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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Preventing Marine Pollution from Mercury and Organochlorine compounds - remediation of EIL

Ministry of Environmental Protection (
Government
)
#OceanAction46501
    Description
    Description
    Many coastal environments have been damaged by industrial marine pollution. Even closed old facilities are still a threat to marine and coastal environments and the public, as result from long-time emmissions and discharges to the soil, the underground water and throug them, to the marine enviromnet. The majority of pollutants that impact the ocean originate from land-based sources and the cumulative impacts from localized coastal pollution can be far-reaching. The most effective way for combatting ocean pollution and its effects is to stop the pollutant at the source. The 250,000 sqm area of the EIL plant (Electorchemical Industries) is located on the northern coast of Israel within Acre municipality, only 50m from the coastline. It was, until 2005, a PVC factory, which used chemical compounds such as EDC and VCM as well as Mercury in its industrial processes. The long- term effect of this activiey was substantial soil and ground water pollution which polluted the Acre Bay waters, causing an elevation of pollutants such as Mercury and organic compounds in fish and other sea fauna. As the original owners were bankrupt, the Ministry of Environmental Protection commenced a consultation process with the area stakeholders, to create a long tern and thorough remediation plan for the treatment and rehabilitation of this “brownfield”, which is located in in beautiful, vulnerable and valuable location on the Mediterranean Sea Coast. This is the last of 7 Mediterranean Sea pollution hotspots in Israel listed under the Barcelona Convention, to be remediated. The other six have already been treated and pollution has ceased. A private consorsium of the companies Tidhar and Harel, bought this grounds and are intending to remediate and rehabilitate this area in order to build a new industrial park with residence buildings. A joint team of regulators with private sectore interpreneuers was created and set the surveys, the environmental remediation plan and all techniques to be implemneted for the full remediation of this area. The results forecasted to be reached are the mandatory maximum concentration standards for soil and underwater, and for shoreline water concentration levels to reach a maximum of 0.16 micrograms per liter of Mercury.
    Partners

    Ministry of Environmental Protection (govenment)
    Ministry of Energy and Water, Water Authority (government)
    Tidhar-Harel (private sector)

    Goal 14

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

    Goal 14

    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

    Name Description
    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
    a full compliance with a table of maximum concentrations of pollutants according to IRBECA and water standards
    Financing (in USD)
    10,000,000USD for assistance to government to restore the coastal stretch of 1500 m
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    30 September 2022 (start date)
    31 December 2040 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Ministry of Environmental Protection
    SDGs
    Other beneficiaries
    Acre municipality, Israel UNEP/MAP
    Ocean Basins
    Global
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Marine and coastal ecosystems management, Marine pollution
    Website/More information
    N/A
    Countries
    Israel
    Israel
    Headquarters
    Haifa, Israel
    Contact Information

    Ran, Director, Marine Environment Protection Division, MoEP Israel