping; and the establishment of an international vessel monitoring system to help countries cooperate in their battle against IUU fishing. Together with the monitoring of fishing catches from landing to final destination and the establishment of a severe penalty system the action plan calls for, these measures are to reduce the threat posed by overfishing to the health and biodiversity of the marine environment.
More information can be found in http://www.fao.org and http://www.greenpeace.org.

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 6: 21 March, 2001

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: Ramon v. Barneveld, Erik Devilee, Irene Lucius, Hanneke Mesters, Guy Monod de Froideville, Albert Salman, Jolanda v.d. Sman, Josefien Wormgoor. 

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, POBox 11232, NL-2301 EE Leiden, the Netherlands, tel.: +31-71-5122900, internet: http://www.eucc.nl

© European Union for Coastal Conservation