THE CHALLENGE OF AGRICULTURE

SUCCESS STORIES

The European Maritime Safety Agency - EMSA

Always alert

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) was established after the oil spill caused by the tanker Erika (1999) with a mandate to protect the seas and prevent contaminating accidents and spills. The EMSA operates a surveillance and alert system that covers all European Union countries. Norway and Iceland, non-community countries, have signed an agreement to join the said system.

The EMSA operates six emergency oil-recovery vessels stationed in the Baltic, Atlantic and Mediterranean. With the incorporation of Bulgaria and Romania, the system will soon be extended to the Black Sea. The CleanSeaNet satellite surveillance and detection network traces oil spills throughout the extensive European maritime area enabling a speedy reaction to any incident.

Another network, known as SafeSeaNet, provides real-time monitoring of the position of all vessels within 40 miles from the coast, especially in the case of those transporting dangerous goods.

Success stories:

• Treated water reuse models
• “Cross compliance” in agriculture
• Saving water from mobile phones
• Healthy lands – Creation of marshlands
• Ground water protection in sensitive areas