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Art.3 |
Article 3 GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Art.3.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties may enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, for the protection of the marine and coastal environment of the West and Central African Region, provided that such agreements are consistent with this Convention and conform to international law. Copies of such agreements shall be deposited with the Organization and, through the Organization, communicated to all Contracting Parties. |
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Art.3.2 |
2. Nothing in this Convention or related protocols shall be deemed to affect obligations assumed by a Contracting Party under agreements previously concluded. |
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Art.3.3 |
3. Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the codification and development of the law of the sea by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea convened pursuant to resolution 2750 C (XXV) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, nor the present or future claims and legal views of any Contracting Party concerning the nature and extent of its maritime jurisdiction. |
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Art.4 |
Article 4 GENERAL OBLIGATIONS |
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Art.4.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly as the case may be, take all appropriate measures in accordance with the provisions of this Convention and its protocols in force to which they are parties to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area and to ensure sound environmental management of natural resources, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal, and in accordance with their capabilities. |
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Art.4.2 |
2. In addition to the Protocol concerning cooperation in combating pollution in cases of emergency opened for signature on the same date as this Convention, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the formulation and adoption of other protocols prescribing agreed measures, procedures, and standards to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution from all sources or promoting environmental management in conformity with the objectives of this Convention. |
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Art.4.3 |
3. The Contracting Parties shall establish national laws and regulations for the effective discharge of the obligations prescribed in this Convention, and shall endeavour to harmonize their national policies in this regard. |
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Art.4.4 |
4. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate with the competent international, regional and subregional organizations to establish and adopt recommended practices, procedures and measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution from all sources in conformity with the objectives of this Convention and its related protocols, and to assist each other in fulfilling their obligations under this Convention and its related protocols. |
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Art.4.5 |
5. In taking measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area or to promote environmental management, the Contracting Parties shall act so as not to transfer, directly or indirectly, damage or hazards from one area to another or transform one type of pollution into another. |
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Art.5 |
Article 5 POLLUTION FROM SHIPS |
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Art.5.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures in conformity with international law to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area caused by normal or accidental discharges from ships, and shall ensure the effective application in the Convention area of the internationally recognized rules and standards relating to the control of this type of pollution. |
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Art.6 |
Article 6 POLLUTION CAUSED BY DUMPING FROM SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT |
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Art.6.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area caused by dumping from ships and aircraft, and shall ensure the effective application in the Convention area of the internationally recognized rules and standards relating to the control of this type of pollution. |
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Art.7 |
Article 7 POLLUTION FROM LAND-BASED SOURCES |
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Art.7.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area caused b discharges from rivers, estuaries, coastal establishments and outfalls, coastal dumping or emanating from any other sources on their territories. |
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Art.8 |
Article 8 POLLUTION FROM ACTIVITIES RELATING TO EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE SEA-BED |
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Art.8.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution resulting from or in connection with activities relating to the exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and its subsoil subject to their jurisdiction and from artificial islands, installations and structures under their jurisdiction. |
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Art.9 |
Article 9 POLLUTION FROM OR THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE |
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Art.9.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area resulting from or transported through the atmosphere. |
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Art.10 |
Article 10 COASTAL EROSION |
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Art.10.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control coastal erosion in the Convention area resulting from man's activities, such as land reclamation and coastal engineering. |
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Art.11 |
Article 11 SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREAS |
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Art.11.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly as the case may be, take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other marine life. To this end, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish protected areas, such as parks and reserves, and to prohibit or control any activity likely to have adverse effects on the species, ecosystems or biological processes in such areas. |
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Art.12 |
Article 12 CO-OPERATION IN COMBATING POLLUTION IN CASES OF EMERGENCY |
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Art.12.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in taking all necessary measures to deal with pollution emergencies in the Convention area, whatever the cause of such emergencies, and to reduce or eliminate damage resulting therefrom. |
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Art.12.2 |
2. Any Contracting Party which becomes aware of a pollution emergency in the Convention area should, without delay, notify the Organization and, either through this Organization or directly, any other Contracting Party likely to be affected by such emergency. |
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Art.13 |
Article 13 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT |
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Art.13.1 |
1. As part of their environmental management policies, the Contracting Parties shall develop technical and other guidelines to assist the planning of their development projects in such a way as to minimize their harmful impact on the Convention area. |
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Art.13.2 |
2. Each Contracting Party shall endeavour to include an assessment of the potential environmental effects in any planning activity entailing projects within its territory, particularly in the coastal areas that may cause substantial pollution of, or significant and harmful changes to, the Convention area. |
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Art.13.3 |
3. The Contracting Parties shall, in consultation with the Organization, develop procedures for the dissemination of information concerning the assessment of the activities referred to in paragraph 2 of this article. |
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Art.14 |
Article 14 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION |
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Art.14.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate, with the assistance of competent international and regional organizations, in the field of scientific research, monitoring and assessment of pollution in the Convention area, and shall exchange data and other scientific information for the purpose of this Convention and its related protocols. |
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Art.14.2 |
2. In addition, the Contracting Parties shall develop and co-ordinate national research and monitoring programmes concerning all types of pollution in the Convention area and shall establish, in co-operation with competent international and regional organizations, a regional network of national research centres and institutions to ensure compatible results. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to participate in international arrangements for pollution research and monitoring in areas beyond their national jurisdiction. |
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Art.14.3 |
3. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate directly or through competent international or regional organizations, in the development of programmes for technical and other assistance in fields related to marine pollution and sound environmental management of the Convention area. |
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Art.15 |
Article 15 LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION |
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Art.15.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the formulation and adoption of appropriate rules and procedures for the determination of liability and the payment of adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from pollution of the Convention area. |
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Art.16 |
Article 16 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS |
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Art.16.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties designate the United Nations Environment Programme as the secretariat of the Convention to carry out the following functions: |
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Art.16.1.i |
(i)To prepare and convene the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in articles 17 and 18; |
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Art.16.1.ii |
(ii)To transmit to the Contracting Parties notifications, reports and other information received in accordance with articles 3, 12, and 22; |
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Art.16.1.iii |
(iii)To perform the functions assigned to it by the protocols to this Convention; |
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Art.16.1.iv |
(iv)To consider enquiries by, and information from, the Contracting Parties and to consult with them on questions relating to this Convention and its related protocols and annexes thereto; |
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Art.16.1.v |
(v)To co-ordinate the implementation of cooperative activities agreed upon by the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in article 17; |
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Art.16.1.vi |
(vi)To enter into such administrative arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of the secretariat functions. |
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Art.16.2 |
2. Each Contracting Party shall designate an appropriate national authority as responsible for the co-ordination of national efforts for implementing this Convention and its related protocols. The appropriate national authority shall serve as the channel of communication between the Contracting Party and the Organization. |
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Art.22 |
Article 22 REPORTS |
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Art.22.1x |
The Contracting Parties shall transmit to the Organization reports on the measures adopted in the implementation of this Convention and of protocols to which they are Parties, in such form and at such intervals as the meetings of Contracting Parties may determine. |
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Art.23 |
Article 23 COMPLIANCE CONTROL |
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Art.23.1x |
The Contracting Parties undertake to co-operate in the development of procedures enabling them to control the application of this Convention and its related protocols. |
