Pacific Islands Marine Spill Response Plan

#SDGAction39899

Description

The Aim of PACPLAN is:To prevent/minimise damage to marine and coastal environments and resources from marine spills, and to provide systems, frameworks and guidelines to assist with response and recovery of the environment and resources damaged by marine spills in the Pacific islands region.The Objectives of PACPLAN are:■ To promote and implement regional co-operation in planning and training for marine spill response, and in the actual prevention of, and response to, marine spills;■ To facilitate actions and cooperation consistent with the noumea Pollution Protocol 1986, the OPRC Convention and the OPRC-HnS Protocol at the operational level by all SPREP members, including those that are not yet parties to these instruments;■ To provide systems for the detection and reporting of marine spills within the area covered by the plan, including communications networks;■ To outline the proactive and counter-measures available to contain and minimise the impacts of a spill on life, the environment, heritage, cultural and economic interests;■ To outline the mechanism and procedures by which SPREP island members may request assistance, in the form of specialised equipment and technical experts; from each other, from SPREP metropolitan members, or from industry;■ To provide guidance for the recovery of costs of responding to marine spills;■ To outline arrangements for resourcing maintenance of PACPLAN and associated systems by SPREP; and■ To provide a platform for information sharing and as a learning tool.

Implementation of the Project/Activity

Traditionally, spill response plans tend to focus exclusively on oil spills. Internationally, there is increasing recognition that it is more effective and efficient to integrate oil spill response arrangements with those for all pollutants, including oil and hazardous and noxious materials (HnS) as defined in the OPRC-HnS Protocol.PACPLAN therefore covers the response to spills into the marine environment of all forms of pollutants. However, it retains a focus on oil spills, as oil is the main pollutant likely to be spilled in the region.PACPLAN covers spills into the marine environment from all sources.

Partners

Cook Islands, Palau, American Samoa (U.S.), Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Northern Mariana Islands (U.S.), France, Kiribati, Samoa, French Polynesia (France), New Zealand, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Guam (U.S.), United States of America, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, New Caledonia (France), United Kingdom, Nauru, Tuvalu, Tokelau (NZ), Niue, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna (France).

SDGS & Targets

Goal 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

14.1

By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

14.1.1

(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

14.2

By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14.2.1

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

14.3

Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

14.3.1

Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

14.4

By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

14.4.1

Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

14.5

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

14.5.1

Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

14.6

By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

14.6.1

Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

14.7

By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

14.7.1

Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

14.a

Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

14.a.1

Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

14.b

Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

14.b.1

Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

14.c

Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

14.c.1

Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

SDG 14 targets covered

Deliverables & Timeline

N/A

Resources mobilized

N/A

Partnership Progress

No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.

False

Feedback

Action Network

Timeline

01 January 2014 (start date)

01 January 1970 (date of completion)

Entity

SPREP

SDGs

Region

Asia and Pacific

More information

http://www.sprep.org/attachments/Publications/PACPLAN2013_lr.pdf

Countries

N/A

Contact Information

Pacific Islands Marine Spill Response Plan, Pacific Islands Marine Spill Response Plan