Agenda Item 3 / MASH05/3/ -E
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OSPAR CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE NORTH-EAST ATLANTIC

MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP ON MARINE PROTECTED AREAS SPECIES AND HABITATS (MASH)

BRISTOL (UNITED KINGDOM): 3-7 OCTOBER 2005

Sturio Project :
Towards a European Action Plan for Sturgeon Conservation
Presented by WWF

Background

  1. Reference is made to the programme of work agreed by BDC2005 for the development of proposals for management measures for the protection of the species and/or habitats on the Initial OSPAR List (Annex 6 to the BDC 2005 Summary Record and/or §5.8 of the OSPAR 2005 Summary Record) and the two pertinent documents submitted to MASH 2005 in this context.
  2. Reference is further made to the original case study on management measures for the Atlantic sturgeon as prepared by Germany (BDC 05/4/2).
  3. In table 1of document MASH05/3/4, management measures for threatened and/or declining species and habitats from the Initial List and relevant authorities are summarised including for the Atlantic sturgeon.
  4. In table 2 of document MASH 05/3/5, a parallel approach is taken with regard to species and habitats from the Initial List, including Atlantic sturgeon, the specific role/task of OSPAR related to these species/habitats and the organisation or authority OSPAR should work with and, the anticipated aim of the action.
  5. WWF believes that the conservation and remediation of the sturgeon is a symbol for biodiversity maintenance: it is the most endangered fish species in Europe, on the verge of extinction at the worldwide level. At Annex 1, WWF on behalf of several international organisations and institutions and with support of the IUCN Sturgeon Expert Group outlines an international action plan for the conservation and restoration of the European sturgeon based upon four major objectives. It combines important aspects highlighted in MASH 05/3/4 and MASH 05/3/5 in one concerted project. WWF also believes that OSPAR should play a vital role in supporting the Sturio Projectby
  1. recommending management measures to the Contracting Parties concerned;
  2. cooperating actively with other international organisations; and
  3. strengthening communication, fundraising and capacity building.

Action requested

  1. MASH is invited to take note of theproject outline and consider OSPAR’s active involvement in the international action plan.

Annex 1

Sturio Project:
Towards a European Action Plan for Sturgeon Conservation

A projectof WWF-France
May 2005

By Benoît Guerin

1

OSPAR CommissionMASH05/3/ -E