Eric J. Byrne
Ceist:58 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the progress made to date with regard to the preparation of the Ospar report in respect of region III; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3656/97]
Vol. 474 No. 6
58 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for the Marine the progress made to date with regard to the preparation of the Ospar report in respect of region III; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3656/97]
Preparations are under way for the completion of an environmental quality status report (QSR) for the entire area covered by the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) to which Ireland is a party. The information gathered in this report will allow for assessment of the environment of the area, including water quality, and will provide a firm basis for future monitoring and management of the maritime area covered by the OSPAR Convention.
For the purpose of the report the Convention area has been divided into five sub-regions. Ireland and the UK are responsible for the preparation of the report in respect of that part of the North-East Atlantic region (Celtic Seas) extending westwards of the UK mainland to the edge of the continental shelf, 200m depth. the area includes all of Ireland's marine and coastal areas.
The report will comprise a compilation of existing knowledge — physics, chemistry, biology, human activities — of the area; an assessment of this information in relation to agreed criteria of environmental quality and a statement of the prevailing condition of the report.