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

2. 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…

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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!

6. 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…

7. 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

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