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US mercury levels survey
MarinePollutionBulletin to preserve this human heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the present and future generations", and "recognize the threat posed by pollution to the marine environment, its ecological equilibrium, resources and legitimate uses". The Dumping Protocol, in its preamble, "recognizes the danger posed to the marine environment by pollution caused by the dumping of waste or other matter from ships and aircraft". It also "considers that the coastal states in the Mediterranean Sea have a common interest in protecting the marine environment from this danger". This Protocol establishes in its annexes two categories of pollutants. The first category, the so-called "black list", considers all substances the dumping of which is totally prohibited. The second, so-called "grey list", includes substances which may on occasion be dumped, provided that the competent national authorities issue a special dumping permit. The other Protocol calls for cooperation among Mediterranean states "whether there is a grave and imminent danger to the marine environment, the coastal or related interests that is, fishing, tourism, public health, preservation of living resources due to the presence of massive quantities of oil or other harmful substances resulting from accidental causes or an accumulation or small discharges which are polluting or threatening to pollute the sea". Among the many forms of cooperation are reporting oil spillage to other countries, or to a regional centre, or to both, and furnishing practical assistance, as ships, equipment, products and manpower.
Ebro Delta Conservation The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has asked Spain to place a moratorium on the proposed development of a tourist complex in the Ebro Delta, 150 km southwest of Barcelona, which is one of the most important wetlands remaining in Spain. In a telegram to the Inter-ministerial Commission for the Environment, the WWF Director General, Dr Fritz Vollmar, declared that a scientific study should be carried out to evaluate the development plans and to make recommendations for the best way of using the area. The Ebro Delta has international recognition as an important area for waterfowl, and some 60 000 winter there. Proposals for development in the area include a yachting harbour, airport, golf-club, and a tourist complex to support 130 000 people. Dr Vollmar said that the proposed developments would lead to considerable disruption of the natural productivity of the region and have deleterious effects on adjoining areas. He said the scientific study should take long-term conservation and ecological interests into consideration.
US Mercury Levels Survey A recent survey undertaken by the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Utilization Research Center at College Park, Maryland, has shown that the vast majority of the samples tested contained levels of mercury well 100
within the interim guidelines set by the US Food and Drug Administration. Some 2400 samples of 106 species were examined in the survey, and 94°7o of the samples contained less than the FDA guideline of 0.5 ppm. The samples containing more than 0.5 ppm were from fish not normally sold for consumption, such as sharks and groupers.
1975 ACOPS Report The need for a coordinated and well-planned maritime policy in Britain was called for by Baroness White, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS), in the Committee's 1975 annual report. Echoing the statement in the debate on sea use planning which she introduced in the House of Lords on 18 February 1976, Lady White said that at present, almost every government ministry had some say in policy making on various aspects of sea use, but there was no general overview, and little obligation to consult other interests affected. This had had some adverse consequences in matters relating to maritime pollution by oil. The committee was unhappy, said Lady White, about the way in which British policy was developed at the recent London Conference of North West European States on civil liability for pollution damage from offshore exploration and production. Whilst insurance and oil industries were consulted, the views of local authority associations, the fishing and tourist industries, were not sought, although their interests were significantly affected. ACOPS was also concerned about reduced expenditure on hydrographic research due to cuts in the defence budget. The Committee was aware that the Ministry of Defence could no longer foot the entire bill, but proper consultations among all the departments which represent civilian customers should secure adequate funds. Deepdraught tankers and other large ships face increasing dagger in inadequately charted shipping lanes. Each new survey reveals a number of unrecorded wrecks and rock pinnacles and we should consider ourselves lucky that more accidents have not taken place in waters around Britain. Lady White also drew attention to the pollution risk which the congested shipping lanes in the English Channel present if vessels do not observe the traffic separation schemes. The collision between HMS Achilles and the Liberian tanker Olympic Alliance on 13 November 1975 highlighted this problem. The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) sets up recommended routeing schemes, but they are not yet compulsory. The survey of oil pollution incidents around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, which ACOPS carries out annually, with the assistance of HM Coastguard, local authorities and other organizations, revealed that the number of spills at sea and affecting the coast increased in 1975 (the total figure showed a slight improvement in comparison with 1974, but this was due to fewer spills occurring at ports). Many areas of our coastline suffered more severe pollution and had more
Ebro Delta Conservation The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has asked Spain to place a moratorium on the proposed development of a tourist complex in the Ebro Delta, 150 km southwest of Barcelona, which is one of the most important wetlands remaining in Spain. In a telegram to the Inter-ministerial Commission for the Environment, the WWF Director General, Dr Fritz Vollmar, declared that a scientific study should be carried out to evaluate the development plans and to make recommendations for the best way of using the area. The Ebro Delta has international recognition as an important area for waterfowl, and some 60 000 winter there. Proposals for development in the area include a yachting harbour, airport, golf-club, and a tourist complex to support 130 000 people. Dr Vollmar said that the proposed developments would lead to considerable disruption of the natural productivity of the region and have deleterious effects on adjoining areas. He said the scientific study should take long-term conservation and ecological interests into consideration.
US Mercury Levels Survey A recent survey undertaken by the National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Utilization Research Center at College Park, Maryland, has shown that the vast majority of the samples tested contained levels of mercury well 100
within the interim guidelines set by the US Food and Drug Administration. Some 2400 samples of 106 species were examined in the survey, and 94°7o of the samples contained less than the FDA guideline of 0.5 ppm. The samples containing more than 0.5 ppm were from fish not normally sold for consumption, such as sharks and groupers.
1975 ACOPS Report The need for a coordinated and well-planned maritime policy in Britain was called for by Baroness White, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Oil Pollution of the Sea (ACOPS), in the Committee's 1975 annual report. Echoing the statement in the debate on sea use planning which she introduced in the House of Lords on 18 February 1976, Lady White said that at present, almost every government ministry had some say in policy making on various aspects of sea use, but there was no general overview, and little obligation to consult other interests affected. This had had some adverse consequences in matters relating to maritime pollution by oil. The committee was unhappy, said Lady White, about the way in which British policy was developed at the recent London Conference of North West European States on civil liability for pollution damage from offshore exploration and production. Whilst insurance and oil industries were consulted, the views of local authority associations, the fishing and tourist industries, were not sought, although their interests were significantly affected. ACOPS was also concerned about reduced expenditure on hydrographic research due to cuts in the defence budget. The Committee was aware that the Ministry of Defence could no longer foot the entire bill, but proper consultations among all the departments which represent civilian customers should secure adequate funds. Deepdraught tankers and other large ships face increasing dagger in inadequately charted shipping lanes. Each new survey reveals a number of unrecorded wrecks and rock pinnacles and we should consider ourselves lucky that more accidents have not taken place in waters around Britain. Lady White also drew attention to the pollution risk which the congested shipping lanes in the English Channel present if vessels do not observe the traffic separation schemes. The collision between HMS Achilles and the Liberian tanker Olympic Alliance on 13 November 1975 highlighted this problem. The Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) sets up recommended routeing schemes, but they are not yet compulsory. The survey of oil pollution incidents around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, which ACOPS carries out annually, with the assistance of HM Coastguard, local authorities and other organizations, revealed that the number of spills at sea and affecting the coast increased in 1975 (the total figure showed a slight improvement in comparison with 1974, but this was due to fewer spills occurring at ports). Many areas of our coastline suffered more severe pollution and had more