Technical guidelines

As part of the implementation of the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols, the Contracting Parties adopt programmes and measures which contain, where appropriate, time limits for their completion and utilize the best available techniques and best environmental practices.

In this endeavor, the application of, access to and transfer of environmentally sound technology, including clean production technologies, taking into account the social, economic and technological conditions of the Contracting Parties, constitute overarching considerations.

MAP underpins the implementation of the aforementioned programmes and measures through the development of technical guidelines, including criteria and procedures addressing specific aspects and technical issues.

The following provides a non-exhaustive list of technical guidelines developed by the MAP system and categorized by theme.

 

Guidelines developed under the Protocols of the Barcelona Convention

Land-based Sources and Activities

Overarching guidelines

• Guidelines on National Action Plans (NAP)
• Guidance on cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis
• Approaches to estimating the costs for the Regional Plans / legally binding measures adopted by the Contracting Parties
• Guidelines on National Baseline Budget (NBB)
• Guidelines on Common hotspot and sensitive areas assessment criteria

Sectoral technical guidelines

Urban Environment - guidelines for sewage and solid waste collection, treatment and disposal, including:

• Guidelines on municipal wastewater
• Guidelines on marine litter management, including regional guidelines addressing key marine litter prevention and reduction measures (Adopt-a-Beach)

Industrial Development:

• Guidelines for industrial wastewater, application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) and Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for management of pollutants such as BOD, PCB, hazardous wastes, organometallic and organohalogen compounds and key industrial sectors
• Updated Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Guidelines

Physical alternations and destruction of habitats:

• Good agricultural practices
• Guidance on preservation of habitats
• Guidelines on desalination

Other guidelines

• Guidelines: Adopt-a-Beach; Phase-out of Single Use Plastic Bags; Provision of Reception Facilities in Ports and the Delivery of Ship-Generated Wastes; Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs for the Use of Port Reception Facilities (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/11)
• Updated guidelines on the management of desalination activities (COP20 2017 - Decision IG.23/13)
• Guidelines on Best Environmental Practices (BEP) for the Environmental Sound Management (ESM) of Mercury Contaminated Sites (COP19 2016 - Decision IG.22/09)
• Implementing the Marine Litter Regional Plan in the Mediterranean (Fishing for Litter Guidelines, Assessment Report, Baselines Values, and Reduction Targets) (COP19 2016 - Decision IG.22/10)

Pollution by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft or Incineration at Sea

• Updated Guidelines Regulating the Placement of Artificial Reefs at Sea (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/12)
• Updated Guidelines on Management of Dredged Materials (COP20 2017 - Decision IG.23/12)
• Guidelines for the management of dredged material as adopted by the Contracting Parties (COP11 1999)

Pollution from Ships and in Cases of Emergency

• Guidelines: Adopt-a-Beach; Phase-out of Single Use Plastic Bags; Provision of Reception Facilities in Ports and the Delivery of Ship-Generated Wastes; Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs for the Use of Port Reception Facilities (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/11)
• Guidelines concerning pleasure craft activities and the protection of the marine environment in the Mediterranean (COP15 2008 - Decision IG.17/09)
• Guidelines on the decision making process for granting access to a place of refuge for ships in need of assistance (COP15 2008 - Decision IG.17/10)
• Guidelines concerning the Exchange of Liaison Officers between the Contracting Parties in Case of Response Operations Involving Several States. Guidelines Concerning Arrangements Which Might be made With a View to Ensuring, in Case of an Accident, Liaison between the Governmental Authorities and other Interested Parties (COP9 1995)

Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil

• Mediterranean Offshore Guidelines and Standards: (a) Common Standards and Guidance on the Disposal of Oil and Oily Mixtures and the Use and Disposal of Drilling Fluids and Cuttings; (b) Common Standards and Guidelines for Special Restrictions or Conditions for Specially Protected Areas (SPA) within the Framework of the Mediterranean Offshore Action Plan (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/09)

Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal

• "Implementation of and reporting on Guidelines for the determination of Liability and Compensation for damages resulting from pollution of the Marine Environment in the Mediterranean Sea Area" (COP16 2009 - Decision IG.19/03)
• Guidelines for the Determination of Liability and Compensation for Damage resulting from Pollution of the Marine Environment in the Mediterranean Sea Area (COP15 2008 - Decision IG.17/04)

Integrated Coastal Areas Management

• The ICZM Process - a Roadmap towards Coastal Sustainability
• SUPREME - Recommendations and guidelines to support Barcelona Convention principles in MSP activities
• SUPREME - How to perform analysis of land-sea interactions combining MSP and ICZM in the considered project area
• SIMWESTMED - Relationship between LSI and ICZM
• PAN Adriatic scope - Adriatic-Ionian cooperation towards MSP
• PHAROS4MPAs: Recommendations for the Cruise Sector
• PHAROS4MPAs: Recommendations for the Tour Boats Sector
• The Governance of Coastal Wetlands in the Mediterranean – a Handbook

Offshore and pollution from ships

• Operational Guidelines on the provision of reception facilities in ports and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in the Mediterranean
• Guidance Document to determine the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of the No-Special-Fee system, in the Mediterranean (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/11)
• Guide for Risks of Gaseous releases resulting from Maritime Accidents
• Mediterranean Offshore Guidelines and Standards: Draft Guidelines on the Disposal of Oil and Oily Mixtures, and on the Use and Disposal of Drilling Fluids and Cuttings (COP21 2019 - Decision IG.24/09)
• Guidance Document for the preparation of National Action Plans for the implementation of the Regional Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine Pollution from Ships (2016-2021)
• Mediterranean Guide on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Responding to Marine Pollution Incidents (COP 20 2017 - Decision IG.23/11)
• Mediterranean Offshore Guidelines and Standards: Guidelines for the Conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Biodiversity and Marine Protected Areas

• Guidelines for strengthening the sustainable socio-economic role of Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Protected Areas
• How to reach the qualitative aspects of Aichi Target 11 in the Mediterranean
• Guidelines for Standardization of Mapping and Monitoring Methods of Marine Magnoliophyta in the Mediterranean
• Guidelines for setting up and management of Specially Protected Areas for marine turtles in the Mediterranean
• Guidelines for the Establishment and Management of Marine Protected Areas for Cetaceans
• Guidelines for management and monitoring threatened population of marine and coastal bird species and their important areas in the Mediterranean
• Best practice guidelines for Aquaculture and sustainable management in Mediterranean coastal wetlands
• Guidelines for the establishment and management of Mediterranean Marine and Coastal Protected Areas
• Guidelines to improve the involvement of marine rescue centres for marine turtles
• Guidelines to design legislation and regulations relative to the conservation and management of marine turtle populations and their habitats
• Guidelines for Commercial Cetacean-Watching Activities in the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area
• Guidelines for the Development of National Networks of Cetacean Strandings Monitoring
• Guidelines for impact assessment on seagrass meadows
• Guidelines for reducing by catch of seabirds in the Mediterranean region
• Guidelines for the elaboration of National Action plans for the conservation of marine and coastal birds
• Guidelines for shark and ray recreational fishing in the Mediterranean
• Guidelines for reducing the presence of sensitive Chondrichthyan species within by-catch
• Guidelines for controlling the vectors of the introduction into the Mediterranean of non-indigenous species and invasive marine species
• Guidelines for inventorying and monitoring of dark habitats in the Mediterranean Sea
• Standard methods for inventorying and monitoring coralligenous and rhodoliths assemblages