Its geting late in the evening, but ASCOBANS discussions continue into the night
Today the Conference of Parties broke into two parts. One working group looked at budgetary issues; the other looked at documents focused on the implementation of the agreements aims. WDCS broke into two likewise.
Fortunately in the budgetary group many parties agreed with WDCS that the proposed fees to attend the meeting (120 Euros per person) were undesirable.
The same working group agreed a budget.to support the Agreement for the next three years.
Meanwhale, back on the 19th floor with a spectacular view of the Rhine a slightly larger group considered draft resolutions, action and work plans.
One issue that came from this was the fact that the sea area in the west of the Baltic and the adjacent sea (the Kattegat) is not covered by either of the two conservation plans that have been developed under the Agreement (the Jastinia plan that covers the main Baltic Area and the North Sea plan that covers… well it says on the label what it covers). Now this might not matter very much. However, in this area (which sits exactly between the two agreements) there is a major bycatch issue in this area – what we have termed a ‘wave of extinction’ now travelling outwards from the main Baltic affecting harbour porpoises.
Curiously it seems that neither plan wishes to stretch out and include this important area. Hence a little action needed to be agreed and haltingly the MOP referred this matter to its Advisory Committee.
A noise-orientated resolution focused on marine renewable developments was also discussed along with work plans. A plan for education and outreach could not be agreed and will be looked at by the Advisory Committee next year. The UK agreed to field comments on this.
The group worked late and by the end of the day most resolutions and work plans were lined up for adoption. Left lying on the floor where proposals to support the outreach work of the mother convention (The Convention for Migratory Species) and alongside them sit other outreach and education ideas… but maybe they are just resting and will be picked up and revived in the future.
More positively a new way forward for the agreement to work with fishing communities is being fleshed out – a workshop or series of workshops held in conjunction with the European Cetacean Society and the North Sea Forum are under consideration.
Everything agreed today needs to be verified by tomorrow’s final plenary. Will it all survive? We shall see.
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