The Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group (PAME)

The Secretariat attended the Arctic Council's Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment Working Group (PAME-I) in February 2018 in Quebec, Canada. The development of EA guidelines on Ecosystem Approach Guidelines and Integrated Ecosystem Assessment was discussed. The development of guidelines for implementing an ecosystem approach to management in the Arctic was agreed.

OSPAR is co-lead with Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Aleut International Association (AIA) on a project on marine litter, including microplastics, in the Arctic. The aim of the project is to evaluate the scope of marine litter in the Arctic and its effects on the marine environment. It will also contribute to the prevention and/or reduction of marine litter pollution and its impact on marine organisms, habitats, public health and safety, while reducing its associated socioeconomic costs. An Arctic Marine Litter Workshop will take place 5-6 June 2018 in Iceland where the OSPAR Secretariat will continue its cooperation as an active co-lead on the project.

In 2018, OSPAR also became co-lead on the development of a report on the state of the Knowledge report on underwater noise, together with Canada and WWF. The aim is to assess impacts of underwater noise on the Arctic marine ecosystem, including the identification of knowledge gaps