Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment

 

Article I
DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Convention and its Protocols, the following
terms and expressions have the meanings indicated below, except when
otherwise inferred from the text:

1. “Conservation”of the marine environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of
Aden: Rational use by man of living and non-living marine and coastal
resources in a manner ensuring optimum benefit for the present generation
while maintaining the potential of that environment to satisfy the needs
and aspirations of future generations. Such a definition of the term
“conservation”should be construed as including conservation protection,
maintenance, sustainable and renewable utilization, and enhancement of
the environment.

2. “Sea Area”: Sea Area as defined in article II of this Convention.

3. “Marine pollution”: Introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of
substances or energy into the marine environment which results or is
likely to result in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources,
hazards to human health hindrance to marine activities including fishing,
impairment of quality for use of sea water and reduction of amenities.

4. “Ships and aircraft”: Any waterborne or airborne or amphibious craft
of any type whatsoever, including hydrofoil boats, air cushion vehicles
submersibles, floating craft whether self-propelled or not, and fixed or
floating platforms and any other structure.

5. “Oil”: Petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge,
refined oil, gases and other oil products, whose introduction might
impair the marine environment.

6. “Harmful substance”: Any substance whose introduction or presence in
the marine environment causes a danger threatening or impairing that
environment.

7. “National Authority”: The authority designated by each Contracting
Party as responsible for the coordination of national efforts for
implementing this Convention and its protocols.

8. “ALECSO”: The Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific
Organization.

9. “Organization”: The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment established in accordance with
article XVI of this Convention.

10. “Council”: The Council established in accordance with article XVI of
this Convention.

11. “General Secretariat”: The organ of the Organization established in
accordance with article XVI of this Convention.

12. “Action Plan”: The Action Plan for the Conservation of the Marine
Environment and Coastal Areas of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Article II
GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE

The present Convention shall apply to the entire sea area, taking into
account integrated ecosystems of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, Gulf of
Suez, Suez Canal to its end on the Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Aden as
bounded by the following rhumb lines:

1. From Ras Dharbat Ali (lat. 16d*39′ N, long. 53d*03.5′ E), thence to a
point (lat. 16d*00′ N, long. 53d*25′ E), thence to a point (lat. 12d*40′
N, long. 55d*00′ E) lying ENE of Socotra Island, thence to Ras Hafun
(lat. 10d*26′ N, long. 51d*25′ E).

2. Any Contracting Party may request the Organization to include areas
within that Party’s national jurisdiction and lying adjacent to those
described in paragraph 1 above within the area of application of this
Convention or for the purposes of activities resulting therefrom.

3. The geographical coverage does not include internal waters of the
Contracting Parties unless otherwise stated in this Convention or any of
its protocols.

Article III
GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

1. The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly, take all
appropriate measures, in accordance with the present Convention and those
protocols in force to which they are party, for the conservation of the
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden environment including the prevention, abatement
and combating of marine pollution.

2. In addition to the Protocol concerning Regional Co-operation in
Combating Pollution by Oil and other Harmful Substances in Cases of
Emergency, the Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the formulation
and adoption of other protocols prescribing agreed measures, procedures
and standards for the implementation of this Convention.

3. The Contracting Parties shall establish national standards, laws and
regulations as required for the effective discharge of the obligation
prescribed in paragraph 1 of this article, and shall endeavour to
harmonize their national policies in this regard and for this purpose
appoint the National Authority.

4. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate with the competent
international, regional and sub-regional organizations to establish and
adopt regional standards, recommended practices and procedures for the
conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden environment, including the
prevention, abatement and combating of pollution from all sources in
conformity with the objectives of the present Convention, and to assist
each other in fulfilling their obligations under the present Convention.

5. The Contracting Parties shall use their best endeavours to ensure that
the implementation of the present Convention shall not cause
transformation of one type or form of pollution to another which could be
more detrimental to the environment.

Article IV
POLLUTION FROM SHIPS

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures in conformity
with the present Convention and with generally recognized international
rules to prevent, abate and combat pollution in the Sea Area caused by
intentional or accidental discharges from ships and shall ensure
effective compliance in the Sea Area with generally recognized
international rules relating to the control of this type of pollution
including load-on-top, segregated ballast and crude oil washing
procedures for tankers.

Article V
POLLUTION CAUSED BY DUMPING FROM SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent,
abate and combat pollution in the Sea Area caused by dumping of wastes
and other matter from ships and aircraft, and shall ensure effective
compliance in the Sea Area with generally recognized international rules
relating to the control of this type of pollution as provided for in
relevant international conventions.

Article VI
POLLUTION FROM LAND-BASED SOURCES

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent,
abate and combat pollution caused by discharges from land reaching
internal waters and the Sea Area whether water-borne, airborne or
directly from the coast including outfalls and pipelines.

Article VII
POLLUTION RESULTING FROM EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION
OF THE BED OF THE TERRITORIAL SEA,
THE Continental Shelf AND THE SUB-SOIL THEREOF

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent,
abate and combat pollution in the Sea Area resulting from exploration and
exploitation of the bed of the territorial sea, the Continental Shelf and
the sub-soil thereof, including the prevention of accidents and the
combating of pollution emergencies resulting in damage to the marine
environment.

Article VIII
POLLUTION FROM OTHER HUMAN ACTIVITIES

The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent,
abate and combat pollution in the Sea Area resulting from land
reclamation (and associated suction dredging and coastal dredging) or
resulting from estuarine or river dredging or from other human
activities.

Article IX
CO-OPERATION IN DEALING WITH POLLUTION EMERGENCIES

1. The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly, take all
necessary measures, including those to ensure that adequate equipment and
qualified personnel are readily available, to deal with pollution
emergencies in the Sea Area, whatever the cause of such emergencies, and
to reduce or eliminate damage resulting therefrom.

2. Any Contracting Party which becomes aware of any pollution emergency
in the Sea Area shall without delay, notify the Organization, and through
the General Secretariat, any Contracting Party likely to be affected by
such emergency.

3. The Contracting Parties shall co-ordinate their national plans for
combating pollution in the marine environment by oil and other harmful
substances in a manner that facilitates full co-operation in dealing with
pollution emergencies.

 

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Continental Shelf, Conventions: Chronological Index 1971-1990, Marine and Coastal conventions, Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment 2, Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment 3.