OSPAR / QSR 2000 / Table of Contents

Quality Status Report 2000

contents.

1. Introduction

1.1 Aim and scope
1.2 The assessment process
1.3 Guidance to the reader

2. Geography, hydrography and climate

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Definition of the OSPAR Convention area
2.3 Bottom topography
2.4 Geology and sediments
2.5 Description of the coastal margin
2.6 Estuaries, fjords, rias and wetlands
2.7 Catchment area and freshwater run-off
2.8 Water masses
2.9 Circulation and volume transport
2.10 Waves, tides and storm surges
2.11 Transport of solids
2.12 Meteorology
2.13 Climate variability and climate change

3. Human activities

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Demography
3.3 Conservation
3.4 Tourism and recreation
3.5 Fisheries
3.6 Mariculture (fish and shellfish farming)
3.7 Coastal engineering and land reclamation
3.8 Sand and gravel extraction
3.9 Dredging, dumping and sea-based discharges
3.10 Oil and gas industry
3.11 Shipping
3.12 Coastal industries
3.13 Military activities
3.14 Land-based activities
3.15 Agriculture
3.16 Regulatory measures and future developments

4. Chemistry

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Input of contaminants (in general)
4.3 Assessment criteria
4.4 Trace metals
4.5 Organic pollutants
4.6 Inputs from mariculture
4.7 Offshore chemicals
4.8 Oil
4.9 Radioactivity
4.10 Nutrients and oxygen

5. Biology

5.1 Introduction
5.2 General description of the biology of the OSPAR area
5.3 Impact of human activities

6. Overall assessment

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Fisheries
6.3 Land and sea use
6.4 Shipping
6.5 Hazardous substances
6.6 Radioactive substances
6.7 Offshore oil and gas
6.8 Eutrophication
6.9 Climate change and climate variability
6.10 Other issues
6.11 Conclusion

Appendices

Species
Abbreviations
Glossary
References

Published by
OSPAR Commission, London 2000
ISBN 0 946956 52 9 (Hardcopy version)
Text Š OSPAR Commission 2000
Graphics other than those mentioned in the illustration credits and copyrights Š OSPAR Commission 2000

Permission may be granted by the publishers for the report to be wholly or partly reproduced in publications provided that the source of the extract is clearly indicated.

Recommended reference format
OSPAR Commission 2000. Quality Status Report 2000. OSPAR Commission, London.
108 + vii pp.

More information about OSPAR
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (the "OSPAR Convention") was opened for signature at the Ministerial Meeting of the former Oslo and Paris Commissions in Paris on 22 September 1992. The Convention entered into force on 25 March 1998. It has been ratified by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and approved by the European Union and Spain.

Illustration credits and copyrights

Many of the figures in this report were provided by the Regional Task Teams and their source references are given in the captions. Credits and copyrights for the additional photographs are as follows:

The photographs on the cover illustrate some of the many different human activities that take place in the five regions of the OSPAR maritime area:

fishing in Arctic waters Š Helge Sunde/Samfoto, Norway.

shore-based support for the Norwegian offshore industry Š Marit Nyborg, Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT, Statens forurensningstilsyn).

a fishfarm in the north of the British isles Š Woodfall, UK.

Arrábida Marine Protected Area Š E. Gameiro ICN, Portugal.

a diver meets a blue shark Prionace glauca by D. Perrine Š imagDOP, Azores (Portugal).

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