Decision COP XIII/10

1.Takes note of the updated report entitled “Scientific synthesis of the impacts of underwater noise on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats”,  and invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to make use of this information, as appropriate, within their competencies, and in accordance with national legislation and international agreements;

2.Recalls decision XII/23, in particular paragraph 3, and invites Parties, other Governments and competent organizations, including the International Maritime Organization, the International Seabed Authority, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals,  the International Whaling Commission, other relevant stakeholders, and indigenous peoples and local communities, as appropriate, within their competencies, and in accordance with national and international law, to further collaborate and share their experiences on the application of measures, in line with the precautionary approach, in line with the preamble to the Convention, to avoid, minimize and mitigate the significant adverse impacts of anthropogenic underwater noise on marine and coastal biodiversity, including the measures specified in paragraph 3 of the same decision, and requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to continue his work on the compilation, synthesis and dissemination of these experiences, including scientific research on the adverse impacts of underwater noise on marine and coastal biodiversity, and, based on scientifically identified needs, to develop and share, in collaboration with Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, practical guidance and toolkits on measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate these impacts, and to make this compilation, as well as the guidance and toolkits referred to above, available for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a future meeting held prior to the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

Addressing impacts of marine debris on marine and coastal biodiversity

3.Welcomes United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution 2/11 on marine plastic litter and microplastics; 

4.Recalling the G7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter, takes note of the report of the Expert Workshop to Prepare Practical Guidance on Preventing and Mitigating the Significant Adverse Impacts of Marine Debris on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity and Habitats ;

5.Also takes note of the voluntary practical guidance on preventing and mitigating the impacts of marine debris on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats, as contained in the annex to the present decision;

7.Invites Parties and other Governments to consider, where appropriate, extended producer responsibility for providing response measures where there is damage or sufficient likelihood of damage to marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats from marine debris;

8.Urges Parties, and encourages other Governments and relevant international organizations to develop and implement measures, policies and instruments to prevent the discard, disposal, loss or abandonment of any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material in the marine and coastal environment;

9.Invites competent intergovernmental organizations, including the International Maritime Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme regional seas conventions and action plans and other competent bodies, within their mandates, to take appropriate measures, and to assist Parties and other Governments in taking appropriate measures to prevent and mitigate the potential adverse impacts of marine debris on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats, taking into account the voluntary practical guidance contained in the annex to the present decision;