IMO training on the international treaty covering waste dumping at sea, the London Protocol, took place for Algerian government officials and participants from shipping companies and port authorities. The workshop, held in Alger from 9 to 10 April, enables effective implementation of measures in order to protect the marine environment from dumping of harmful wastes at sea.
During this week’s ministerial meeting in Iceland, the Nordic ministers for the environment agreed to send a joint letter to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to address the importance of setting the bar high in order to fulfill the new targets that will take effect after 2020.
The Ocean Cleanup System 001 began operations in September 2018. Although in the beginning it seemed to have positive outcome, after sometime of operating it was acknowledged that the system was facing challenges, as the plastic was exiting the system once it was collected. Therefore, the Founder and CEO of Ocean Cleanup, Boyan Slat, explains the root causes of the system’s failure.
Australia’s Administrative Appeals Tribunal has ruled in support of Humane Society International (HSI) and ordered an end to the lethal culling of sharks in the Great Barrier Reef. They have mandated nine very important variations on the permit for 173 lethal drumlines within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
The Japanese fleet that fishes whales returned after killing 333 minke whales in the Southern Ocean. According to the Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research from the 333 killed whales, 186 were male and 181 female. Over 50% of the females were adult and preliminary analysis, such as pregnancy rates, suggest healthy fertility of the species.
A group of environmental organizations in Iceland sent an open letter to their Parliament protesting the Government’s decision to allow whale hunting until at least 2023. The letter is signed by Gaia Iceland, Jarðarvinir, Reykjavik Animal Save, Reykjavik Whale Save, Samtök grænkera á Íslandi, Sea Shepherd Iceland, SEEDS Iceland and Stop Whaling in Iceland.
Ministers from the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries issued a joint statement which describes illegal trade of wildlife as “among the greatest challenges of ASEAN as the economic, social and environmental repercussions are severe and widespread in scale.”
The B.C. government will continue expanding its ferry routes, despite National Energy Board’s statement that specifically BC Ferries generate ship noise that threatens the endangered southern resident killer whales. Although there is a plan to reduce underwater noise, BC ferries alerts that the change will be slow.
The 2019 SAFETY4SEA London Forum successfully concluded on Thursday 28th of March, at the Hellenic Centre in London, UK, attracting 175 delegates from a total of 80 organizations. Global experts provided insight on industry’s topical issues, discussing key priorities on the path to a more sustainable future and ways to face the safety, environmental and smart shipping challenges.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority announced the completion of its Fraser River Improvement Initiative. This is a two million dollar, five-year program that started in 2013 to clean up municipal waterways and shipping channels from derelict boats and structures along the Fraser River. Work on over 150 identified sites took place, with the port contacting owners and, where possible, working with them to ensure safe removal of structures or boats.
