Experience of the North Sea in the OSPAR Context (Verreet)

Experience of the North Sea in the OSPAR context

Chisinau, 3 October 2006

Gert [email protected]

Currently Chairman of the OSPAR Eutrophication Committee

European Commission DG EnvironmentUnit D.2 Protection of Water and Marine Environment

Experiences with: Setting targets Measuring compliance and results

Scaling up achievements in nutrient reduction

Requested focus

Contents

History of treatment of eutrophication in North Sea Conference and OSPAR (~ 1987 – 2006)

EU: WFD and nitrates directives

Concluding remarks

The North Sea is a generally shallow sea draining a densely inhabited and industrialised part of Europe.

The nutrient budget shows the dominance of Atlantic inflow. Still, the input around the margins, especially on the eastern side, are very important with respect to eutrophication.

North Sea Conferences

London, 1987: 50% reduction target (1985 to 1995) into areas “where these inputs are likely, directly or indirectly, to cause pollution”

Bergen 2002: « The inability to reach the 50% reduction target for nitrogen is primarily because the reduction of diffuse losses from the agriculture sector is progressing much slower than expected. »

European Community“In 1987, the second NSC agreed to cut emissions of nutrients (to sensitive areas) by 50% between 1985 and 1995. In 1988, the EU Council adopted a resolution specifically related to the North Sea requesting the Commission to take action on nitrogen particularly concerning agricultural sources as well as urban waste water treatment. This request led to the adoption of two directives in 1991: the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) and the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC).”

Main relevant European legislation since 1987:Urban Waste Water Directive, 1991Nitrates Directive, 1991IPPC Directive, 1996Water Framework Directive, 2000National Emission Ceilings, 2001

IN ADDITION: 1988 – 1989 POLITICAL URGENCY AS A RESULT OF TOXIC ALGAL

BLOOMS IN THE NORTH SEA

OSPAR

OSPAR Strategy to Combat Eutrophication, 1998:

“… to achieve by 2010, and maintain, a healthy marine environment where eutrophication does not occur.”

OSPAR findings on aquatic inputs

There was also a statistically significant reduction in direct discharges of phosphorus (down 33%), but no conclusion could be reached on riverine inputs, since the loads and concentrations were flow-dependent.”

“There was a statistically significant reduction in total inputs of nitrogen (down 12%), which was substantially influenced by the 29% reduction in direct discharges.

OSPAR vs. North Sea Conference

“The effects have been synergetic at output, outcome and possibly impact levels” (Jon Birger Skjærseth, The Fridtjof Nansen Institute, 2001)

Water Framework Directive

« Good Ecological Status » by 2015Type and reference based classification of

water bodiesCoastal and transitional: intercalibration

relatively well advanced

Nitrates Directive

-Agriculture is the single dominating source of nitrogen pollution

50-80% of the total load

(source, EEA, 2005)

-It is crucial forwater protection to fully implement the nitrates directive

Gross nutrient balances: improving, but…

Scheldt river 1965-2002:

- DIN : down (~ - 30%)

- N/P: up (~x 3)

- Oxygen consuming substances, NH4 as DIN: down dramatically

- Oxygen: up (~x 2)

Groundwater: excess nitrates

Ongoing activities ~Nitrates Directive

Actual discussions with UK, DE, IR, BE on designation and/or action programmes

Derogation Follow up decisions DK, NL and AU Discussions with IR and DE on derogation possibilities Discussions eventually to be started with UK and BE

New Member States Discussions started with LT, HU, CZ, SK (meetings) and PL (written contacts) Discussions with remaining NMS: to be started Autumn 2006/Spring 2007

Infringements Follow up of open infringement procedures Ongoing discussions with several MS on designation and action programmes New cases might be opened if issues don’t get resolved

Manure treatment: picking up slowly

Conclusions ~« Scaling up of achievements »

After an initial phase of ‘soft law’, a strong regulatory environment helps to mobilise the resources necessary to address nutrient pollution from agriculture. In the case of the North Sea, OSPAR and the EU water policy is now providing that platform where those resources lead to exchange of information and upscaling of results.

Despite many efforts, nutrient problems are hard to tackle and require perseverance, i.e. further upscaling of succesful practices is also still required even in areas where a lot of progress has already been achieved. Costs of nutrient-related environmental measures in agriculture should be a regular part of the agricultural production costs.

For further charting succesful future policies a lot of diverse information needs to be combined into an overall picture that captures the essentials of a complex and persevering problem and which is comprehensive enough to satisfy all parties concerned.