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 2012/1 on the Management of the Charlie-Gibbs North High Seas Marine Protected Area
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/01
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guidelines: Benthos (replaces Agreement 1997-06)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-12
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other
Language:
English
JAMP Eutrophication Monitoring Guidelines: Chlorophyll a in Water (replaces Agreement 1997-04)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-11
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other
Language:
English
Revised data collection format for the Annual OSPAR Report on Discharges, Spills and Emissions from Offshore Oil and Gas Installations (Replaces 2005-14). Update 2019. English only
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-08
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Language:
English
OSPAR Guidelines in support of Recommendation 2012/5 for a Risk-based Approach to the Management of Produced Water Discharges from Offshore Installations
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-07
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Language:
English
Integrated Guidelines for the Integrated Monitoring and Assessment of Contaminants
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-09
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other
Language:
English
Joint Notice to Shipping on General Guidance on the Voluntary Interim Application of the D1 Ballast Water Exchange Standard
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-04
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Language:
English
Collaboration arrangement between the Secretariats of the OSPAR Commission and the Sargasso Sea Alliance
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-10
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/5 for a risk-based approach to the Management of Produced Water Discharges from Offshore Installations
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/05
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/4 on furthering the protection and conservation of Zostera beds
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/04
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/3 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/03
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/2 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/02
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Decision 2012/1 on the establishment of the Charlie-Gibbs North High Seas Marine Protected Area
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
OSPAR Decision 2012/01
Type:
Decision
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
Guidelines on Best Environmental Practice (BEP) in Cable Laying and Operation (Revised in 2017)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-02
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Language:
English
Guidelines for the Implementation of Articles 7 and 9 of Annex II to the OSPAR Convention
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-01
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Language:
English
OSPAR Guidelines on Artificial Reefs in relation to Living Marine Resources (Replaces Agreement 1999-13)
Adopted:
2012, Bonn
Reference Number:
Agreement 2012-03
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/5 for a risk-based approach to the Management of Produced Water Discharges from Offshore Installations. Consolidated text
Adopted:
2012
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2012/5e
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Offshore Industry
Language:
English
Terms of Reference for OSPAR Committees - Update 2017
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
Agreement 2011-04
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity, Human Activities, Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Offshore Industry, Radioactive Substances, Other
Language:
English
JAMP Guidelines for estimation of a measure for uncertainty in OSPAR monitoring
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
Agreement 2011-03
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Hazardous Substances & Eutrophication, Other
Language:
English
Agreement on a Voluntary Marine Beach Litter Monitoring Programme (replaces agreement 2010-6). Set aside by OSPAR 2018
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
Agreement 2011-01
Type:
Agreement
Work Area(s):
Human Activities
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/7 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia)
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/07
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/6 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii)
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/06
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/5 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla tridactyla)
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/05
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/4 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/04
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/3 on furthering the protection and conservation of the Little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli)
Adopted:
2011, London
Reference Number:
OSPAR Recommendation 2011/03
Type:
Recommendation
Work Area(s):
Biodiversity
Language:
English
