Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) 2017 (KA545E)

This publication provides an overview of all PSSAs designated by the MEPC since 1990 and includes all key ‘legal documents’ as follows:

1. Revised PSSA Guidelines

2. Revised Guidelines to submit a PSSA Proposal to IMO

3. PSSA Proposal Review Form, and

4. Uniform PSSA Resolution Format.

These texts were designed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to assist Member Governments in the preparation, identification and submission of PSSAs and to provide the MEPC with the information for a robust review method of a PSSA proposal to ensure that the revised PSSA Guidelines are fulfilled.

A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is an area of the marine environment that needs special protection through action by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) because of its significance for recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes where such attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities. At the time of designation of a PSSA, an associated protective measure (APM), which meets the requirements of the appropriate legal instrument establishing such measure, must have been approved or adopted by IMO to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the threat or identified vulnerability.

IMO is the only international body responsible for assessing proposals for and designating areas as PSSAs and adopting measures applicable to international shipping.

This publication provides the reader with an overview of all PSSAs designated by the MEPC since 1990 and includes all key “administrative documents” as follows:

.1 Revised PSSA Guidelines;

.2 Revised Guidelines to submit a PSSA Proposal to IMO;

.3 PSSA Proposal Review Form; and

.4 Uniform PSSA Resolution Format.

These texts were designed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to assist Member Governments in the preparation, identification and submission of PSSAs and to provide the MEPC with the information for a robust review method of a PSSA proposal to ensure that the revised PSSA Guidelines are fulfilled.

It is also hoped that this publication will also assist mariners world-wide to approach and navigate near or through these PSSAs with caution and to act as recommended by the APMs.

1 – Introduction

2 – Legal documents

PSSA Guidelines

Guidance Document for Submission of PSSA Proposals to IMO

PSSA Proposal Review Form

Uniform PSSA Resolution Format

3 – PSSAs designated by the Committee since 1990

4 – Annexes

Annex 1 – PSSA Guidelines

Annex 2 – Guidance document for submission of PSSA proposals to IMO

Annex 3 – PSSA proposal review form

Annex 4 – Uniform PSSA resolution format

Annex 5 – PSSAs designated since 1990

Annex 6 – Great Barrier Reef PSSA and the Torres Strait PSSA as an extension of the Great Barrier Reef PSSA

Annex 7 – Archipelago of Sabana-Camaguey

Annex 8 – Sea Area around Malpelo Island PSSA

Annex 9 – Sea Area around the Florida Keys PSSA

Annex 10 – Wadden Sea PSSA

Annex 11 – Paracas National Reserve PSSA

Annex 12 – Western European Waters PSSA

Annex 13 – Canary Islands PSSA

Annex 14 – Galapagos Archipelago PSSA

Annex 15 – Baltic Sea Area PSSA

As a specialised agency of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. And IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.