Pollution Prevention, Response and Compensation - Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels - page 53

Table 3.3 Particularly sensitive sea areas
PSSA Approved protective measures

Great Barrier Reef IMO-recommended Australian system of pilot-

age; mandatory ship reporting system

Archipelago of Sabana-Camaguey Area to be avoided

Sea Area Around Malpelo Island Area to be avoided

Marine Area Around the Florida Key Areas to be avoided; mandatory no anchoring

areas

Wadden Sea Mandatory deep water route

Paracas National Reserve Area to be avoided

Western European Waters Mandatory ship reporting system

Torres Strait as an extension to Great Barrier
Reef PSSA

IMO-recommended Australian system of pilot-
age; two-way route

Canary Islands Areas to be avoided; traffic separation systems;

recommended routes; mandatory ship reporting
system

Galapagos Archipelago Area to be avoided; mandatory ship reporting

system; recommended tracks

Baltic Sea Area Traffic separation schemes, deep-water route,

areas to be avoided, mandatory ship reporting
system

Papah¯naumo-ku¯kea Marine National
Monument (North-western Hawaiian
Islands)

Areas to be avoided; recommended/mandatory
ship reporting system

Strait of Bonifacio Recommendation on navigation
Saba Bank (Caribbean Island of Saba) Area to be avoided; Mandatory no anchoring area
List of Special Areas under MARPOL and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, IMO Doc. MEPC.1/
Circ.778 (26 January 2012)

justifying PSSA using relevant provisions of UNCLOS, PSSA is in fact older than
UNCLOS. 91 Nevertheless, the PSSA concept has become an effective system for
protection of the fragile and sensitive marine areas (Table 3.3 ).

3.7 OPRC Convention

The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and
Co-Operation (OPRC Convention) 92 was adopted in 1990 for preparedness,
response and co-operation on oil pollution. According to this Convention, State

91 See generally, Roberts ( 2006b ), pp. 97-103, Kachel ( 2008 ). For history of the PSSA concept
see, Peet ( 1994 ).
92 International Convention on Oil Pollution, Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, opened for
signature 30 November 1990, 1891 UNTS 51 (entered into force 13 May 1995) (hereinafter
OPRC). On oil spill preparedness and response see generally, Burns et al. ( 2002 ) and

Singhota ( 1995 ).