Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of The Northeast Pacific

Title (Spanish)

Convenio de cooperación para la protección y el desarollo sostenible de las zonas marinas y costeras del Pacífico Nordeste

Place of adoption

Antigua

Depository

Guatemala

Language

English, Spanish

Subject

Sea

Keyword

Marine pollution (land-based sources) Monitoring Environmental planning Fishery management and conservation Precautionary principle Access-to-information Coastal zone management Marine resources management Public participation Early warning system/emergency intervention system Ecosystem preservation Pollution control Capacity building Protection of species Marine pollution Marine pollution (ship-based sources) Local government Endangered species Data collection/reporting Protection of habitats Protected area Polluter pays principle Dispute settlement Liability/compensation Biodiversity Sustainable development Education Climate change Marine pollution (dumping at sea) Erosion EIA Sustainable use

Abstract

Objectives: To establish a regional co-operation framework to encourage and facilitate the sustainable development of marine and coastal resources of the countries of the Northeast Pacific for the benefit of present and future generations of the region. Summary of provisions: Parties commit themselves to adopt appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, control and avoid pollution of the marine and coastal environment of the Northeast Pacific, and to ensure the sustainable environmental management and effective development of its natural resources (art. 5). In cases when it is foreseen that transboundary effects caused by an activity carried out by a Party may cause harm to other Parties or their environment, interested Parties are to be informed and consulted in the course of planning of such activity. Parties are, inter alia, to apply the precautionary principle, promote the application of the 'polluter-pays' principle, and encourage the integrated development and management of coastal areas and shared water basins. Following articles concern erosion of coastal areas (art. 7), co-operation in case of pollution and other forms of environmental deterioration resulting from emergency situations (art. 8), monitoring of pollution and other environmental deterioration (art. 9), and integrated management and sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment (art. 10). Parties further commit themselves to exchange with each other and transmit to the Executive Secretariat information regarding, inter alia, programmes being developed for research into pollution and other forms of environmental deterioration (art. 11). Finally, Parties are to collaborate in the adoption and implementation of other protocols and Conventions that may establish effective rules and procedures for the implementation of this Convention, including a protocol in respect of liability and compensation for damage resulting from pollution in the area of application of the Convention. Institutional mechanisms: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is designated to carry out the functions of the Executive Secretariat (art. 14). A Meeting of the Parties is established (art. 15), whose ordinary meetings are to be held in conjunction with the Intergovernmental Meetings (General Authority) of the Action Plan for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northeast Pacific.

Full text

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Website

www.unep.org

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature