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:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/8 on furthering the protection and conservation of the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) in Region I of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/08
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/7 on furthering the protection and conservation of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in Regions IV and V of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/07
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/6 on furthering the protection and conservation of the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) in the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/06
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/5 on furthering the protection and restoration of the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) in Region II of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/05
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/4 on furthering the protection and conservation of Ostrea edulis in Region II of the OSPAR maritime area and Ostrea edulis beds in Regions II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/04
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/3 on furthering the protection and recovery of Modiolus modiolus beds in the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/03
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Recommendation 2013/2 on furthering the protection and conservation of Sabellaria spinulosa reefs in Regions II and III of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/02
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/1 on furthering the protection and conservation of littoral chalk communities in Region II of the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/01
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Statement on the Common understanding of the Recommendations on species and habitats
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-13
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/9 on furthering the protection and conservation of the North Atlantic blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in the OSPAR maritime area
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/9
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Reporting Formats for the Collection of Data on Liquid Discharges from Nuclear Installations (English only). Amended in 2019
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-10
Work Area(s):
Radioactive Substances
Memorandum of Understanding between the OSPAR Commission and the Secretariat of the Abidjan Convention
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-12
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity, Human Activities, Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Offshore Industry, Radioactive Substances, Other
Common Procedure for the Identification of the Eutrophication Status of the OSPAR Maritime Area
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-08
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
Reporting Procedures for Discharges of Radioactive Substances from Non-nuclear Sectors. Replaces agreement 2005-07
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-11
Work Area(s):
Radioactive Substances
Memorandum of Understanding between the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and the OSPAR Commission
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-01
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Revised JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guideline: Oxygen (Replaces Agreement 1997-03)
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-05
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
Revised JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guideline: Nutrients (Replaces Agreement 1997-02)
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-04
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
JAMP Guidelines for Monitoring of Contaminants in Seawater
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-03
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other
Explanatory notes for the reporting format - inventory of offshore installations. Update 2019
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-07
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Programme de surveillance eutrophisation
Reference Number:
Agreement 2005-04
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
Eutrophication Monitoring Programme
Reference Number:
Agreement 2005-04
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication
OSPAR List of Substances Used and Discharged Offshore which Are Considered to Pose Little or No Risk to the Environment (PLONOR) - Update 2019
Reference Number:
Agreement 2013-06
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/5 on furthering the protection and restoration of the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) in Region II and Region III of the OSPAR maritime area. Consolidated text
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/5
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/4 on furthering the protection and conservation of Ostrea edulis in Region II and III of the OSPAR maritime area and Ostrea edulis beds in Regions II, III and IV of the OSPAR maritime area. Consolidated text
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2013/4
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
OSPAR Guidelines for Completing the Harmonised Offshore Chemical Notification Format (HOCNF) (Updated 2020)
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-05
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry