Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements
A complete list of OSPAR Decisions, Recommendations & Agreements can be found here
Work to implement the OSPAR Convention and its strategies is taken forward through the adoption of decisions, which are legally binding on the Contracting Parties, recommendations and other agreements. Decisions and recommendations set out actions to be taken by the Contracting Parties. These measures are complemented by other agreements setting out:
- issues of importance;
- agreed programmes of monitoring, information collection or other work which the Contracting Parties commit to carry out;
- guidelines or guidance setting out the way that any programme or measure should be implemented;
- actions to be taken by the OSPAR Commission on behalf of the Contracting Parties.
OSPAR 2010 reviewed the applicability of Decisions, Recommendations and Other Agreements within the framework of the OSPAR Convention and agreed that a number of measures could be considered as fulfilled or overtaken by measures adopted at national level or within other forums and therefore not followed by OSPAR anymore. As a consequence, while being set aside, they are retained as part of OSPAR’s ‘acquis’. The list of these measures together with an explanation of why they have been set aside is at Annex 5 to OSPAR 10/23/1. Further reviews are undertaken regularly and as a result:
- OSPAR 2018 agreed to set aside Agreement 2006-04 on the application of the EcoQO system and Agreement 2011-01 on a Voluntary Marine Beach Litter Monitoring Programme.
- OSPAR 2019 agreed to set aside OSPAR Recommendations 2000/1 and 2000/2.
- OSPAR 2020 agreed to set aside PARCOM Decision 90/3 and PARCOM Decision 95/1.
Found 381 Decs, Recs & Ags:
Reporting format for the OSPAR Datastream for Fishing for Litter
Reference Number:
Agreement 2016-03e
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
CEMP Guidelines: Phytoplankton monitoring
Reference Number:
Agreement 2016-06
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/03 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Regions I, II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/03e
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/02 on furthering the protection and conservation of intertidal mudflats in Regions I, II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/02e
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/01 on the reduction of marine litter through the implementation of fishing for litter initiatives
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2016/01e
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
OSPAR Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP). Update 2020
Reference Number:
Agreement 2016-01
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity, Human Activities, Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Offshore Industry, Radioactive Substances, Other
Coordinated Environmental Monitoring Programme (CEMP) Guidelines for Monitoring and Assessment of plastic particles in stomachs of fulmars in the North Sea area. Update 2019
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-03e
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Explanatory note for the data reporting format for the OSPAR Common Indicator on plastic particles in fulmars' stomachs. Update 2019
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-09ef
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
OSPAR Monitoring Strategy for Ambient Underwater Noise (English only)
Reference Number:
Agreement 15-05
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
OSPAR Target Species List for OSPAR Agreement 2020-01
Reference Number:
Agreement 15-10e
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Interpretation of the dredged material guidelines regarding the sampling frequency for maintenance dredged material (§5.5 and 5.6 of OSPAR Agreement 2014-06).
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-06e
Guidance on form of national reports and arrangements for the work of the ICG EUT in preparing a draft of the 2017 OSPAR Integrated Report
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-07e
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/04 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Allis shad (Alosa alosa) in Regions II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/04
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/03 on furthering the protection and conservation of the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) in Regions I, II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/03
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/02 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Azorean limpet (Patella aspera ) in Region V of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/02
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/01 on furthering the protection and conservation of intertidal Mytilus edulis beds on mixed and sandy sediments in Regions II and III of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2015/01
Guidelines to reduce the impact of offshore installations lighting on birds in the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-08e
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Guidance for the Comprehensive Atmospheric Monitoring Programme (CAMP)
Reference Number:
Agreement 2015-04e
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
OSPAR Recommendation 2014/7 on furthering the protection and conservation of the spotted ray (Raja montagui) in Regions II, III, IV and V of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2014/07
OSPAR Joint Assessment and Monitoring Programme (JAMP) 2014 – 2023. Revision 2020
Reference Number:
Agreement 2014-02e
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity, Human Activities, Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Offshore Industry, Radioactive Substances, Other
OSPAR Recommendation 2014/1 on furthering the protection and conservation of the common or European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) in Regions II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area. Consolidated text
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2014/1
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Intra North Sea Ballast Water Exchange Areas (English only)
Reference Number:
Agreement 2014-11
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
OSPAR Guidelines for the Management of Dredged Material at Sea
Reference Number:
Agreement 2014-06
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Riverine Inputs and Direct Discharges Monitoring Programme (RID) applicable from 1 January 2015
Reference Number:
Agreement 2014-04e
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
JAMP Guidelines for Monitoring Chemical Aspects of Ocean Acidification
Reference Number:
Agreement 2014-03e
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other