30 August 2012: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), together with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Australia’s Maritime Safety Authority, convened a workshop on Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs). The meeting aimed to assist in increasing protection of marine environments by building the capacity of Pacific Island nation representatives from the maritime and environment sectors to develop proposals for PSSAs.

The workshop took place in Townsville, Australia, from 21-23 August 2012. According to SPREP, participants shared information on protecting their marine environments from international shipping activities, including through ship-sourced pollution. Pollution from ships, including oil spills, garbage, sewage and ballast water discharges, can adversely affect marine biodiversity and ecosystems.

According to SPREP, there are currently no PSSAs in the Pacific region, despite the Pacific being home to approximately 600 marine protected areas (MPAs) and 28 areas of biological or ecological significance. SPREP says many of these areas also are home to international shipping activity, and could therefore be additionally protected through designation as PSSAs. [SPREP Press Release]