Report on Arctic Marine Pollution

Preface

At the Nordic Council's session in November 1998 the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and the leaders of the three autonomous areas agreed to request the Ministers for the Environment to increase their focus on the marine environment problems. The Danish Prime Minister offered to hold the first meeting on this issue. It was scheduled for May 12, 1999 in connection with the meeting of the Working Group on Sea and Air.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency has prepared this report for the deliberations of the meeting of the Working Group on Sea and Air. The report is intended as background material for the group's discussions concerning the initiative of the Nordic Prime Ministers and the leaders of the three autonomous areas.

Furthermore, according to the programme of the Icelandic Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 1999, the Icelandic Presidency intends to focus on strengthening the Nordic pillar of environmental cooperation in the northern and western regions of the Nordic countries. Under the Nordic pillar the sea is a current topic. This marine focus clearly appears from the Nordic Council of Ministers' 1999 cross-disciplinary programme. All aspects of the relationship between Man and ocean and the exploitation of marine resources should be reviewed, especially pollution, protection of ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, etc.

It is proposed that the conclusions of the meeting, together with the report, be submitted via EK-M (the Committee of Senior Officials on Environmental Affairs) to the Icelandic Presidency, to be incorporated in the Presidency's considerations of the aspect of marine pollution.

This report contains a number of ideas for possible Nordic initiatives. In this connection it should be mentioned that the proposal or implementation of these ideas do not necessarily reflect Danish views. The report should be viewed as a catalogue of ideas as an attempt to identify gaps in the protection of the Arctic marine environment.