but that prohibitions and regulations will also be necessary for trade, and for the
application and deposition of these substances in the countries which are subject to
this convention, because the Baltic Sea can only be protected against these substances
when the atmospheric transport is stopped. Annex II comprises a variety of substances which may not be released into the Baltic Sea without special permission, and
since mercury, cadmium, and persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons are listed in this
category, one can presume that in many cases permission will not be given. In the
case of domestic sewage it is obligatory that it must be treated, so that neither the
oxygen content of the Baltic Sea is reduced nor eutrophication of the Baltic Sea
takes place. There are special regulations for oil and dangerous shiploads; and ships
above a certain size which are closer than 12 nautical miles to the land are not permitted to let unpurified sewage overboard. If they are not equipped with small
sewage treatment plants of their own, they have to discharge sewage into corresponding plants in the harbors. In addition garbage may not be thrown overboard in the
Baltic Sea, apart from kitchen leftovers, and then only when the ship is more than
12 nautical miles away from land. This regulation holds even for small craft.
For the Mediterranean the neighboring states worked out the Barcelona Convention
or the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution,
on February 16, 1976, which principally refers to all types of marine pollution, but
which is primarily applicable to the dumping of harmful substances by ships, as well
as to cooperation in case of dangerous oil-spills, and in case of shipwrecks with
dangerous cargoes.
The Oslo Convention which is applicable to the area of the Atlantic Ocean between
42°W and SloE, and north of 36°N was already signed by 13 contracting states on
February 15, 1972. This Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping from Ships and Aircraft was internationally enforced on April 7, 1974.
In the meantime a similar agreement has also been worked out on a world-wide scope,
the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and
Other Matter from December 29, 1972 (London Convention) which was internationally enforced on August 30, 1975. Ninety one states are participating in this
Convention.
The "black lists" in the annex to both conventions include the substances that may
not be dumped into the ocean, because they are at the same time poisonous, persistent, and bioaccumulating, or remain floating in the water, such as organohalogen
compounds, unless they are decomposable of innocuous (the Oslo Convention also
mentions organosilicium compounds), mercury and cadmium compounds, persistent
plastic materials, cancerogenic substances (Oslo Convention only); oil and corresponding hydrocarbons, highly radioactive substances, biological and chemical
weapons (London Convention only). However, if such forbidden substances are only
contained in trace concentrations, as, for example, in sewage sludge, they do not
belong to the "black list" category.
The "gray lists" comprise substances which are either poisonous, persistent, or bioaccumulating, but which show such properties that they may be dumped into the sea
after thorough examination and with special permission; these are: arsenic, lead, copper and zinc compounds, cyanides and fluorides, furthermore radioactive substances,
pesticides, and organosilicon compounds unless already included in the "black list";
186
application and deposition of these substances in the countries which are subject to
this convention, because the Baltic Sea can only be protected against these substances
when the atmospheric transport is stopped. Annex II comprises a variety of substances which may not be released into the Baltic Sea without special permission, and
since mercury, cadmium, and persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons are listed in this
category, one can presume that in many cases permission will not be given. In the
case of domestic sewage it is obligatory that it must be treated, so that neither the
oxygen content of the Baltic Sea is reduced nor eutrophication of the Baltic Sea
takes place. There are special regulations for oil and dangerous shiploads; and ships
above a certain size which are closer than 12 nautical miles to the land are not permitted to let unpurified sewage overboard. If they are not equipped with small
sewage treatment plants of their own, they have to discharge sewage into corresponding plants in the harbors. In addition garbage may not be thrown overboard in the
Baltic Sea, apart from kitchen leftovers, and then only when the ship is more than
12 nautical miles away from land. This regulation holds even for small craft.
For the Mediterranean the neighboring states worked out the Barcelona Convention
or the Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea Against Pollution,
on February 16, 1976, which principally refers to all types of marine pollution, but
which is primarily applicable to the dumping of harmful substances by ships, as well
as to cooperation in case of dangerous oil-spills, and in case of shipwrecks with
dangerous cargoes.
The Oslo Convention which is applicable to the area of the Atlantic Ocean between
42°W and SloE, and north of 36°N was already signed by 13 contracting states on
February 15, 1972. This Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by
Dumping from Ships and Aircraft was internationally enforced on April 7, 1974.
In the meantime a similar agreement has also been worked out on a world-wide scope,
the Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and
Other Matter from December 29, 1972 (London Convention) which was internationally enforced on August 30, 1975. Ninety one states are participating in this
Convention.
The "black lists" in the annex to both conventions include the substances that may
not be dumped into the ocean, because they are at the same time poisonous, persistent, and bioaccumulating, or remain floating in the water, such as organohalogen
compounds, unless they are decomposable of innocuous (the Oslo Convention also
mentions organosilicium compounds), mercury and cadmium compounds, persistent
plastic materials, cancerogenic substances (Oslo Convention only); oil and corresponding hydrocarbons, highly radioactive substances, biological and chemical
weapons (London Convention only). However, if such forbidden substances are only
contained in trace concentrations, as, for example, in sewage sludge, they do not
belong to the "black list" category.
The "gray lists" comprise substances which are either poisonous, persistent, or bioaccumulating, but which show such properties that they may be dumped into the sea
after thorough examination and with special permission; these are: arsenic, lead, copper and zinc compounds, cyanides and fluorides, furthermore radioactive substances,
pesticides, and organosilicon compounds unless already included in the "black list";
186