Coastal Guide News

Restauration des écosystèmes côtiers (in French)

By L. Drèves and M. Chaussepied (coord.). 2001, 376 pp. Ifremer, BP 70, 292880 Plouzané, France. Fax: +2 98 22 45 86. E-mail: editions@ifremer.fr. Internet: http://www.ifremer.fr. ISBN 2 84433 048 7. Price 38.11 euro.
These conference proceedings on restoring coastal systems (Brest, November 2000) report on major working sites for restoration (Venice lagoon, the Seine estuary…) and on achievements of varying scope and nature, including biorestoration. Developers and planners as well as ecological engineering enterprises all require scientific assessment criteria.

L'eau et l'Union européenne. Un guide sur la politique sa mise en oeuvre et ses instruments (in French)

By Ivan Conesa and Mathieu Bousquet (2001, 160 pp.). Ifremer, BP 70, 292880 Plouzané, France. Fax: +2 98 22 45 86. E-mail: editions@ ifremer.fr. Internet: http://www.ifremer.fr. ISBN 2 84433 062 2. Price 15.24 euro.
Water has been a subject particularly dealt with by the EU, since the early 70's. This guide draws a synthesis of the EU water policy framework and its implementation through legislative and financial tools, focusing on the ones relative to research. This guide was designed as a tool for researchers dealing with water to help them identify project funding or supporting instruments.

Seine-Aval scientific programme

16 reports (in French) on the coast of France. Ifremer, BP 70, 292880 Plouzané, France. Fax: +2 98 22 45 86. E-mail: editions@ ifremer.fr. Internet: http://www.ifremer.fr. ISBN (collection) 284433 028 2.
No 1 Seine-Aval: an estuary and its problems (1999, 32 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 2 Currents, waves and tides: water movements (2001, 32 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 3 Sands, channels, mudflats: sediment dynamics and morphological development (1999, 40 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 4 Fine materials: progression of suspended particles (2001, 40 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 5 Oxygen: a control for microbiological functioning (1999, 32 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 6 Bacterial and viral contaminations (1999, 28 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 7 Biological heritage and food chains (2002, 48 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 8 Metallic contaminations (2001, 40 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 9 Iron and manganese: reactivity and recycling (1999, 40 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 10 Cadmium: behaviour of a metal contaminant in an estuary (1999, 32 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 11 Mercury dynamics (1999, 26 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.
No 12 Organic contaminants which leave traces: sources, transport, and fate (1999, 40 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 13 Organic contaminants: what are the risks for the living world? (2000, 36 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 14 Organisms under stress (1999, 36 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 15 Wetlands of the lower Seine valley (2002, 36 pp.). Price 6.86 Euro.
No 16 Models: tools for knowledge and management (1999, 32 pp.). Price 5.34 Euro.

Ukraine Azov Black Sea Corridor Biodiversity Conservation Project

World Bank, Environment Department, 1818 H Street, NW, Washinghton, DC 20433, USA. Fax +202 522 3256 (2001, 76 pp.).
This document outlines the project plans of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the conservation of the coastal biodiversity within the Azov Black Sea coastal corridor. To protect the unique coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems and undisturbed steppe from further degradation the project will support an integrated program of protected areas management, sustainable agriculture, land use planning, public education and building support at the national and international levels for sustainable development.

The Status of natural resources on the high-seas

By C.M. Bett et al (2001, 92 pp.). IUCN, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. Fax ++44 1223 277175. E-mail: info@books.iucn.org. ISBN 2 88085 250 1. Price $18.00.
This study objectively examines if there are any areas on the high-seas that are of conservation value but are being, or expected to be threatened. It further examines if there are currently any legislative instruments that could be used in order to afford those areas the protection they deserve.

International Ocean Governance - Using International Law and Organizations to Manage Marine Recources Sustainably

By Lee A. Kimball (2001, xii + 124 pp. Maps on CDROM). IUCN, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. Fax ++44 1223 277175. E-mail: info@books.iucn.org. ISBN 2 8317 0617 3. Price $30.00.
This publication has three purposes. First, it may be used as a guide and a resource for identifying which international conventions and organizations play a role in addressing various sources of marine pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, invasive species, or other threats to marine biodiversity, Second, it identifies strengths and weaknesses in international management arrangements for each problem. Third, the study promotes discussion of how to advance ocean governance at the regional level based on the importance of maintaining ecosystems goods and services for the people who depend on them.

Ocean Forecasting - Conceptual Basis and Applications

By Nadia Pinardi and John Woods (2002, xxiv + 472 pp.). Springer Verlag, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg, Germany. Fax +49 6221 487 8141. Internet: http:/www.springer.de/press/index.html. E-mail: orders@springer.de. ISBN 3 540 67964 2. Net price 99.95 euro.
This book gives a first consistent overview of methods and applications of ocean forecasting around the world. This sector of marine science and technology is developing rapidly due to the increasing need for reliable, multidisciplinary information about the marine system, allowing the sustainable usage of coastal resources and the mitigation of global change effects. Several chapters are devoted to the conceptual and theoretical bases of ocean forecasting. The book also includes examples of modelling/forecasting systems currently in use or being set-up in the ocean.

Conservation and sustainable management of Atlantic coastal forest and dune ecosystems.

Gestion intégrée des dunes littorales atlantiques, Sud-ouest français, Centre et nord-ouest portugais. Videocassette in French with document and summary in English. Office National des Forêts - Mission Littoral, 16 rue Georges Mandel, 33061 Bordeaux CEDEX, France. Fax 05 56 98 41 07. E-mail: Jean.favennec@onf.fr.
By their very nature, coastal dunes are a linear, frontier environment, subject to constant change by the action of the sea and winds. As the management body for a large part of the dunes on the French Atlantic Coast the Office National des Forêts implemented a Life Environment project "The Rehabilitation and Sustainable Management of Four French Dunes"- which ran from1996 to 2001. The resulting recommendations aim to provide sustainable management that combines conservation with rational tourist use.

Waterbirds in the Gulf of Gabès and other wetlands in Tunesia, autumn 1999 (WIWO-report 74)

By J.F.F.P. Bos et al (2001, 76 pp.). WIWO (Working Group International Waterbird & Wetland Research), Stuivenbergweg 4, 6644 AB Ewijk, the Netherlands. http://www.wiwo-international.org. Price 12 Euro, plus 7 Euro administration cost.
The total number of counted waterbirds reached over 113,000, of which about two thirds were present in the large tidal wetland Kneiss. Dunlin was the most numerous wader with nearly 30,000 birds.

Grazing and Grazing animals

Vakblad Natuurbeheer (Volume 41 May 2002) Expertisecentrum LNV, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Conservation and Fisheries, P.O. Box 30, 6700 AA Wageningen, tel 0(031)318-474801, fax 0(031)381-624737. For free issues, please mail to balie@eclnv.agro.nl . ISSN 1388-4875. In Dutch and in English.
This special on grazing, the second of Vakblad Natuurbeheer, consists of a selection of articles on large herbivores in nature areas and its impact on agriculture, animal welfare and leisure industry. In Flanders as well as in the Netherlands considerable experience and knowledge has been acquired in recent years on this subject. It is especially intended for nature managers but also for interested members of the public, farmers, animalwelfare officers, journalists and others.

Coordination Centre for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
http://www.kustbeheer.be
To stimulate integrated management of the coastal zone in Belgium

A team of more than 200 international scientists and researchers have completed a two-year global study to identify the Earth’s most pristine and untouched regions. It identified three wilderness areas in Europe: the Boreal forest, which stretches across northern Europe and Russia, the Mediterranean Basin and the Caucasus. Only areas greater than 10,000 km2 with at least 70 percent of their original vegetation intact qualified. In most cases, they have less than five people per square kilometer. Excluding urban centers, Wilderness Areas cover 46 percent of the globe’s land surface but are occupied by only 2.4 percent of the world’s population The study is a collaborative effort between Conservation International and Agrupación Sierra Madre.
“Wilderness: Earth's Last Wild Places” can be accessed via http://www.conservation.org.

Spanish Prime Minister Aznar initially tried to minimize the seriousness of the Prestige catastrophe. However, last week he acknowledged it was Spain's worst ecological disaster ever, and he fully accepted responsibility for the wrong decisions that had been taken. The disaster has triggered a major political row in Spain. In his second appearance before the committee in Madrid, Deputy Prime Minister Rajoy had to withstand a fresh barrage of allegations of gross mishandling of the crisis. Opposition parties highlighted in particular the government's decision to push the stricken tanker out to sea and then order it to head southwards against the currents. The disaster has shaken Aznar's government like no other event since he swept to re-election in 2000. Many heads of fishing associations have begun a hunger strike to demand more equipment to fight the slicks. Police estimated that about 12,000 people took part in the Galicia’s largest demonstration ever to protest against the Spanish government's handling of the Prestige oil spill. Local media reports said some protesters called for the resignation of Aznar and Rajoy. At european level, protests have arrived to the European Pariamentary Commissioner, who is dealing with over 500 mails e-mails from citizens about the oil-tanker Prestige, mainly referred to the insufficiency of the existing legislation and the failure of the measures undertaken so far. On 19 December the European Commission has presented a proposal for specific measures to compensate operators in the Spanish fisheries, shellfish and aquaculture sector.
The sunken Prestige tanker which is lying off the Spanish northwest coast still has some 50,000 tons of toxic fuel oil left on board, and is leaking about 125 tons per day. The Spanish government is awaiting a report on the effectiveness of a metal sheet placed over one of the leaking holes. If the plug proves to be holding, the operation would be repeated on another 10 holes. Nothing was mentioned about the other two holes. The single-hulled tanker is estimated to have spilled almost a quarter of its 77,000 metric tons of fuel oil since its initial accident on Nov. 13. The slicks have badly tarred some 200 beaches and long stretches of coastline and led to a fishing ban affecting thousands of workers and families. Some 5,000 soldiers and thousands of volunteers from all over Spain and other countries continued to shovel up the toxic waste from beaches and rocks. Thousand of sea birds and fish have been maimed by the slicks. At sea, half-dozen antipollution boats worked off the shellfish-rich, lower river estuaries just north of Portugal, trying to vacuum up the oil and prevent it from entering the inlets, having so far recuperated 13,000 metric tons of fuel. Fishers have been going out in small boats with buckets and containers to rake the oil from the sea, due to the initially lack of interest of the Spanish government.

The Commission takes legal action against France, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Ireland and Italy over shortcomings in the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Only the legal action concerning coastal areas are mentioned in this article. France is to receive a second warning because the important bird site at Brière (Loire-Atlantique) is threatened by a power-line project. The Netherlands is to be referred to the Court of Justice because the implementation of the Habitats Directive in the Dutch legislation is not sufficient. Shortcomings concern the safeguarding of Natura 2000 network sites, monitoring of habitats and species and measures for protected plant species. Germany will receive a second warning because a wind-farm project threatens the bird populations in Krummhörn-Westermarsch (Lower Saxony). The Commission decided to addresses a first warning to Greece, for not complying with the Court judgement (30 January 2002) on the protection of the rare Mediterranean sea turtle, (Carretta carretta). Greece is also to receive a second written warning for failing to properly protect the lagoon of Messolonghi-Aitolikon, a wetland that is internationally recognised as an important habitat for wild birds. Ireland will receive two second written warnings concerning the Boyne Estuary. The first for failing to properly safeguard a Special Protected Area (SPA). The second for not taking adequate compensatory measures to make up for a temporary loss of mudflats, which are being used as site for waste storage.
According to the European Treaty the Commission can take legal action if a Member State is not respecting its obligations. In a so called infringement procedure the Commission addresses a first written warning to the Member State, requesting it to submit its observations by a specified date. If the Member State doesn’t reply correctly, the Commission addresses a second written warning and if the Member State doesn’t comply this time, the Commission may decide to bring the case before the European Court of Justice. The Treaty gives the Commission power to act against a Member State that does not comply with a judgement of the Court of Justice. The Commission can also ask the Court to impose a financial penalty on the Member State.
Full story on: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/02/1923|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=

In this week’s meeting the European Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries Brussels negotiated on Reforming the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the North Sea Cod Recovery Plan and the fixing of Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quota’s for 2003. The Commission's proposals on TACs and quota’s are based on independent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
The current CFP needs to be reformed because many fish stocks are outside safe biological limits. Current control and enforcement arrangements have been insufficient to ensure a level-playing filed across the Union undermining the credibility of the CFP. Stakeholders have not been sufficiently involved in policy shaping. This lack of involvement undermines support for and compliance with the conservation measures adopted. In 2001 the European Commission launched a wide consultation with all interested parties.
The recovery plan for cod and hake stocks which was presented by the Commission a year ago needs to be adjusted in the light of new scientific advice. Cod stocks are now in such a depleted state that the measures proposed last year are no longer sufficient to ensure their recovery. The proposed adjustments would protect the concerned stocks while allowing some fishing activity for cod and other associated species to continue. In spite of the urgency of the problem the Commission has made a concession to the industry on Monday (16 December 2002) to delay decisions on its ‘cod and hake recovery plan’ until 31 March 2003. However during the negotiations on stock quota’s and fleet restrictions on 18 and 19 December a Commission’s plan was discussed that contains severe quota cuts (65%) for Cod and reducing the number of days at sea for some vessels to just seven per month for some vessels. All member states but the UK and Ireland agreed, while Europe’s fishermen were forming a united front against plans by the European Commission to impose severe emergency cuts on days at sea from 1 January 2003.
(The final results of the council meeting were not published at the moment this article was written.).
Background information on:
http://www.EUobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=8841&sid=9
http://europa.eu.int/comm/fisheries/news_corner/press/inf02_57_en.htm
http://www.EUobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=8817&sid=9

Deadline for submitting contributions to Coastal Guide News No No 1, 2003: 8 January 2002 (will be disseminated on 17 January 2003)

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, Toni March, Arnoud van der Meulen, 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