International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Determination of Priority Actions for the Further Elaboration and Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Mediterranean Sea - Results

GEF IDS: 68 , 461 , 2600

Ecosystem
LME

Scale
Regional

Information sources
#461: UNEP Terminal Evaluation (2006), #68: IWC6 Results Note (2011), #68: World Bank Terminal Evaluation (2000), #2600: GEF 4 Tracking Tool (2010), #2600: IWC6 Results Note (2011)

Key Basin Project Results
[LME/Regional]
"1. The project has contributed to the adoption and ratification of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Protocol of the Barcelona Convention, which came into force in March 2011. It is also supporting countries for its implementation, including the integration of water resource and aquifer management, through capacity building and 13 demonstration projects.
2. The transfer of Environmentally Sound Technology (TEST) is being successfully implemented in 43 industries, using innovative measures to significantly reduce pollution loads and improve water productivity.
3. Establishment of a more effective network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) through capacity building and implementation of 13 demonstrations. As a result, Libya has established its first MPA, (Ain AlGhazalah), MPA management plans have been drafted in Croatia, Algeria, and Turkey, and more than 300 MPA practitioners trained throughout the region." (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)

[Oil Pollution]
"Tunisia
1. Compliance with the effluent standard: As a result of the project, effluents from deballasting stations decreased and were kept below 15 ppm. Pollution funds have been set up, and decrees and laws regarding fees and fined to be paid by polluters have been revised and enforced. A model for recovering the operation and investment cost of the deballasting station has been developed for port authorities.
2. Reduction in potential negative environmental: Improved the operational efficiency of the deballasting station located in the port of Bizerte to receive and handle ballast waters and bilge waters, and installed additional transport related equipment to transport waste oils and related products.1,300,000 ton/year oily materials was treated.
3. Reduction in potential negative environmental: 14,000 ton/year lubricants were treated

Morocco
1. Compliance with the effluent standard: As a result of the project, effluents from deballasting stations decreased and were kept below 15 ppm. Pollution funds have been set up, and decrees and laws regarding fees and fined to be paid by polluters have been revised and enforced. A model for recovering the operation and investment cost of the deballasting station has been developed for port authorities.
2. Reduction in potential negative environmental: Rehabilitation of the deballasting station located in the port of Mohammedia to receive and handle ballast waters and bilge waters. 38,000 m3 treated and 3,300 tons of the recovered oily materials produced and sold.
3. Improved country’s capabilities to deal with accidental oil spills: Training has been provided for those who are responsible for combating oil spills, and for control of navigation traffic, deballasting stations, and oil terminals. Three main groups participated in the program: Level I included management personnel of port enterprises, supervising officers managing the civil protection function, and those responsible for coordinating the intervention in case of accidental oil spills. Level II included port officers, and civil protection staff responsible for organizing and managing the protection of coastal sites. Level III included ground staff of the port enterprises and assistant civil protection officers likely to be managing the cleanup sites or putting equipment into operation. 128 technical and management staff was trained.

Algeria
1. Baseline established: As part of the Oil spill National Contingency Plan, a baseline data and measuring locations was established in designated areas agreed upon with the Bank. It was essential to be able to assess the impact of the project on improving the quality of sea water.
2. Compliance with the effluent standard: As a result of the project, effluents from deballasting stations decreased and were kept below 15 ppm. Pollution funds have been set up, and decrees and laws regarding fees and fined to be paid by polluters have been revised and enforced. A model for recovering the operation and investment cost of the deballasting station has been developed for port authorities.
3. Improved country’s capabilities to deal with accidental oil spills: Training has been provided for those who are responsible for combating oil spills, and for control of navigation traffic, deballasting stations, and oil terminals. Three main groups participated in the program: Level I included management personnel of port enterprises, supervising officers managing the civil protection function, and those responsible for coordinating the intervention in case of accidental oil spills. Level II included port officers, and civil protection staff responsible for organizing and managing the protection of coastal sites. Level III included ground staff of the port enterprises and assistant civil protection officers likely to be managing the cleanup sites or putting equipment into operation. 128 technical and management staff was trained." (#68, Southwest Mediterranean Sea Oil)

Catalytic Impacts
The project, with due adaptation and using the lessons learnt in the Mediterranean, could be quite easily replicated in other Regional Seas. (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)

Results data
Proportion of countries that are implementing specific measures from the SAP (i.e. adopted national policies, laws, budgeted plans)
Year: N/A - Value: 0.5
INDICATOR#1 Preparation and adoption of regional and national policy/legal/institutional reforms in all countries (Between 5 and 10 regional and national policy documents and plans developed and adopted by relevant authorities).
RESULTS: The ICZM Protocol entered into force with 6 ratifications on March 24th 2011 (the fastest entry of all Protocols to the Barcelona Convention) and the Strategy for Water in the Mediterranean (SWM) has been drafted through an inclusive process, with final approval pending. (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)
Industrial wastewater pollution reduction
Year: N/A - Value: [see desc]
[LME/Regional]
"INDICATOR#5 Establishment of a baseline data on oil content in sea water
A baseline established in December 1995.
The project addressed potential negative environmental impacts on discharged ballast and bilge waters, as well as accidental oil spills, in the southwestern Mediterranean.

INDICATOR#1 Reduction in effluent from deballasting station
Effluent from deballasting station not to exceed 15 ppm.

Morocco
INDICATOR#2 Oily material treated
38,000 m3 treated and 3,300 tons of the recovered oily materials produced and sold.

Tunisia
INDICATOR#2 Oily material treated
1,300,000 ton/year oily materials and 14,000 ton/year lubricants were treated.

Algeria
INDICATOR#2 Oily material treated
Improved the operational efficiency of the deballasting station located in the port of Arzew to receive and handle ballast waters and bilge waters, and installed additional related laboratory equipment (four laboratories equipped) to monitor oil content in the sea water." (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)

[Oil Pollution]
INDICATOR#2: Reduction of pollution loads at the industrial demonstration enterprises (Approx. 30% reduction of pollution loads in at least half of the companies as a result of the implementation of TEST. RESULT: Demonstrations still underway and results under quantification, although initial results indicate target will be me (#68, Southwest Mediterranean Sea Oil)
Water use efficiency measures
Year: N/A - Value: [see desc]
INDICATOR#1: Water use efficiency at demonstration enterprises increased by 40% (Reduction of 40% in at least in half of the companies as a result of the implementation of TEST)
RESULT: Demonstrations still underway and results under quantification, although initial results indicate target will be met. (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)
Establishment of country-specific inter-ministerial committees
Year: N/A - Value: NO
-
Regional legal agreements and cooperation frameworks
Year: 1976 - Value: YES
[LME/REgional]
Body: Barcelona Convention

[Oil Pollution]
Regional cooperation and standardized approach were developed, national and regional capacity to handle oil pollution was strengthened, and compliance with the MARPOL requirement regarding the norms for discharging oil into the Mediterranean was achieved. The most important outcomes are: (a) prevention as well as preparedness to combat oil spills systems are in place; (b) enactment of a NCP; (c) preparation of an advanced draft RCP; and (d) joint training carried out for regional staff from the three participating countries on contingency plan and oil spills cleaning and prevention. Bi-annual reports on sea water analysis (oil content in the water) have been satisfactory and regularly provided, and effluents from deballasting stations do not exceed 15 ppm.

National contingency plans were enacted and a regional contingency plan was drafted and discussed among national committee members, and transmitted to other beneficiaries.

INDICATOR#4 Annual meeting of the CRCP (regional committee)
Held twice a year. (#68, Southwest Mediterranean Sea Oil)
Regional Management Institutions
Year: 1974 - Value: YES
Body: United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP / MAP)

GEF Project:
"INDICATOR#2: Regional and National institutions strengthened in all countries through targeted capacity building activities (minimum of 30 training sessions to build capacity of institutions).
RESULTS: A total of over 20 workshops/training sessions have been undertaken so far including: the management of marine protected areas (with over 200 MPA practitioners trained), the implementation of environmental sound technology (4 workshops, 10 training sessions and total of 746 man/days of training), and four workshops for capacity building for the implementation of the ICZM protocol." (#2600, Mediterranean Sea LME SP)
National/Local reforms
Year: N/A - Value: TBD
The project produced a set of the ‘regional guidelines’ and ‘regional plans’ for preparing the NAPs, including a National Diagnostic Analysis (NDA) and National
Baseline Budget (NBB). It should be noted that the NBB was an ‘add on’, not contemplated in the original project document, and financed to a large extent with
MED POL resources. Training courses were organized for their application. It should be noted, though, that the guidelines were not ‘adopted at the regional level’, and possibly there was no need for that. (#461, Mediterranean Sea)
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis: Agreement on transboundary priorities and root causes
Year: 1997 - Value: YES
14. Concerning the TDA, which was under the responsibility of MED POL:
a) a 200-page full-coloured publication: Transboundary Diagnistic Analysis (TDA) for the Mediterranean Sea (UNEP/MAP/MED POL, Athens, 2005) contains the up-dated TDA (originally produced in 1997), which is the result of work carried out as part of this GEF project;
b) the TDA provides the technical basis for refinement of the National Action Programs (NAPs) for the protection of the marine environment from land-based sources and the SAP MED in the area of international waters of the GEF;
c) it also provides the expert opinion on the state of the environment and priority problems, and a list of actions that are recommended for consideration. This list is designed to address the major transboundary issues in the GEF focal area related to international waters;
d) the TDA process identified three Environmental Quality Objectives (EQOs) as major goals for the Mediterranean environment and made used of the Strategic action programme for the conservation of biological diversity in the Mediterranean region (SAP BIO) and of the Code of Conduct for Fisheries, which led to specific targets and interventions that can be considered in the NAPs; and
e) the TDA now constitutes a significantly stronger tool, both from a scientific as well as strategic point of view, at the disposal of MAP and each of the Parties
to the Barcelona Convention (including those which are not GEF-eligible) to undertake the required actions to protect the Mediterranean Sea. (#461, Mediterranean Sea)
Development of Strategic Action Program (SAP)
Year: 1998 - Value: YES
The SAP MED was completed, with targets and needed activities at regional and national level structured in two areas (urban and industrial) and a number of categories within each area. Thus, this part of the objective was fully met. (#461, Mediterranean Sea)