Landbased pollution represents the single most important cause of marine pollution; the threat of landbased pollution to the marine environment is a serious one since it mainly affects coastal waters, which are sites of high biological productivity. In this chapter provides knowledge of landbased marine pollution.
LAND-BASED MARINE POLLUTION By Gohoho E Sena, Regional Maritime University LAND-BASED MARINE POLLUTION • Land-based pollution represents the single most important cause of marine pollution • The threat of land-based pollution to the marine environment is a serious one since it mainly affects coastal waters, which are sites of high biological productivity • As typically shown in Minamata disease which was caused by mercury poisoning through liquid waste from a factory in Japan, contaminations in coastal waters may pose serious risks to marine ecosystems as well as human health • Nearly half of the global population resides in coastal areas • 2/3rd of the world’s cities are coastal • Goods and services provided by marine coastal ecosystems are worth US $ 13 trillion per annum, which equals to half of the annual global GDP • Thus, there is no exaggeration to say that the very survival of coastal populations depends on a healthy marine environment • In a broad context, the land-based marine pollution is a result of the imbalance between human populations and industrial activities and the limited capacity of the marine environment to absorb the wastes they produce • It has been estimated that at least 60 percent of the world’s population live within 100 km of the coast Hence, it is conceivable that with rapid population growth, marine pollution from land-based activities will become more problematic Insert Page Title here LAND-BASED MARINE POLLUTION Insert Page Content Here Land-based marine pollution is a world-wide problem and accounts for about 80% of all marine pollution! Major Land-based Marine Pollutants • • • • • • Litter Sewage Heavy metals Nutrients Petroleum Chlorinated hydrocarbons Sources of Land-based marine Pollution • Industry • Municipal Waste • Urban and Agricultural run-off Sources – cont’d • The sources stated sometimes discharge directly into the sea • At other times, they discharge into fresh water systems which eventually drain into the sea Sources – cont’d Land-based marine pollutants enter the sea either through • Non point sources • Point sources Transboundary nature of land-based marine pollution, • Owing to the transboundary nature of land-based marine pollution, the protection of the marine environment from the land-based sources and activities cannot be achieved by only one State • Global + regional + national approach • Accordingly, the international co-operation between States becomes a prerequisite in order to prevent the land-based marine pollution • Furthermore, the establishment of international rules in this field is of particular importance with a view to ensuring fair economic competition at the international level Any global agreement/treaty? • Currently, there is no global treaty on landbased marine pollution, but there are a number of agreements between states within certain regions • Additionally, UNCLOS has some provisions on land-based marine pollution International Law Addressing Pollution from Land-based Sources (LBS):UNCLOS • Obligations under UNCLOS • Specific provisions for LBS: Art.207 • Art 207(1): States shall adopt laws and regulations to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from landbased sources, including rivers, estuaries, pipelines and outfall structures, taking into account internationally agreed rules, standards and recommended practices and procedures • Cf Art 211(2) on vessel-source marine pollution: “States shall adopt laws and regulations for the prevention, reduction and control of pollution of the marine environment from vessels flying their flag or of their registry Such laws and regulations shall at least have the same effect as that of generally accepted international rules and standards established through the competent international organization or general diplomatic conference “ International Law Addressing Pollution from Land-based Sources (LBS):UNCLOS • Art 207(3): States, acting especially through competent international organizations or diplomatic conference, shall endeavour to establish global and regional rules, standards and recommended practices and procedures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources… • “Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Landbased Activities (GPA)” • Non-binding instrument adopted in order to implement Agenda 21 • Aims to guide national and/or regional authorities in action to prevent, reduce, control and/or eliminate marine degradation from land-based activities International Law Addressing Pollution from Land-based Sources (LBS):UNCLOS • Obligation to protect the environment under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) • General provisions: Art 192-194 • Art 192: States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment • Art 193(1): States shall take, individually or jointly as appropriate, all measures consistent with this Convention that are necessary to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from any source, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with their capabilities, and they shall endeavour to harmonize their policies in this connection International Law Addressing Pollution from Land-based Sources (LBS):UNCLOS • Art 194 (1): States shall take, individually or jointly as appropriate, all measures consistent with this Convention that are necessary to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from any source, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with their capabilities, and they shall endeavour to harmonize their policies in this connection • Art.194(2): States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that activities under their jurisdiction or control are so conducted as not to cause damage by pollution to other States and their environment, and that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in accordance with this Convention Any global agreement/treaty? • The “Montreal Guidelines” also exist as a blueprint of appropriate control strategies for land based sources of marine pollution What can we do? Use environmentally safe products Compost garden and kitchen waste Dispose of trash, properly Recycle Everything! When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves David Orr CLASS TEST An ecosystem is defined as an assembly of plants, animals and bacteria which are interacting with one another in such a way as to maintain the integrity of the whole State marine pollutants that may disrupt the balance of an ecosystem and state their respective source(s) (10 minutes) akpe na mi! .. .LAND-BASED MARINE POLLUTION • Land-based pollution represents the single most important cause of marine pollution • The threat of land-based pollution to the marine environment... growth, marine pollution from land-based activities will become more problematic Insert Page Title here LAND-BASED MARINE POLLUTION Insert Page Content Here Land-based marine pollution is a world-wide... waste-water outfall E.g Point source pollution Transboundary nature of land-based marine pollution, • Owing to the transboundary nature of land-based marine pollution, the protection of the marine