Information & Meetings
	Conferences & Events

Environment
	CO2 emissions worldwide: no room for complacency, says IEA
	Massive bird mortality due to blue-green algae in Zeeland

Policy
	Simpler rules for clean bathing water across EU
	State of the art reports on ICZM in the Baltic published
	ICES recommends moratorium on cod fisheries
	European Parliament lobbies for ban on trade in whale products
	Input needed for coastal erosion policy recommendations

Events recently announded

CO₂ emissions worldwide: no room for complacency, says IEA

The International Energy Agency (IEA) just published a series of surveys on past and expected CO₂ emissions and energy policies in order to assess the world's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. The report "CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion: 1971 - 2000" concludes that global energy-related CO₂ emissions in 2000 were 13% higher than in 1990. Annex I Parties (developed world) still account for the majority of emissions: 13.7 Gt CO₂ against 8.9 Gt for the 3rd World countries. Annex I per capita emissions are still six times larger than non-Annex I per capita emissions. Total energy-related CO₂ emissions for developed countries (Annex I) were only 1.1 % higher than their 1990 level in 2000 and if other greenhouse gases and sinks are counted, these countries could have collectively achieved their goal of returning emissions to 1990 levels. But this relatively low increase is for the most part due to a 30 % reduction in emissions of countries with economies in transition. More information: http://www.iea.org/new/releases/2002/3pubs.htm

Massive bird mortality due to blue-green algae in Zeeland

In the past weeks, thousands of dead water birds have been retrieved from the Krammer-Volkerrak and Zoommeer in the Province of Zeeland in the South of the Netherlands. According to the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the birds died due to poisoning by toxins from blue-green algae in coastal lakes. Blue-green algae flourish in stagnant fresh water with a rich nutrient supply. During hot summers large amounts of blue-green algae grow in this type of water. Because the waters in Zeeland are divided into compartments and are cut off from the sea, there is an insufficient flow of water. Het Zeeuwse Landschap, a regional nature and landscape management organisation, sees a connection between the blue-algae poisoning and botulism, caused by a bacterium. Radical measures are needed to reach a permanent solution, the organisation thinks: flushing the lakes with water from the Hollands Diep will introduce polluted water from the river Rhine, but will offer an additional outlet for the excess water. The Department of Waterways and Public Works investigates the options available and results are expected in early 2003.

Simpler rules for clean bathing water across EU

The European Commission has presented the proposal for a revised Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Quality of Bathing Water. This Commission proposal is to replace the existing Council Directive 1976/160/EEC, which has been in force for over 25 years. The new proposal is intended to deliver three clear benefits: improved health standards, more efficient management including the active involvement of the public, and allowing Member States greater flexibility in the way they implement the Directive. Compared with the current Directive, the proposed standards are expected to reduce by a factor of two to three the risk of contracting gastro-enteritis and respiratory diseases as a result of bathing. This new proposal puts the emphasis on the proactive management of beaches, not just the regular monitoring of water quality. It also aims at making more use of modern communication methods such as the internet to inform the public about the quality of bathing waters. The new proposal sets out quality standards - the obligatory ('good') standard and a tougher ('excellent') one. http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1551|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

State of the art reports on ICZM in the Baltic published

Nine State-of-the-Art reports have been compiled by EUCC - The Coastal Union as a result of successive decisions of the HEMCOM Group on Nature Conservation and Coastal Zone Management (HELCOM - Habitat). They contain the latest information about important aspects of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and have been peer reviewed by eight of the nine countries. From these nine reports, it may be concluded that, although no state - as is the case in the rest of Europe - has specific legislation relating to ICZM, existing instruments can be used to accommodate the implementation of ICZM within an individual country's national borders and, therefore, within the Baltic region as a whole. The reports will be used as a basis to produce a Common Approach for ICZM in the region by next year. For further information, contact Alan Pickaver at EUCC, e-mail: pickaver@eucc.nl. The nine country reports and conclusion are available at http://www.coastalguide.org/icm/baltic/index.html

ICES recommends moratorium on cod fisheries

A number of cod fisheries should be closed in EU waters, according to the latest scientific advice from the independent International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) published on Friday 25 October. Scientists have for several years been warning about the growing depletion of a number of fish stocks, in particular cod. At a press conference held in Brussels, EU Commissioner Fischler said "Needless to say that the economic impact of taking ICES advice literally would leave many coastal areas in deep trouble. This is why I am duty-bound to think about whether there are any alternatives to taking this dramatic advice to the letter. Our own scientific and economic committee is currently evaluating the ICES advice and will give its own opinion on 11 November. Unless it says anything different, which is very unlikely, I can see no other solution in the short term than to propose for 2003 a zero Total Allowable Catch for cod, haddock and whiting." Full press release: http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/press/inf02_37_en.htm The advice on cod and other fish stocks in the northeast Atlantic is available on the ICES website: http://www.ices.dk/committe/acfm/comwork/report/asp/acfmrep.asp

European Parliament lobbies for ban on trade in whale products

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution about international trade in endangered species that calls for the continued protection of whales from trade. Resolution PE 323.682\ 83, adopted on 24 October, addresses the forthcoming Meeting of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), in Santiago, Chile (3-15 November). The Parliament draws attention to the worldwide moratorium on commercial whaling decreed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), which is recognised by CITES as the authoritative body to regulate whaling and urges CITES Parties to oppose the transfer of Minke and Bryde's Whales from CITES Appendix I to Appendix II. Furthermore it notes that ACCOBAMS (the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area under the Convention on Migratory Species) has recommended that the Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin should be listed on CITES Appendix I, and calls on Parties to CITES to support the transfer of the Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I. The Resolution will now be forwarded by the EU President to the EU Council and to the Parties to CITES, and the CITES Secretariat. At a 'special meeting' of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Iceland joined the Commission, but with a 'reservation' exempting it from the moratorium on commercial whaling. Iceland had left the IWC ten years ago. Several countries, including the UK and the USA, opposed Iceland's application for new membership. Iceland plans to resume whaling for scientific purposes after 2006. It might also resume commercial whaling like Norway. Complete press releases: http://www.wdcs.org/dan/news.nsf/webnews/42B0C6F74266E46E80256C5D0079285E, http://www.wdcs.org/dan/news.nsf/webnews/0B2113EBF0B01BA080256C540039AF17

Input needed for coastal erosion policy recommendations

In the framework of EUROSION, the EU initiative for sustainable coastal erosion management (see Coastal Guide News 2002-2), EUCC - The Coastal Union is preparing a report "Formulation of Policy Recommendations". It is envisaged that, inter alia, examples of (innovative) national policy concerning shoreline management will be provided from EU and accession countries. Therefore, papers, references and information will be highly appreciated on this matter. In particular: 1) contributions to the review of ongoing initiatives, discussions and official procedures of future coastal erosion management policies at a national level, 2) identification of innovative strategies, developments and ideas on coastal erosion management, and 3) identification of important and promising approaches for sustainable coastal erosion management, taking into account national approaches. Further, if anyone would be willing to periodically peer review national information provided and/or review and criticise the drafts of the developing document, please let the EUCC know. For more information and contributions, contact Alan Pickaver, e-mail: pickaver@eucc.nl.

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No 22: 13 November, 2002

COASTAL GUIDE NEWS is a biweekly newsletter published by the EUCC - The Coastal Union 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. 

Members of the Coastal Guide News editorial team: Erik Devilee, Marijke Kooijman, Irene Lucius, Piet Lansbergen, Antoni March, Hanneke Mesters, Albert Salman.
 

Established in 1989, the EUCC - The Coastal Union 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
 

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