Answer
A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is a marine region that requires special protection through action by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). These areas are designated due to their recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific importance and their vulnerability to damage from international maritime activities.
Key Characteristics of PSSAs
• Purpose: The primary goal is to manage maritime activities and minimize the risks of pollution, ship strikes, and environmental degradation.
• Designation Criteria: An area must possess significant attributes (ecological, socio-economic, or scientific) and be identified as vulnerable to international shipping activities.
• Associated Protective Measures (APMs): Once an area is designated as a PSSA, the IMO can approve specific measures to protect it. These may include:
- Ship Routeing Measures: Such as "areas to be avoided" for certain types of vessels to prevent hazardous navigation.
- Reporting Requirements: Mandatory ship reporting systems to monitor traffic.
- Discharge Controls: Strict application of MARPOL requirements to limit pollution.
• Regulatory Framework: The guidelines for identifying and designating PSSAs are established under IMO Assembly Resolution A.982(24).
The main criteria considered under A.982(24) are:
- Ecological criteria – uniqueness/rarity, critical habitat, dependency, diversity, fragility, naturalness, etc.
- Social, cultural and economic criteria – importance for tourism, recreation, traditional activities or human dependence.
- Scientific and educational criteria – research, monitoring, historical or educational significance.
Examples of Designated PSSAs
Several areas globally have been granted PSSA status, including:
• The Great Barrier Reef (Australia): The first PSSA, designated in 1990.
• The Wadden Sea (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands).
• The Galápagos Archipelago (Ecuador).
• The Baltic Sea Area.
• The Canary Islands (Spain).
• North-Western Mediterranean Sea (France, Italy, Monaco, and Spain).
• North-West Mediterranean Sea (France, Italy, Monaco, Spain) – Designated at MEPC 80 (2023) to protect cetaceans from ship strikes.
• The Canadian Arctic Waters / Northwest Passage – Designated at MEPC 82 (October 2024) to protect unique Arctic ecosystems and indigenous cultural heritages from increasing vessel traffic.
While the designation of an area as a PSSA does not carry its own direct legal impact, the Associated Protective Measures (APMs) adopted by the IMO for these areas are legally binding and enforceable under international maritime law.