| | EIHA Committee Meeting in Kinsale – Advancing marine protection from the impacts of human activities across the North-East Atlantic
In April 2025, the Environmental Impacts of Human Activities Committee (EIHA) of OSPAR gathered for a week in the coastal town of Kinsale, Ireland, for its annual meeting in preparation for OSPAR’s upcoming Ministerial Meeting in June. Hosted by Ireland, the meeting brought together experts and representatives from across the OSPAR maritime area to drive forward key initiatives delivering the OSPAR North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030 (NEAES).
Throughout the week, the Committee made significant progress across a range of environmental priorities:
- Delivering on the NEAES: EIHA finalised its assessment of progress to meet its operational objectives under the NEAES agreed at the last OSPAR Ministerial meeting, contributing to OSPAR’s overall mid-term progress report for ministers.
- Action to reduce Marine Litter: EIHA examined an interim review report of OSPAR’s second Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter and progressed work on a draft legally binding Decision on the prevention of release of expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and other foamed plastic from pontoons and buoys. Two background documents on dolly rope and sea turtle entanglement were finalised, laying the groundwork for future collaborative actions.
- New measure for Clean Seas: EIHA finalised another background document underpinning draft measures on management of discharge water from Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems on board ships, with the goal of their adoption at the Ministerial meeting in June.
- Biodiversity and Habitat Protection: The Committee reviewed evidence of pressures on marine species and habitats and worked closely with the OSPAR Biodiversity Committee to further develop a Regional Action Plan for Benthic Habitats.
- Underwater Noise: EIHA worked towards the adoption in June of a new Regional Action Plan for Underwater Noise supporting the implementation of the NEAES and featuring eight actions designed to reduce anthropogenic underwater noise to levels that do not adversely affect the marine environment within the North-East Atlantic.
- Offshore renewables: Two new workstreams were put forward by EIHA to address offshore infrastructure decommissioning and chemical emissions, while a pilot project shed light on the cumulative effects of offshore renewables on seabirds.
This meeting also marked a moment of transition, with the current EIHA Chair, John Mouat (the United Kingdom), stepping down after many years of dedicated leadership. Marta Martínez-Gil Pardo de Vera (Spain) was elected as the new Chair to guide future work of EIHA. | | |  | | For more information on OSPAR's Ministerial meeting | | 
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