OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic

◼️ Our international work supporting the OSPAR Convention◼️ The Environment Agency is proud to support the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic Convention by providing the chair of the Radioactive Substances Committee. Last week Adam Stackhouse represented the Radioactive Substances Committee at the OSPAR Commission meeting in Ostend (Belgium), where the OPSAR Commission approved publication of the latest annual discharge reports for the nuclear and non-nuclear sectors. As well as advising the OSPAR contracting parties on the work of the Radioactive Substances Committee he works with the chairs of the other OSPAR committees to seek opportunities to better deliver integrated environmental protection in an effective and proportionate manner. Adam said: “I was pleased to report at the OSPAR Commission meeting that the latest annual report shows that discharges in 2024 of total alpha and total beta emitting radionuclides from the nuclear sector are the lowest on OSPAR record (since 1989). I also reported that the latest round of BAT reporting has been completed following the submission of reports by Spain and Denmark. This reporting and the associated peer review, demonstrates the ongoing commitment of all contracting parties with nuclear facilities to apply Best Available Techniques to control discharges of radioactive substances. "It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the OSPAR Community who are dedicated to protecting our shared marine environment. OSPAR addresses a multitude of environmental pressures, of which the discharge of radioactive substance is just one. Subject matter experts are always learning from each other as we strive towards delivering the OSPAR vision of a clean, healthy and biologically diverse North-East Atlantic Ocean, which is productive, used sustainably and resilient to climate change and ocean acidification.” 📖 National BAT reports including the UK's https://lnkd.in/eViZeHvG 📖 Discharge reports https://lnkd.in/ejixFeE3 ❓ What is OSPAR? OSPAR is the mechanism by which 15 Governments and the European Union cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic https://lnkd.in/gSjTfrg 📢 OSPAR meeting press release https://lnkd.in/ecKZ9_id 📸 OSPAR Committee chairs on the beach in Ostend. Adam, Chair of Radioactive Substances, is second from right #OSPAR #nuclear

Plankton are not OK! No pelagic habitat in the Northeast Atlantic currently meets Good Environmental Status. That’s the headline result from our new paper in Ecological Indicators: "Integrating plankton indicators to assess the state of pelagic habitats in the Northeast Atlantic". I led this work with an international team of plankton scientists and policy experts to assess the condition of pelagic habitats across the region. Across all assessments, six habitat–region combinations were classified as “Not Good”, three as “Uncertain”, and one could not be assessed due to data limitations. The clearest signals of change were linked to warming seas and shifting nutrient conditions. This is all concerning as plankton underpin marine food webs, support fisheries, contribute to carbon cycling, and help regulate how marine ecosystems function. This work feeds directly into marine policy through OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, translating plankton observations into evidence for ecosystem-based management. Read our paper here: https://lnkd.in/eQzYbbvK University of Plymouth Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) The Marine Biological Association Environment Agency Scottish Association For Marine Science Scottish Government's Marine Directorate Cefas University of Lille 1 Sciences and Technology PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD) Museum national d'Histoire naturelle KNAW - Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen AquaEcology GmbH & Co. KG Aarhus University SMHI – Science, Research & Development

Exploring OSPAR’s network of protected and conserved areas became easier this week, as the OSPAR Commission launched its new Marine Protected and Conserved Areas Database and Map Explorer, giving policymakers, scientists and the public a more powerful way to explore the region’s network of area-based conservation measures. https://lnkd.in/e_NcE5Vc #MPA #OECM #OSPARprotects Explore the database https://mpca.ospar.org/ Debbie Hembury Chris Moulton

Another working cycle concluded in implementing the OSPAR vision and its North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030, and was celebrated in Ostend, thanks to the amazing Belgian hosts. A strong foundation was again set up to pursue the collective work of the OSPAR Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic in assessing the marine environment and adopting policy measures to mitigate the environmental impacts of human activities in the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR welcomed four new observer organisations that will bring additional engagement and expertise in support of OSPAR's work: the European Anglers Alliance; NEPSA - Nordic EPS Alliance; the Atlantic International Research Centre; and the Bellona Foundation. #Marineenvironment #NorthEastAtlantic #oceanprotection

Ostend, Belgium, 25 June 2026 – Countries and the European Union working together under the OSPAR Convention have agreed a series of new actions to strengthen the protection and conservation of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. Progress made this week advances implementation of the North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030 and supports OSPAR's vision of a clean, healthy and biologically diverse ocean that is productive, sustainably used, and resilient to climate change and ocean acidification. #OSPARprotects https://lnkd.in/ecKZ9_id

The OSPAR Commission is meeting this week in Oostende (Belgium) at the invitation of our hosts at the Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment. . The city is a highly symbolic location for driving OSPAR’s work forward and giving new impetus to the protection of North-East Atlantic and of the ocean as a whole. Follow for more updates. #OSPAR2026 #OSPARprotects

Interesting work being undertaken by CNRS, as part of investigating these historical dump sites, they are increasing our knowledge of the deep sea which compared to the rest of the environment is still largely unexplored. Looking forward to the discoveries and findings.

The second NODSSUM expedition is underway to continue the investigation of the low-level radioactive waste that was dumped in the North-East Atlantic. Between 1949 and 1982 low-level radioactive waste was dumped in the North-East Atlantic from vessels by a number of European countries. CNRS ‘This work is important to help us understand the fate of any releases from such historic dumped waste’ said Dr Justin Gwynn from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) and who is also a member of the OSPAR Radioactive Substances Committee. ‘The issue of dumped radioactive waste in the North-East Atlantic has long been an issue of interest to OSPAR and this work will help OSPAR address a current task under its North-East Atlantic Environment Strategy 2030 to provide updated information on such historical dump sites’ said Gwynn. https://lnkd.in/eshJtFaj Image © NODSSUM campaign, French Oceanographic Fleet & CNRS #FridayOceanFindings Adam Stackhouse LAURA DE LA TORRE Lucy Ritchie