ICPDR Sturgeon Related Activities (& opportunities offered by WFD)

Transcription

1 Danube Sturgeon Task Force Meeting August 2012, Tulcea (RO) ICPDR Sturgeon Related Activities (& opportunities offered by WFD) Raimund Mair, ICPDR Karl Schwaiger, Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management

2 Danube River Protection Convention Objectives Protection of water & ecological resources Sustainable use of water Reduce nutrients & hazardous substances Manage floods & ice hazards Contracting parties: 8 EU Member States, 6 Non EU Range of different working groups on different topics Main instrument: WFD and River Basin Management Plan More information:

3 WFD coordination mechanisms WFD River Basin Management Planning is based on three levels of coordination Part A coordinated by ICPDR copes with all issues of Danube basin-wide importance sets frame for more detailed plans set up by contracting parties at national level and / or sub basin level (e.g. Sava and Tisza), respectively at local level Danube River Basin Management Plan (Roof Level) Adopted by meeting of contracting parties Endorsed by Ministers

4 6 years River Basin Management Planning Main Steps Pressures and Impacts Assessment Assessment of main pressures impacting water status (including biological quality elements like fish) Analytical basis for Management Plan Management Plan Assessment of water status based on monitoring results Program of Measures to improve environmental conditions Program of Measures operational Implementation of Measures Reporting on progress

5 1 st Danube River Basin Management Plan 2009 (set up with broad public participation) Reflects Water status in the basin Significant Water Management Issues Includes Joint Programme of Measures Enables Conclusions on investment & funding Ex post evaluation of measures taken

6 Example: Restoration of river and habitat continuity Pressures / impacts assessment: > 900 continuity interruptions in large rivers (2009) Management Plan: > 100 measures until 2015 (e.g. fish migration aids, migration ramps, removal of barriers) Implementation of measures: Currently ongoing

7 Jungwirth Gabčíkovo Iron Gate I&II ~ 800 km Important issue: Iron Gate dams Prioritisation of measures Beluga Sturgeon

8 Steps towards 2 nd Danube River Basin Management Plan 2015 End 2013: Update Pressures and Impacts Assessment (sets frame for monitoring activities and basis for decision on next Program of Measures) - work already in progress! Public Consultation on Significant Water Management Issues starts End 2014: Public consultation on draft Management Plan starts End 2015: Final River Basin Management Plan published Includes Program of Measures End 2018: Program of Measure has to be operational

9 Danube River Basin Significant Water Management Issues 2013? Organic Pollution Nutrient Pollution Hazardous Substances Pollution Hydromorphological Alterations Sturgeon? Sturgeons currently already addressed under Hydromorphological Alterations How to best address and strengthen sturgeon conservation aspects in WFD planning process? Link Significant Water Management Issues document (from end 2007):

10 Potential input DSTF to WFD process first ideas Pressures & Impacts Assessment 2013: Text on sturgeon, cross-reference to Bern Convention and Action Plan Maps, e.g. historic and current sturgeon distribution broken down for different sturgeon species, sturgeon habitats and (former) spawning grounds, continuity interruptions and barriers for fish migration Can help to include sturgeons in monitoring activities (surveillance and operational monitoring programs) Basis for 2 nd DRBM Plan and Program of Measures 2 nd DRBM Plan and Program of Measures 2015: Consensus between all contracting parties, following public consultation Facts presented and measures foreseen to be well reasoned and well promoted feasible to be implemented!

11 Further ICPDR Activities with relevance for Sturgeons Navigation: Joint Statement process Coordination with Flood Risk Management Guiding Principles on Sustainable Hydropower Development

12 Public participation and communication Public Participation is WFD requirement (Article 14), i.e. for development of 2 nd DRBM Plan involvement of observers in ICPDR discussions next to specific PP activities Range of tools for communication ICPDR website Danube Watch Danube Day (every year on 29 June) focus on sturgeons in 2013? Articles, brochures, publications, etc.

13 Thank you very much! For more information please consult the ICPDR website and the Danube River Basin Management Plan ICPDR Secretariat / Vienna International Centre, D0412 / P.O. Box 500 / 1400 Vienna / Austria Phone / Fax / icpdr@unvienna.org /