Atlantic Islander
09-14-2013, 10:26 PM
The OSPAR Convention is the current legal instrument guiding international cooperation on the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. Work under the Convention is managed by the OSPAR Commission, made up of representatives of the Governments of 15 Contracting Parties and the European Commission, representing the European Union.
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Region I - Arctic Waters
Region I is the northern OSPAR region, characterised by harsh climate and ice coverage. Although there is a low population density, human activities such as fishing and offshore petroleum production are relatively important. The ecosystems in Region I are rich, in particular it is one of the most important seabird regions in the world.
Region I constitutes approximately 40% of the OSPAR maritime area. The region is characterised by a relatively harsh climate with extreme variations in light, temperature and ice cover. The flow of oceanic water through Region I is dominated by the so called "Global Conveyor Belt" with warmer surface water arriving in the region in the East, sinking at high latitudes and dense cold deep water flowing southward through the Denmark Strait in the West.
Region I is characterised by its low population density, with a total population of approximately 2.6 million. As a result, impacts of human activities related to settlements are relatively small and mostly local. Fishing and petroleum production are the most important human activities in Region I. Ocean fisheries are among the major industries in Iceland, The Faroe Islands, Norway and the north-western part of the Russian Federation. The offshore industry is of importance both in the Norwegian and Russian sectors of Region I.
In parts of Region I ice-cover occurs seasonally. The ice and ice-melt have a large influence on ecological conditions. When the ice melts, there is typically a sudden increase in light and a burst of plant growth in the form of an ice edge bloom in spring and summer. This supports large populations of fish, marine mammals and birds.
In Region I there are six species of fish that support the major fisheries in the Nordic and Barents Sea: cod, saithe, haddock, blue whiting, herring and capelin. The continental shelves along the Nordic countries are the spawning areas for many commercially important fish species. The European Arctic is one of the most important seabird regions in the world. The breeding population of seabirds is more than 25 million. In the European Arctic seabird species may be grouped into surface feeders (such as gulls, or fulmars) and pursuit diving subsurface feeders (such as Brünnich's guillemot).
In Region I the following whale species can be found: minke whale, fin whale, blue whale, pilot whale, sperm whale. The northern right whale and the bowhead whale are among the most endangered whale species in the area. Six species of seal, as well as the walrus, are found in the region: the common harbour seal, the grey seal, the harp seal, the hooded seal, the ringed seal and the bearded seal.
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Region II - Greater North Sea
The Greater North Sea is one of the busiest maritime areas. Offshore activities related to the exploitation of oil and gas reserves, and maritime traffic are very important. Two of the world's largest ports are situated on the North Sea coast, and the coastal zone is used intensively for recreation. The Greater North Sea is surrounded by densely populated, highly industrialised countries.
The Greater North Sea is situated on the continental shelf of north-west Europe. It opens into the Atlantic Ocean to the north and, via the English Channel to the south-west, and into the Baltic sea to the east. The Greater North Sea (including its estuaries and fjords) has a surface of about 750 000 km2 and a volume of about 94 000 km3, with depths not exceeding 700m. The seabed is mainly composed of mud, sandy mud, sand and gravel. The variety of marine landscapes is important: fjords, estuaries, sandbanks, bays, or intertidal mudflats...
The Greater North Sea is surrounded by densely populated, highly industrialised countries(Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and United-Kingdom). Major activities in the North Sea include fishing, the extraction of sand and gravel, and offshore activities related to the exploitation of oil and gas reserves including the laying of pipelines. The North Sea is one of the most frequently traversed sea areas of the world with two of the world's largest ports situated on its coasts (Rotterdam and Hamburg), and the coastal zone of the Greater North Sea is used intensively for agriculture and recreation.
The Greater North Sea is situated in temperate latitudes with a climate that is strongly influenced by the inflow of oceanic water from the Atlantic Ocean and by the large scale westerly air circulation which frequently contains low pressure system. Extreme weather conditions have a direct impact on hydrography, which is characterised by water exchange with surrounding ocean areas, and strong tides.
Biological systems in the Greater North Sea are rich and complex. Approximately 230 species of fish are known to inhabit the area. Some 10 million seabirds are present at most time of the year. Marine mammal species occur regularly over large parts of the North Sea including long-finned pilot whale, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, white-sided dolphin, Risso's dolphin, killer whale, grey seal, harbour seal, hooded seal.
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Region III - Celtic Seas
The Celtic Seas region contains wide variations in coastal topography, from fjordic sea lochs, to sand dunes, bays, estuaries and numerous sandy beaches. The large range of habitats in the region supports a diverse fish fauna. Although traditional maritime activities, such as fishing, take place in the Celtic seas, there is ongoing development of tourism.
Region III, the Celtic Seas, extends between 60° N and 48° N and between 5° W and the west coast of Great Britain to the 200 m depth contour to the west of 6° W. The region contains wide variations in coastal topography, including fjordic sea lochs, rocky headlands, cliff formations, salt marshes, sand dunes, bays, estuaries and numerous sandy beaches. Region III also contains a number of internationally important ports and harbours. Generally, water movement is from south to north, with oceanic water from the North Atlantic entering from the south and west of the region and moving north towards either the Arctic or North Sea. However, there are also complex intermediate water movements, particularly within the Irish Sea. The strongest winds in Region III come from the west and south, with a tendency for the strongest winds to be experienced in the north and west of the region.
The general pattern of population change in the coastal areas of Region III is one of declining numbers in the largest city centres, growing populations in the suburbs of major towns, and stable or declining populations in more rural and remote regions. There are seasonal variations in the population of many coastal resort towns. The current trend in tourism and recreation towards a diverse range of more individual pursuits (such as angling and surfing) on less developed parts of the coast can result in new pressures on natural habitats and water quality. Other human activities in the region include: fishing, mariculture, sand and gravel extraction, dredging and dumping, oil and gas exploration and production, shipping, coastal industry, military activities and agriculture.
The large range of habitats in the region support a diverse fish fauna, including many commercially important species. Many of these species have relatively short migration routes between feeding and spawning areas. The region has a large number of areas attractive to seabirds and waterfowl. The common or harbour seal and the grey seal are widely distributed throughout the region. The waters around Ireland and to the west of Scotland support a variety of cetaceans, but apart from the population of bottle-nose dolphins in Cardigan Bay, they are only occasionally seen in the Irish Sea.
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Region IV - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast
The bottom topography of Region IV and coastlines are highly diversified, including the continental shelf and slope and parts of the abyssal plain. Ecosystems in Region IV are very rich, support a rich fish fauna and have a particular importance for migratory birds. Main human activities in region IV are fishing, maritime transport and tourism.
The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast region extends from 48°N to 36° N and from 11° W to the coastlines of France, Portugal and Spain. The bottom topography of region IV is highly variable, from continental shelf to abyssal plain. You can find in region IV some remarkable topographic features such as seamounts, banks and submarine canyons. The coastline is also highly diversified with estuaries, rias and wetlands, which all support extremely productive ecosystems.
The main human activities in the region include tourism, fishing and aquaculture, shipping, sand and gravel extraction, and new development of wave, tide and wind power generation. The coastal strip has an increasing high population density. Industries of various types, agriculture and land based activities are located along the coasts.
The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast region is situated in temperate latitudes with a climate that is strongly influenced by the inflow of oceanic water from the Atlantic Ocean and by the large scale westerly air circulation which frequently contains low pressure system. Large storms occur in the Bay of Biscay, especially during the winter months.
Region IV is highly diverse, having many different types of coastal habitats, such as rocky cliffs, shingles, rocky shores, sandy and muddy shores, coastal lagoons and estuaries. A large variety of marine mammal's species, both boreal and temperate, have been reported in the region, including 30 species of cetaceans and 7 species of seals. Even if the seabird community is dominated by sea gulls, the Iberian Peninsula is at a strategic geographical position regarding the migratory behaviour of other seabird's species. The nesting seabird community is very poor in comparison with other European Atlantic areas, but it improves appreciably during migrations and winter. The autumn passage of species such as Balearic shearwater or great cormorant is particularly important in the region. As for fish, 700 described species are present in Region IV. Due to oceanographic conditions, many species reach their southern or northern limits of distribution in the Bay of Biscay such as the Albacore or the blue fin tuna which live in subtropical areas of the western Atlantic and make annual migrations to the Bay of Biscay. The majority of fish in region IV are species living near the bottom of the sea (for example sole, dogfish or blue whiting) with limited geographical range, unless they are deep-water species. Pelagic fish such as sardine or mackerel has wide geographic distribution from Africa to Northern Europe.
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Region V - Wider Atlantic
Region V represents the deep waters of the North-East Atlantic extending across the abyssal plain and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and including many seamounts. There have been recent discoveries of a number of different fragile deep-sea habitats (such as hydrothermal vents, carbonate mounds, coral gardens and sponge communities). Human population in the region is restricted to the Azores Archipelago. The main human activities are fishing and maritime transport.
Region V, the Wider Atlantic, extends between 62° N and 36° N and from 42° W to 10° W off Iberia and France and the 200 m depth contour off Ireland and the British Isles.
Region V represents the deep waters of the North-East Atlantic. Its topography ranges from continental slopes, through the sharply fluctuating seabed associated with seamounts, banks of fragmented continental rocks and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, to extensive areas of almost featureless abyssal plain.
Hence the North Atlantic is a pivotal region from which oceanic and climatic fluctuations are rapidly transferred to all other oceans. Movement in the upper layers of the water column is generally from west to east. There are outflows to the Nordic Seas in the north-east, and these are important in maintaining a relatively mild climate in North-West Europe. In the deeper layers there are inflows of bottom waters from the Mediterranean Sea (originating in the Southern Ocean) and, most importantly, of cold waters spilling over the shallow banks from the Nordic Seas. At intermediate depths cold water also flows in from the Labrador Sea. The region also includes the meandering sub-polar front which separates cool northern waters from warmer southern waters and sustains a relatively high abundance and biomass across the foodweb.
Bottom sediments vary according to the topography and the local currents. Where the topography is rugged, crustal rocks may be exposed, especially along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and in the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone where the seafloor was formed relatively recently. However, on the abyssal plains the seabed is generallycovered with thick accumulations of sediment. Throughout much of the region the prevailing winds are south-westerly. The winds in the region are influenced by depressions, which typically track across the region from the south-west. The frequency and violence of storms increase in winter, and from south to north.
Human population in the region is restricted to the Azores Archipelago. Improvements in local infrastructure resulting from European Union grants and the development of a thriving tourist industry have reversed a slow decline in population. The growth of the cruise industry has resulted in a considerable increase in the size of cruise ships crossing the region. Tourism is of considerable importance to the economy of the Azores. Inshore activities have increased, as has ecotourism especially whale watching. Fishing activities within Region V are highly diverse including inshore fisheries in the Azores and deep sea fisheries on several seamounts and the Rekjanes ridge. Other human activities include: sand and gravel extraction (only around the Azores), shipping, the laying of communication cables and military activities.
Pelagic faunas are twice as diverse to the south of 40º N than to the north, but their biomass shows the reverse. The benthic communities are much richer in species than the pelagic communities, and show a similar latitudinal step in species richness. Deeper-living species of fish are almost without exception slower-growing, longer-lived and less fecund than their shallow-living counterparts. In addition, there have been recent discoveries of a number of different fragile deep-sea habitats (such as hydrothermal vents, carbonate mounds, cold-water coral reefs, coral gardens and sponge communities).
source (http://www.ospar.org/welcome.asp?menu=0)
http://imageshack.us/a/img826/7269/jp23.png
http://imageshack.us/a/img841/8057/nbu.gif
Region I - Arctic Waters
Region I is the northern OSPAR region, characterised by harsh climate and ice coverage. Although there is a low population density, human activities such as fishing and offshore petroleum production are relatively important. The ecosystems in Region I are rich, in particular it is one of the most important seabird regions in the world.
Region I constitutes approximately 40% of the OSPAR maritime area. The region is characterised by a relatively harsh climate with extreme variations in light, temperature and ice cover. The flow of oceanic water through Region I is dominated by the so called "Global Conveyor Belt" with warmer surface water arriving in the region in the East, sinking at high latitudes and dense cold deep water flowing southward through the Denmark Strait in the West.
Region I is characterised by its low population density, with a total population of approximately 2.6 million. As a result, impacts of human activities related to settlements are relatively small and mostly local. Fishing and petroleum production are the most important human activities in Region I. Ocean fisheries are among the major industries in Iceland, The Faroe Islands, Norway and the north-western part of the Russian Federation. The offshore industry is of importance both in the Norwegian and Russian sectors of Region I.
In parts of Region I ice-cover occurs seasonally. The ice and ice-melt have a large influence on ecological conditions. When the ice melts, there is typically a sudden increase in light and a burst of plant growth in the form of an ice edge bloom in spring and summer. This supports large populations of fish, marine mammals and birds.
In Region I there are six species of fish that support the major fisheries in the Nordic and Barents Sea: cod, saithe, haddock, blue whiting, herring and capelin. The continental shelves along the Nordic countries are the spawning areas for many commercially important fish species. The European Arctic is one of the most important seabird regions in the world. The breeding population of seabirds is more than 25 million. In the European Arctic seabird species may be grouped into surface feeders (such as gulls, or fulmars) and pursuit diving subsurface feeders (such as Brünnich's guillemot).
In Region I the following whale species can be found: minke whale, fin whale, blue whale, pilot whale, sperm whale. The northern right whale and the bowhead whale are among the most endangered whale species in the area. Six species of seal, as well as the walrus, are found in the region: the common harbour seal, the grey seal, the harp seal, the hooded seal, the ringed seal and the bearded seal.
http://imageshack.us/a/img22/5476/p66.gif
Region II - Greater North Sea
The Greater North Sea is one of the busiest maritime areas. Offshore activities related to the exploitation of oil and gas reserves, and maritime traffic are very important. Two of the world's largest ports are situated on the North Sea coast, and the coastal zone is used intensively for recreation. The Greater North Sea is surrounded by densely populated, highly industrialised countries.
The Greater North Sea is situated on the continental shelf of north-west Europe. It opens into the Atlantic Ocean to the north and, via the English Channel to the south-west, and into the Baltic sea to the east. The Greater North Sea (including its estuaries and fjords) has a surface of about 750 000 km2 and a volume of about 94 000 km3, with depths not exceeding 700m. The seabed is mainly composed of mud, sandy mud, sand and gravel. The variety of marine landscapes is important: fjords, estuaries, sandbanks, bays, or intertidal mudflats...
The Greater North Sea is surrounded by densely populated, highly industrialised countries(Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and United-Kingdom). Major activities in the North Sea include fishing, the extraction of sand and gravel, and offshore activities related to the exploitation of oil and gas reserves including the laying of pipelines. The North Sea is one of the most frequently traversed sea areas of the world with two of the world's largest ports situated on its coasts (Rotterdam and Hamburg), and the coastal zone of the Greater North Sea is used intensively for agriculture and recreation.
The Greater North Sea is situated in temperate latitudes with a climate that is strongly influenced by the inflow of oceanic water from the Atlantic Ocean and by the large scale westerly air circulation which frequently contains low pressure system. Extreme weather conditions have a direct impact on hydrography, which is characterised by water exchange with surrounding ocean areas, and strong tides.
Biological systems in the Greater North Sea are rich and complex. Approximately 230 species of fish are known to inhabit the area. Some 10 million seabirds are present at most time of the year. Marine mammal species occur regularly over large parts of the North Sea including long-finned pilot whale, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, white-sided dolphin, Risso's dolphin, killer whale, grey seal, harbour seal, hooded seal.
http://imageshack.us/a/img34/3295/3aqd.gif
Region III - Celtic Seas
The Celtic Seas region contains wide variations in coastal topography, from fjordic sea lochs, to sand dunes, bays, estuaries and numerous sandy beaches. The large range of habitats in the region supports a diverse fish fauna. Although traditional maritime activities, such as fishing, take place in the Celtic seas, there is ongoing development of tourism.
Region III, the Celtic Seas, extends between 60° N and 48° N and between 5° W and the west coast of Great Britain to the 200 m depth contour to the west of 6° W. The region contains wide variations in coastal topography, including fjordic sea lochs, rocky headlands, cliff formations, salt marshes, sand dunes, bays, estuaries and numerous sandy beaches. Region III also contains a number of internationally important ports and harbours. Generally, water movement is from south to north, with oceanic water from the North Atlantic entering from the south and west of the region and moving north towards either the Arctic or North Sea. However, there are also complex intermediate water movements, particularly within the Irish Sea. The strongest winds in Region III come from the west and south, with a tendency for the strongest winds to be experienced in the north and west of the region.
The general pattern of population change in the coastal areas of Region III is one of declining numbers in the largest city centres, growing populations in the suburbs of major towns, and stable or declining populations in more rural and remote regions. There are seasonal variations in the population of many coastal resort towns. The current trend in tourism and recreation towards a diverse range of more individual pursuits (such as angling and surfing) on less developed parts of the coast can result in new pressures on natural habitats and water quality. Other human activities in the region include: fishing, mariculture, sand and gravel extraction, dredging and dumping, oil and gas exploration and production, shipping, coastal industry, military activities and agriculture.
The large range of habitats in the region support a diverse fish fauna, including many commercially important species. Many of these species have relatively short migration routes between feeding and spawning areas. The region has a large number of areas attractive to seabirds and waterfowl. The common or harbour seal and the grey seal are widely distributed throughout the region. The waters around Ireland and to the west of Scotland support a variety of cetaceans, but apart from the population of bottle-nose dolphins in Cardigan Bay, they are only occasionally seen in the Irish Sea.
http://imageshack.us/a/img850/3793/h9o.gif
Region IV - Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast
The bottom topography of Region IV and coastlines are highly diversified, including the continental shelf and slope and parts of the abyssal plain. Ecosystems in Region IV are very rich, support a rich fish fauna and have a particular importance for migratory birds. Main human activities in region IV are fishing, maritime transport and tourism.
The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast region extends from 48°N to 36° N and from 11° W to the coastlines of France, Portugal and Spain. The bottom topography of region IV is highly variable, from continental shelf to abyssal plain. You can find in region IV some remarkable topographic features such as seamounts, banks and submarine canyons. The coastline is also highly diversified with estuaries, rias and wetlands, which all support extremely productive ecosystems.
The main human activities in the region include tourism, fishing and aquaculture, shipping, sand and gravel extraction, and new development of wave, tide and wind power generation. The coastal strip has an increasing high population density. Industries of various types, agriculture and land based activities are located along the coasts.
The Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast region is situated in temperate latitudes with a climate that is strongly influenced by the inflow of oceanic water from the Atlantic Ocean and by the large scale westerly air circulation which frequently contains low pressure system. Large storms occur in the Bay of Biscay, especially during the winter months.
Region IV is highly diverse, having many different types of coastal habitats, such as rocky cliffs, shingles, rocky shores, sandy and muddy shores, coastal lagoons and estuaries. A large variety of marine mammal's species, both boreal and temperate, have been reported in the region, including 30 species of cetaceans and 7 species of seals. Even if the seabird community is dominated by sea gulls, the Iberian Peninsula is at a strategic geographical position regarding the migratory behaviour of other seabird's species. The nesting seabird community is very poor in comparison with other European Atlantic areas, but it improves appreciably during migrations and winter. The autumn passage of species such as Balearic shearwater or great cormorant is particularly important in the region. As for fish, 700 described species are present in Region IV. Due to oceanographic conditions, many species reach their southern or northern limits of distribution in the Bay of Biscay such as the Albacore or the blue fin tuna which live in subtropical areas of the western Atlantic and make annual migrations to the Bay of Biscay. The majority of fish in region IV are species living near the bottom of the sea (for example sole, dogfish or blue whiting) with limited geographical range, unless they are deep-water species. Pelagic fish such as sardine or mackerel has wide geographic distribution from Africa to Northern Europe.
http://imageshack.us/a/img802/1226/3ey.gif
Region V - Wider Atlantic
Region V represents the deep waters of the North-East Atlantic extending across the abyssal plain and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and including many seamounts. There have been recent discoveries of a number of different fragile deep-sea habitats (such as hydrothermal vents, carbonate mounds, coral gardens and sponge communities). Human population in the region is restricted to the Azores Archipelago. The main human activities are fishing and maritime transport.
Region V, the Wider Atlantic, extends between 62° N and 36° N and from 42° W to 10° W off Iberia and France and the 200 m depth contour off Ireland and the British Isles.
Region V represents the deep waters of the North-East Atlantic. Its topography ranges from continental slopes, through the sharply fluctuating seabed associated with seamounts, banks of fragmented continental rocks and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, to extensive areas of almost featureless abyssal plain.
Hence the North Atlantic is a pivotal region from which oceanic and climatic fluctuations are rapidly transferred to all other oceans. Movement in the upper layers of the water column is generally from west to east. There are outflows to the Nordic Seas in the north-east, and these are important in maintaining a relatively mild climate in North-West Europe. In the deeper layers there are inflows of bottom waters from the Mediterranean Sea (originating in the Southern Ocean) and, most importantly, of cold waters spilling over the shallow banks from the Nordic Seas. At intermediate depths cold water also flows in from the Labrador Sea. The region also includes the meandering sub-polar front which separates cool northern waters from warmer southern waters and sustains a relatively high abundance and biomass across the foodweb.
Bottom sediments vary according to the topography and the local currents. Where the topography is rugged, crustal rocks may be exposed, especially along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and in the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone where the seafloor was formed relatively recently. However, on the abyssal plains the seabed is generallycovered with thick accumulations of sediment. Throughout much of the region the prevailing winds are south-westerly. The winds in the region are influenced by depressions, which typically track across the region from the south-west. The frequency and violence of storms increase in winter, and from south to north.
Human population in the region is restricted to the Azores Archipelago. Improvements in local infrastructure resulting from European Union grants and the development of a thriving tourist industry have reversed a slow decline in population. The growth of the cruise industry has resulted in a considerable increase in the size of cruise ships crossing the region. Tourism is of considerable importance to the economy of the Azores. Inshore activities have increased, as has ecotourism especially whale watching. Fishing activities within Region V are highly diverse including inshore fisheries in the Azores and deep sea fisheries on several seamounts and the Rekjanes ridge. Other human activities include: sand and gravel extraction (only around the Azores), shipping, the laying of communication cables and military activities.
Pelagic faunas are twice as diverse to the south of 40º N than to the north, but their biomass shows the reverse. The benthic communities are much richer in species than the pelagic communities, and show a similar latitudinal step in species richness. Deeper-living species of fish are almost without exception slower-growing, longer-lived and less fecund than their shallow-living counterparts. In addition, there have been recent discoveries of a number of different fragile deep-sea habitats (such as hydrothermal vents, carbonate mounds, cold-water coral reefs, coral gardens and sponge communities).
source (http://www.ospar.org/welcome.asp?menu=0)