| Issues The two mainstays of Seas At Risk's work in recent years have been the regulation of shipping and fisheries. The protection of marine species and habitats has also been important, and more recently we have started to focus on cross-sectoral EU level initiatives: initially the EU Marine Strategy and more recently the EU's Integrated Maritime Policy. Work on climate change and the marine environment, including the role to be played by the shipping and fishing industries in tackling climate change, started in 2008.
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Climate & Oceans
Increasing levels of man-made greenhouse gases are leading to global climate change with catastrophic long-term implications for the marine environment. Stopping the rise in temperatures is the most important and urgent task facing mankind and requires action by all industries including shipping and fishing.
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Fisheries
Over fishing is widely acknowledged to be one of the major threats to marine biodiversity. Seas At Risk promotes sustainable fisheries management for the benefit of both fishers and the environment.
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Shipping
Seas At Risk has a long history of working on shipping and environment issues. This has involved activities within the North Sea Conference process, the International Maritime Organisation, at EU level, and more recently within the OSPAR Commission. Issues covered include the Clean Ship approach, port waste reception facilities, harmful antifoulings, ballast water, and tanker safety.
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Marine Strategy Directive
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first all-encompassing piece of European legislation specifically aimed at the protection of the marine environment. Its ultimate objective is to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES) in all European waters by 2020 at the latest.
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Integrated Maritime Policy
The Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) seeks to enhance the coherence and coordination of maritime policies across sectors. Seas At Risk seeks to ensure that environmental protection is at the heart of any long-term economic agenda and in full compliance with the EU's Good Environmental Status 2020 objective.
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Offshore Drilling
On the 20th April 2010 an offshore drilling rig in the US Gulf coast exploded, killing 11 workers and leading to the release of an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the marine environment. It is one of the worst environmental disasters ever recorded and has highlighted the risky business of offshore oil drilling and the devastating impacts that can result from such activity. The event has also acted as a catalyst for a European and global response to ensure that lessons are learned and actions are taken to fully protect against oil spills from offshore installations.
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Marine litter
The European marine environment has become engulfed in litter, most of which is plastic. It is an entirely anthropogenic pollutant that damages not only the marine environment, but also marine industries and the aesthetic quality of coastal environments. It is multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral and it is a human responsibility to significantly reduce quantities of marine litter in the short term and ultimately act towards resolving the problem for future generations.
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