Implementation of species and habitat Recommendations
Protective actions for each of the listed features are defined in the associated OSPAR Recommendation (OSPAR listed features).
The OSPAR Commission is working to ensure the protection of the species and habitats on the list either through its own programmes and measures or, where appropriate, through cooperation with other international authorities. Cooperation with other authorities is appropriate if the OSPAR Listed feature is threatened by human activities where management of the activity is not within the OSPAR legal competency but under that of another authority, for example fishing and deep sea mining.
The OSPAR Recommendations identify actions that are to be undertaken by each Contracting Party and actions undertaken by OSPAR collectively. Implementation of the collective actions is facilitated through a Roadmap for the implementation of collective actions within the Recommendations for the protection and conservation of OSPAR listed Species and Habitats shown in the dropdowns below.
Contracting Parties undertake regular cycles of implementation reporting to inform of the actions that have been undertaken. The year when the first implementation report is due is specified when each Recommendation is adopted. After the initial period, implementation reporting is required every six years.
With the aim to ensure a general level of protection from new human activities, the OSPAR Recommendation 2010‐05 recommends that the ‘OSPAR List of threatened and/or declining species and habitats’ is taken into consideration when assessments of environmental impacts (EIAs) of human activities are prepared. Environmental impact assessments of human activities are needed when the activities may affect the marine environment of the OSPAR maritime area. The latest overview assessment of OSPAR Recommendation 2010/5 on assessment of environmental impact in relation to threatened and/or declining species and habitats was published in 2018.
Collective Actions
The OSPAR Commission has adopted a Roadmap for the implementation of collective actions within the Recommendations for the protection and conservation of OSPAR listed Species and Habitats. The roadmap and its role in taking action to protect features on the OSPAR List is presented in this leaflet
The work to implement actions in the roadmap is constantly ongoing, with the planned work documented through actions sheets presented in thematic sections below.
Communication and awareness raising actions
No | Action | Habitats/Species | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
1 | Building on existing material (e.g. OSPAR website) develop and implement a phased communications strategy for OSPAR listed species and habitats to: Share knowledge including on status and threats to help promote action by others; Share knowledge and experience on measures that have been implemented and lessons learned, among both relevant management authorities and general public | All | All | Secretariat, supported by Sweden ICG-POSH |
Monitoring and assessment actions
No | Action | Habitats/Species | Lead Party(ies)/ relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
2 | All habitats: Zostera beds, littoral chalk communities, Ostrea edulis beds, Cymodocea meadows, intertidal Mytilus edulis beds, Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna, Sabellaria spinulosa reefs, Modiolus modiolus beds, Maerl beds, intertidal mudflats, Lophelia pertusa reefs, coral gardens, deep sea sponge aggregations, hydrothermal vents/fields occurring on oceanic ridges, seamounts, carbonate mounds | All | United Kingdom, supported by France POSH, ICG-MPA, ICG-COBAM, ICG-C, EIHA | |
3 | Develop and implement an appropriate monitoring and assessment strategy addressing the distribution, extent and condition of coastal habitats, coordinating activities to build on existing monitoring work and where possible developing synergy with monitoring of other species and habitats. | Sabellaria spinulosa reefs; littoral chalk communities; Ostrea edulis beds; Zostera beds; Modiolus modiolus beds, Cymodocea meadows and Maerl beds | All | United Kingdom, supported by Denamrk ICG-COBAM |
4 | Request and review ICES advice, and other fisheries assessments based on monitoring and fisheries survey information, to assess:
| Sturgeon, Allis shad, European eel, cod, orange roughy, sea lamprey), common skate species complex, white skate, Angel shark, basking shark, spurdog, gulper shark, leafscale gulper shark, Portugese dogfish, porbeagle, spotted ray, thornback ray, quahog, Azorean limpet, harbour porpoise | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom ICG-COBAM, ICG-POSH |
5 | Develop and implement a monitoring strategy, as part of the JAMP, leading to the periodic assessment of the status of species, to promote and coordinate the collection of information on distribution, status of, threats to and impacts on the species, using as appropriate information from other competent authorities | Loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle, bowhead whale, blue whale, Northern right whale, lesser black-backed gull, ivory gull, little shearwater, Balearic shearwater, black-legged kittiwake, Roseate tern, thick-billed murre, Steller’s eider, Iberian guillemot, Ostrea edulis, long snouted Seahorse, short snouted seahorse | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France and United Kingdom ICG-COBAM, ICG-POSH |
6 | In the context of Article 4 Annex V of the Convention and in line with the common understanding (OSPAR 13/13), cooperate with relevant competent organisations to develop a strategy to encourage commercial fishermen to report incidental by-catches key habitat forming species, including information about location and date. This would aim to improve (a) knowledge on habitat occurrence (b) where appropriate, understanding of the habitat as a VMEs. | Lophelia pertusa reefs, coral gardens, deep sea sponge aggregations, seapen and burrowig megafauna, | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France ICG-POSH |
7 | Carrying out appropriate periodic monitoring, where appropriate this could include visual observation e.g. video of habitat presence and condition at selected sites, and evidence of pressures such as trawling damage, ghost fishing and percentage cover of live and dead or destroyed coral | Carbonate mounds, Sabelleria spinulosa reefs | III, V | United Kingdom, Supported by the Netherlands ICG-COBAM ICG-C |
8 | Compile evidence on the species and habitats that form on carbonate mounds, hydrothermal vents and seamounts in the OSPAR maritime area and assess which are threatened by on going and potential human activities | Carbonate mounds; hydrothermal vents; seamounts | V | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by France and the United Kingdom ICG-COBAM |
9 | Evaluate the extent to which ecological data from commercial Nephrops stock assessment and commercial video footage and photographic evidence can be used to assess the status of sea‐pen and burrowing megafauna communities, and as appropriate develop protocols for assessment purposes. Seapen and burrowing megafauna | II, III | United Kingdom | |
10 | Monitor key pressures including loss and change of substratum, levels of eutrophication, removal of species, introduction and spread of non‐indigenous species and physical damage | Littoral chalk | II | No Lead |
11 | Gather contextual information on activities, such as aggregate dredging, offshore development or fishing, likely to have an effect on Sabellaria spinulosa reefs in the vicinity of areas selected for monitoring; | Sabelleria spinulosa reefs | II, III | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France |
Marine Protected Areas actions
No | Action | Habitats/Species (Regions) | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
12 | Bowhead whale, blue whale, Northern right whale, harbour porpoise | All | Germany, with the support of France, the Netherlands, and United Kingdom ICG MPA | |
13 | Spurdog, gulper shark, leafscale gulper shark, Portuguese dogfish, porbeagle shark, spotted ray, thornback ray, harbour porpoise, Atlantic salmon | All | Germany, with the support of France, the Netherlands, Sweden and United Kingdom ICG MPA |
Legislation and legal protection
No | Action | Habitats/Species (Regions) | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
14 | Promote their inclusion as a protected species in other relevant biodiversity conventions | Sea lamprey, Allis shad, European eel, sturgeon, orange roughy, Atlantic salmon, common skate, white skate, Angel shark, basking shark | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by France and the Netherlands ICG-POSH, BDC |
Pressures from human activities
No | Action | Habitats/Species (Regions) | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
15 | In the context of Article 4 of Annex V of the Convention and in line with the common understanding (OSPAR 13/13), draw to the attention of relevant competent organisations instances where fishing activities constitute a threat to relevant species and habitats and where appropriate encourage those organisations to take appropriate measures | Lophelia pertusa reefs, coral gardens, and deep sea sponge aggregations, carbonate mounds, hydrothermal vents, seapen and burrowing megafauna, seamounts; maerl beds, Ostrea edulis beds Cymodocea, Sabellaria spinulosa reefs, Modiolus modiolus beds, sturgeon, Allis shad, European eel, cod, orange roughy, sea lamprey, Atlantic Salmon, Common skate, white skate, Angel shark, basking shark, spurdog, gulper shark, leafscale gulper shark, Portugese dogfish, porbeagle, spotted ray, thornback ray, Iberian guillemot, Ostrea edulis and Ostrea edulis beds | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by France ICG-POSH, BDC |
16 | In the context of Article 4 of Annex V of the Convention and in line with the common understanding (OSPAR 13/13), draw to the attention of relevant competent organisations instances where other physical disturbance to seafloor (e.g. mineral extraction, biological and geological sampling, construction) constitute a threat to relevant habitats and where appropriate encourage those organisations to take appropriate measures | Hydrothermal vents; seamounts; Ostrea edulis beds, Cymodocea, Sabellaria spinulosa reefs. | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France and Norway ICG-POSH, EIHA |
17 | In the context of Article 4 of Annex V of the Convention and in line with the common understanding (OSPAR 13/13), draw to the attention of relevant competent organisations instances where ship noise and ship strikes constitute a threat to relevant species and where appropriate encourage those organisations to take appropriate measures | Northern right whale, blue whale, bowhead whale, harbour porpoise, loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France ICG-POSH, EIHA |
18 | Leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle, leafscale gulper shark, Portugese dogfish, blue whale, bowhead whale, Northern right whale | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France EIHA, ICG-ML | |
19 | In the context of Article 4 of Annex V of the Convention and in line with the common understanding (OSPAR 13/13), draw to the attention of relevant competent organisations instances where pollution from oil and hazardous substances constitute a threat to relevant species and where appropriate encourage those organisations to take appropriate measures | Loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle, European eel, Iberian guillemot | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France HASEC |
20 | Cooperate and coordinate with other relevant competent international organisations and bodies, drawing upon the actions and measures suggested in the Background Document (OSPAR publication 2010/480) to address threats from aquaculture activities | Cymodocea, maerl beds, Atlantic salmon | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Norway EIHA |
21 | Cooperate and coordinate with other relevant competent international organisations and bodies, drawing upon the actions and measures suggested in the Background Document (OSPAR publication 2010/480) to address threats from habitat alteration or loss, obstacles to migration and pollution | European eel, Atlantic salmon | I, II, III, IV | Lead Contracting Party(ies), with the Support of France. EIHA |
22 | Identify whether further measures to maintain or improve water quality (contaminants and nutrients) are necessary to safeguard relevant habitats and implement if required | Maerl beds, zostera beds, Mytulis edulis beds, Cymodocea; Intertidal mudflats | I, II, III, IV | No lead HASEC |
23 | Consider whether existing and new measures to manage the impacts of pressures both within and outside waters under their national jurisdiction require additional action through the OSPAR Commission; | Littoral chalk, Ostrea edulis beds | II, III, IV | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Belgium ICG-POSH |
24 | Developing, within the competence of OSPAR, effective mitigation actions against further anthropogenic threats to whale populations and incorporate them into appropriate measures for the protection of these species; | Blue whale, bowhead whale, Northern right whale | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France EIHA, ICG-Noise, ICG-ML |
25 | Develop and incorporate appropriate measures to mitigate habitat destruction (e.g. caused by degradation of spawning habitats through silting due to agriculture intensification or dams; maintenance dredging and sand and gravel extraction) and degradation of the water quality in estuaries; | Sea Lamprey, sturgeon | I, II, III and IV | No lead EIHA |
26 | Leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle | All | France, supported by Spain EIHA, ICG-ML | |
27 | Advocate management measures (for example, management measures in marine protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, OSPAR MPAs or address necessary measures under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) with the appropriate authorities. | Ocean quahog | II | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by the Netherlands and United kingdom EIHA, ICG-MPA |
28 | Where applicable, ensure the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, by working to achieve good environmental status of habitats essential to the life cycles of cod and the cod stocks, including age and size structure of cod populations, as well as their role in the marine food web. | Cod | II and III | No Lead BDC, CoG |
29 | Harbour porpoise | II and III | Netherlands, supported by Belgium, Denmark, France, United Kingdom ICG-Noise, ICG-POSH, EIHA | |
30 | Take measures to further reduce discharges, emissions and losses of relevant hazardous substances to a level, that is compatible with breeding success of European eel, referred to in the background document; | European eel | I, II, III and IV | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France HASEC |
31 | Develop measures within OSPAR’s competence to reduce or eliminate the impact of habitat alteration from human activities on the Ostrea edulis and Ostrea edulis beds through bottom disturbance | Ostrea edulis and Ostrea edulis beds | II | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Belgium EIHA |
32 | Develop relevant measures for preventing and reducing oil pollution within OSPAR Region IV | Iberian guillemot | IV | Spain EIHA |
Research and knowledge generation actions
No | Action | Habitats/Species (Regions) | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
33 | Improve coordination of research to improve understanding of life history, distribution, track trends in populations and address specific issues identified in the recommendations | Sturgeon, Allis shad, European eel, cod, orange roughy, sea lamprey, Atlantic salmon, common skate, white skate, Angel shark, basking shark, spurdog, gulper shark, leafscale gulper shark, Portugese dogfish, porbeagle, spotted ray, thornback ray | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Norway ICG-POSH, ICG-COBAM |
34 | Coordinate with fisheries research and funding agencies to consider the establishment of a collaborative fisheries-independent research programme to evaluate the status of the species, monitor stock recovery and track movements, and identify any networks of critical habitats; | Common skate, white skate, angel shark, basking shark, spurdog, gulper shark, leafscale gulper shark, Portugese dogfish, porbeagle, spotted ray, thornback ray | All | No lead ICG-POSH, ICG-COBAM, ICG-MPA, BDC |
35 | Maintain cooperation with ICES and fisheries organisations to get regular advice and to coordinate monitoring and research programs. Link with IUCN and wider academic research networks for non-commercial species. | Sturgeon, Allis shad, European eel, cod, orange roughy, sea lamprey, Atlantic salmon, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by France and Norway ICG-POSH, ICG-COBAM |
36 | Establish collaboration with ICES WG Bird on data collection, storage and analysis | All | Germany and United kingdom, supported by France and Norway ICG-COBAM | |
37 | Bring to the attention of relevant competent authorities the status of and threats, and the need for further research and data collection | Lesser black-backed gull; Ivory gull; little shearwater; Balearic shearwater; black-legged kittiwake; Roseate tern; thick-billed murre | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Norway ICG-POSH, ICG-COBAM |
38 | Further research on source populations, status and distribution and other causes for decline. This means to develop a research agenda on this topic/ species in national waters and ABNJ | Leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle | All | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France ICG-POSH, ICG-COBAM, BDC |
39 | Steller’s eider | I | Norway ICG-POSH | |
40 | Seamounts | I, IV, V | Norway ICG-POSH | |
41 | Enhance knowledge exchange between researchers, and between researchers, management authorities and OSPAR | Roseate tern | II, III, IV and V | No lead ICG-POSH |
42 | Compile and promote a list of useful future research areas that would inform the protection and conservation of Sabellaria spinulosa reefs to relevant scientific funding bodies and existing national monitoring programmes | Sabellaria spinulosa reefs | II and III | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France ICG-POSH |
Other management actions
No | Action | Habitats/Species (Regions)Applicable Regions | Lead Party(ies)/ other relevant OSPAR Bodies | |
43 | Promote implementation of the European Commission Species Action Plan for the species | Baleric shearwater, roseate tern | II, III, IV and V | Spain |
44 | Promote the updating and implementation of the Arctic Council CAFF Action Plan (1996) | Thick-billed murre | I | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by Norway ICG-POSH |
45 | Develop and implement an OSPAR action plan for Lesser black-backed gull | Lesser black-backed gull | I | Lead Contracting Party(ies), Supported by Norway ICG-POSH |
46 | Request the international Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) to continue to improve its assessment of the effectiveness of European and national management plans | European eel | I, II, III and IV | Lead Contracting Party(ies), supported by France ICG-POSH |