Reinitiating ICG SEA Rob van der Veeren Marilena Pollicino OSPAR Reinitiating ICG SEA Rob van der Veeren Marilena Pollicino

Reinitiating OSPAR ICG SEA UK and the Netherlands (Marilena and I) have taken the initiative to reinitiate ICG SEA Two main tasks: Develop a more coherent socio-economic description of the marine environment, which could be used as part of the OSPAR Intermediate Assessment in 2017, and the 2nd Initial Assessments Exchange information on costs, effects and benefits of various measures, to support Regional Action Plans and national Programs of Measures (2nd round) Tomorrow afternoon first meeting… …but we did some preparatory homework…

Action 1: A more coherent socio-economic description of the marine environment Many OSPAR countries used data from statistical offices for IA Before 2nd IA, it seems a good idea to align at OSPAR level what data will be asked for, since this might help to come to a uniform set of data for the whole OSPAR area Not all data will be relevant for all countries Focus is on a minimum set of indicators (‘least common denominator’) Not only interesting for update IA, but also for OSPAR Intermediate Assessment. Link with ‘Measuring the blue economy’ and other projects…. The ultimate aim of action 1 is to prepare a section for the Intermediate Assessment in (the first half of) 2017

First step: Another questionnaire… Questions asked (i.a.): Do Contracting Parties envisage an update of IA data, and when? Which sectors do Contracting Parties describe? For what years? Which economic indicators do they describe? How about geographical boundaries? Unfortunately, not all contracting parties gave answers to all questions But hopefully enough feed back for an interesting discussion tomorrow

Action 2: Exchange information on costs, effects and benefits of various measures One of the challenges in preparation of cost benefit analyses is the limited availability of relevant data: Natural science data, e.g. understanding of ecological functioning of the marine ecosystem -> Proposal ESA Work Program But also data on the costs and benefits of various measures Building a database on the costs and benefits of various measures is expected to be most useful at the level of Regional Seas: Countries sharing one sea also share problems and measures E.g. same Regional Action Plan Transferability of data requires that countries are similar But of course, we are happy to share any information with all of you!

Action 2: First step: The same questionnaire… Focus in this action is to collect and share information on costs, effects and benefits of measures. Basic question: What information is out there that contracting parties would like to share? Some contracting parties are more interested in certain environmental problems than others -> different theme leaders? First step: Questionnaire with the questions raised above…

Action 3: Micro plastics OSPAR is preparing a document on possible measures to reduce micro plastics Basic idea: Multi Criteria Analysis to come to a shortlist of potentially interesting measures Criteria used: Emission reduction, Cost effectiveness, Acceptability This document will be discussed at a meeting 9-10 December in Rotterdam (OSPAR economists welcome!) Discussion should result in agreement on criteria, weights, and possible measures Picture by Dick Vethaak

To be continued.. And then, there is joint documentation on coordination of measures…