Population:
9,918,040
Land space:
91,951 km2
Coastal area:
1,793 km
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
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Portugal
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development, the source of the following
information. The information was taken from Portugal's
submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development (last update: April 1997). For
further information on Portugal's social and economic
factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see
the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National
Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information
for Portugal at
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/portugal/index.htm
OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS
Decision-making
Portugal signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on December 10, 1982, and is in the process of ratifying it.
There is no central institution for activities for this issue. The Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries address certain issues and, in some cases, the port authorities are in charge.
The preparation of a national policy on oceans is planned
and foreseen in the National Environmental Plan. Portugal
has coastal area management programmes that encompass
fishery activities in the EEZ. In 1993, the Clean Sea Plan
(Plano Mar Limpo) was adopted to react to discharges of
harmful substances. It also
includes the preparation of emergency plans.
Legislation has been enhanced to address some of the relevant issues, and a law being prepared to implement the FAO Code of Conduct on Responsible Fishing.
Portugal considers that ocean issues touch upon almost all sustainable development concerns, and require particularly effective coordinated action at the national, regional, and international levels. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to the implementation and monitoring of existing legal instruments and other international agreements, and to promoting integrated coastal zone management following the International Year of the Oceans in 1998.
Status
Due to the over-exploitation of marine resources, fish catches decreased in the past years. Measures are foreseen for the protection and conservation of marine species. Portugal participates in the development of socio-economic indicators related to the management of marine resources, in systematic observation systems, in the mussel watch programme, and in the Global Ocean Observing System.
Portugal develops monitoring programmes in coastal zones, mainly related to: harmful algal blooms, marine biotoxins ( DSP, PSP), microbiological contamination of shellfish, and mercury contamination of fish resources of the Portuguese EEZ. Research projects in coastal and marine areas are primarily related to: fish stocks assessment and distribution; phytoplankton dynamic and coastal eutrophication; sediments contamination and deposition of dredged sediments; environmental impact of estuaries in adjacent coastal zones; and macro algae stocks evaluation and distribution.
As regards environmental preservation of harbour areas,
there are already Emergency Plans at the Principle Ports,
which also have reception of board wastes. In addition, main
ports have stations of treatment for weight waters. The
Emergency Plans of Secondary Ports are now being elaborated,
and they also have reception
of waste products.
Information
There are two databases available for integrated coastal management: the National Information System on Water Resources and the National Database on Fishery. Both are considered adequate, but improvements are necessary to meet future needs. Portugal provides capacity building and training measures to address this chapter.
Cooperation
Portugal participates in programmes promoted by ICES,
IOC, OSPAR and the EU.