AN OVERVIEW

The Regional Seas Programmes of UNEP have several common elements. The process of establishing a Regional Seas Programme usually begins with the development of an action plan outlining the strategy and substance of a regionally coordinated programme, aimed at the protection of a common body of water. The action plan is based on the region's environmental challenges as well as its socioeconomic and political situation. It may cover issues ranging from chemical wastes and coastal development to the conservation of marine species and ecosystems.

In most cases, the action plan is underpinned by a strong legal framework in the form of a regional convention and associated protocols on specific problems. The legally-binding convention expresses the commitment and political will of governments to tackle their common environmental problems through joint, coordinated activities.

The South Asian Seas Programme is one of 17 such programmes & the South Asian Seas Action Plan was adopted in March 1995 and today enjoys the unqualified support of the region's five countries (Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). The South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) has been privileged to participate in this work, and is now serving as the Action Plan secretariat.

MILESTONES

South Asian Seas Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan

YEAR	RECORD	PARTICIPANTS
Nov 1999	Mission - 5 member states by IMO consultant - Cdr Chris Harris	24 National Delegates
Dec 1999 Colombo	1st Meeting Of Senior Officials to Consider the Draft South Asian Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan	24 National Delegates
March 2000, Colombo	Meeting of National Focal Points to Review and Endorse Capacity Building In The Development and Operation of National Oil Spill Contingency Planning 1999-2000	10 National Delegates
March 2000	Third R & D Forum on High Density Oil Spill Response, Brest, France	3 National Delegates
April - June 2000	IMO - SAS - UNEP Assessment Mission on Port Reception Facilities in the South Asian Seas Region - Cdr T Meyer and Cdr. Hiran Soysa
August 2000	Regional Workshop on Ratification and Implementation of MARPOL 73/78 in the South Asian Seas Region, Colombo, Sri Lanka	20 National Delegates
Dec 2000 Colombo	2nd Meeting of Senior Officials to Consider The Draft South Asian Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan	20 National Delegates
November 2002	SAS / IMO OPRC - Level 2 Training Course for Oil Spill Commanders and Oil Spill Supervisors	22 National Delegates
July 2003 Colombo	SACEP - IMO Regional Training Course on MARPOL 73/78 Implementation and Enforcement	12 National Delegates
September 2003	SAS / IMO OPRC - Level 2 Training Course for Oil Spill Commanders and Oil Spill Supervisors	15 Delegates
December 2003	National OPRC Level 3 (Contingency Planning Workshop) - Pakistan	25 National Participants
December 2004	National OPRC Level 3 (Contingency Planning Workshop), Pakistan	25 National Delegates
October 2005	Regional Workshop on Measures to Collect, Handle, Treat and Dispose of Waste Generated in Applying the AFS Convention, Chennai, India	20 Delegates
December 2005	National OPRC Level 3 (Contingency Planning Workshop), Bangladesh	30 National Delegates
January 2006	Regional Workshop on Ratification and Implementation of the OPRC-HNS Protocol, the AFS Convention and Identification and Establishment of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas, Colombo, Sri Lanka	25 Delegates
January 2006	National OPRC Level 3 (Contingency Planning Workshop), Maldives	30 National Delegates
October 2009	MARPOL Workshop for South Asia and South East Asia, Malaysia	9 from SAS member states
October 2009	Signed the MoU for Co-operation on the Response to Oil Spill and Chemical Pollution in the South Asia Seas Region	SACEP and Maldives
May 2010	Regional HNS Operational-Level Workshop, Male, Maldives	33 Delegates
July 2010	MoU between for Co-operation on the Response to Oil Spill and Chemical Pollution in the South Asia Seas Region	SACEP and Government of Pakistan
September 2010	MoU between for Co-operation on the Response to Oil Spill and Chemical Pollution in the South Asia Seas Region	SACEP and Government of Bangladesh

Activities with UNEP's GPA Coordination Office

(A) South Asian Seas Workshop on GPA in 1997
(B) Development of National & Regional Action Plans on the GPA
(C) UNEP/GPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage Inventory of Socio-Economic Opportunities and Case Studies
(D) GPA Pilot Exercise on Regional Reporting for GPA Intergovernmental Meeting 2001
(E) Physical Alterations and Destruction of Habitats: Guidelines for Action and Role of Stakeholders
(F) Development of Pilot National Programmes of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities