Switzerland expands marine biology protection measures
The Swiss government on Monday approved additional measures aimed at helping protect and conserve ecosystems and biological diversity of maritime areas.
The Swiss government on Monday approved additional measures aimed at helping protect and conserve ecosystems and biological diversity of maritime areas.
The measures are enshrined in an annex to the 1992 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), which Switzerland ratified along with 14 other nations. The OSPAR convention entered into force in March last year.
Swiss approval of the annex was meant to signal that Switzerland, even though it is a landlocked country, is supporting international measures to protect marine ecosystems, the government said.
Signatories to the OSPAR convention pledge to protect the environment by preventing discharges of dangerous substances from land-based sources, water courses or pipelines.
Member states also agreed to phase out the dumping at sea of sewage sludge, dredged material and the incineration at sea of industrial wastes.
Approval of the annex will allow Switzerland to join international programmes that are aimed at protecting plant and animal life in coastal regions.
From staff and wire reports.
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