52
R.A. Longhorn
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEA (ICES)
Founded in 1902 and with current membership representing 19 countries from both
sides of the Atlantic, including all European Coastal states (except the Mediterranean
countries east of, and including, Italy), ICES is the oldest intergovernmental
organisation in the world focusing on marine and fisheries science. Its multidisciplinary work programme concentrates on hydrography, physical oceanography,
population dynamics of fish stocks, standards of quality and comparability of oceanrelated data. The ICES secretariat is located in Denmark, from which site three
databanks are maintained for oceanographic, fisheries and environmental (pollution)
data. More than 100 meetings are held each year by ICES working groups, study
groups, workshops and committees, the latter of which advise national Member
Country governments, international regulatory commissions and the European
Commission. Many of the workshops deal with coastal or estuary problems, not only
deep ocean research, and focus on regions such as the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean.
WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) INTERNATIONAL
The WWF’s Europe/Middle East Programme has focal activities in the Mediterranean,
the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Arctic and a unit for European Policy development
which often works with relevant directorates at the European Commission on
agriculture, environmental and development policy.
The Europe/Middle East
Programme stretches from Portugal to the Bering Strait, from the Arctic Ocean to the
Persian Gulf, fielding National Organisations in 14 countries, supporting conservation
measures in 18 more, for a total of 120 projects. WWF considers oceans and coasts to
be one of the three major “priority biomes” to be protected and properly managed for
future generations.
In the Mediterranean, wetlands are a key issue and concern, and WWF
participates in the EU-funded MedWet initiative. WWF’s marine strategy in the area
is concentrated on integrated coastal management and conserving wildlife (sea turtles
and monk seals).
In the Baltic area, WWF’s Baltic Programme succeeded in persuading the
countries of the Baltic Sea region to include a special article on nature conservation
and biodiversity protection in the revised 1992 Helsinki Convention (HELCOM)
referred to earlier in this chapter. HELCOM adopted WWF’s proposal to establish
more than 60 Baltic Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (BSPAs). In 1993, as part of
the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme, the member
states asked WWF to coordinate the development of integrated coastal management
plans for five large coastal lagoons and wetland areas on the south-southeastern Baltic
coasts.
In the Arctic region, WWF projects support AEPS (Arctic Environmental
Protection Strategy) priorities, including conserving marine resources and developing
coastal zone and management schemes.
R.A. Longhorn
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE EXPLORATION OF THE SEA (ICES)
Founded in 1902 and with current membership representing 19 countries from both
sides of the Atlantic, including all European Coastal states (except the Mediterranean
countries east of, and including, Italy), ICES is the oldest intergovernmental
organisation in the world focusing on marine and fisheries science. Its multidisciplinary work programme concentrates on hydrography, physical oceanography,
population dynamics of fish stocks, standards of quality and comparability of oceanrelated data. The ICES secretariat is located in Denmark, from which site three
databanks are maintained for oceanographic, fisheries and environmental (pollution)
data. More than 100 meetings are held each year by ICES working groups, study
groups, workshops and committees, the latter of which advise national Member
Country governments, international regulatory commissions and the European
Commission. Many of the workshops deal with coastal or estuary problems, not only
deep ocean research, and focus on regions such as the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean.
WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE (WWF) INTERNATIONAL
The WWF’s Europe/Middle East Programme has focal activities in the Mediterranean,
the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Arctic and a unit for European Policy development
which often works with relevant directorates at the European Commission on
agriculture, environmental and development policy.
The Europe/Middle East
Programme stretches from Portugal to the Bering Strait, from the Arctic Ocean to the
Persian Gulf, fielding National Organisations in 14 countries, supporting conservation
measures in 18 more, for a total of 120 projects. WWF considers oceans and coasts to
be one of the three major “priority biomes” to be protected and properly managed for
future generations.
In the Mediterranean, wetlands are a key issue and concern, and WWF
participates in the EU-funded MedWet initiative. WWF’s marine strategy in the area
is concentrated on integrated coastal management and conserving wildlife (sea turtles
and monk seals).
In the Baltic area, WWF’s Baltic Programme succeeded in persuading the
countries of the Baltic Sea region to include a special article on nature conservation
and biodiversity protection in the revised 1992 Helsinki Convention (HELCOM)
referred to earlier in this chapter. HELCOM adopted WWF’s proposal to establish
more than 60 Baltic Coastal and Marine Protected Areas (BSPAs). In 1993, as part of
the Baltic Sea Joint Comprehensive Environmental Action Programme, the member
states asked WWF to coordinate the development of integrated coastal management
plans for five large coastal lagoons and wetland areas on the south-southeastern Baltic
coasts.
In the Arctic region, WWF projects support AEPS (Arctic Environmental
Protection Strategy) priorities, including conserving marine resources and developing
coastal zone and management schemes.