The Glossary explains the meaning of specialist terms and acronyms which are particularly important for an understanding of the text but which cannot be defined in the individual chapters due to space constraints.
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Click one of the letters above to advance the page to terms beginning with that letter.

A

Abidjan Convention search for term
Abidjan Convention for Co-operation in the protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region
Abidjan Convention search for term
The Convention for Cooperation in the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Atlantic Coast of the West, Central and Southern Africa Region (Abidjan Convention in short), it covers a marine area from Mauritania to South Africa which has a coastline of just over 14,000 km.
Abidjan Convention - Emergency Protocol search for term
Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency and the associated Action Plan for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the West and Central African Region
Abidjan Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Protocol concerning Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment from land-Based Sources and the Activities
ABNJ search for term
Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. The area equates to marine waters beyond exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
Abundance (Mesozooplankton) search for term

The total abundance of zooplankton organisms retained in each CPR sample (mesh size 270µm), excluding microplankton and eggs.

ACAP search for term
Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
ACC search for term

Antarctic Circumpolar Current

ACCOBAMS search for term
Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area
ACCOBAMS search for term
Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic Area
Anti-fouling convention search for term
The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships
Antigua Convention search for term
Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northeast Pacific
Antigua Convention search for term
The Antigua Convention concerns the strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC).
APEC-OFWG search for term
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG)
APEC-OFWG search for term
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Oceans and Fisheries Working Group (OFWG)
APFIC search for term
Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission
Arctic Council search for term
Arctic Council
Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction search for term
The area equates to marine waters beyond exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
Areas within national jurisdiction search for term
The area equates to marine waters within EEZs.
ASCOBANS search for term
Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, Northeast Atlantic, Irish and North Seas
ASEAN Agreement search for term
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
ASEAN/ASWGFi search for term
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
ATS search for term
Antarctic Treaty System
ATS Environment Protocol search for term
Protocol on Environmental Protection to The Antarctic Treaty
Average Copepod Community Size search for term


For each sample, the length L (in mm) of each copepod species i (adult female length), is multiplied by its abundance Xi, summed over all species (N) and divided by the total abundance, according to Richardson et al., 2006.

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B

Barcelona Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean
Barcelona Convention - SPA and Biodiversity Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean
Barcelona Convention - Dumping Protocol search for term
Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft
Barcelona Convention - Hazardous Wastes Protocol search for term
Protocol on the Prevention of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
Barcelona Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Protocol on the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-Based Sources
Barcelona Convention - Offshore Protocol search for term
Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf and the Seabed and its Subsoil
Barcelona Convention - Prevention and Emergency Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea
BCC search for term
Benguela Current Commission
BIMSTEC search for term
Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Working Committee on Fisheries
BOBP-IGO search for term
Bay of Bengal Programme as an Inter-Governmental Organisation
BOBP-IGO Agreement search for term
Agreement on the Institutionalisation of the Bay of Bengal Programme as an Inter-Governmental Organisation
Bucharest Convention search for term
Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution
Bucharest Convention - Dumping protocol search for term
Protocol on dumping of waste
Bucharest Convention - Emergency Protocol search for term
Protocol on joint action in the case of accidents (such as oil spills)
Bucharest Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Protocol on the control of land-based sources of pollution
BWMC search for term
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (Ballast Water Management Convention)

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C

CAFF search for term
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna
CARICOM search for term
Caribbean Community and Common Market
CARPHA search for term
Caribbean Public Health Agency
Cartagena Convention search for term
The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) or Cartagena Convention is comprehensive, umbrella agreement for the protection and development of the marine environment.
Cartagena Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention)
Cartagena Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Cartagena Convention Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities was adopted in Oranjestad, Aruba, on 6 October 1999.
Cartagena Convention – Oil Spills Protocol search for term
Cartagena Convention Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills
CBD search for term
Convention on Biological Diversity
CBSS search for term
Council of the Baltic Sea States
CCAD search for term
La Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo
CCAMLR search for term
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
CCAS search for term
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
CCBSP search for term
Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea
CCSBT search for term
Convention for the Conservation of the Southern Bluefin Tuna
CECAF search for term
Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic
Chlorophyll A search for term

Chlorophyll A is the principal pigment in phytoplankton and may be measured by ocean color sensors carried on satellites. The concentration of chlorophyll A is frequently used as an index of phytoplankton biomass.
More details with http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/TEACHERS/

CITES search for term
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Climate change search for term

Climate change in IPCC usage refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. It refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. This usage differs from that in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where climate change refers to a change of climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and that is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Source: IPCC

Climate prediction search for term

A climate prediction or climate forecast is the result of an attempt to produce (starting from a particular state of the climate system) an estimate of the actual evolution of the climate in the future, for example, at seasonal, interannual or decadal time scales. Because the future evolution of the climate system may be highly sensitive to initial conditions, such predictions are usually probabilistic in nature.

Climate projection search for term

A climate projection is the simulated response of the climate system to a scenario of future emission or concentration of greenhouse gases and aerosols, generally derived using climate models. Climate projections are distinguished from climate predictions by their dependence on the emission/concentration/radiative forcing scenario used, which is in turn based on assumptions concerning, for example, future socio-economic and technological developments that may or may no be realized.
Reference: IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis

CMS search for term
Convention on Migratory Species
COBSEA search for term
Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia
COMHAFAT search for term
Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation among African States Bordering the Atlantic (COMHAFAT or ATLAFCO)
Confidence Levels search for term
Throughout the assessment, the language of certainty has been based on the 'Guidance Note for Lead Authors of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on Consistent Treatment of Uncertainties' (2010). Categories of certainty include:
Term* Likelihood of the Outcome Virtually certain 99-100% probability
Very likely 90-100% probability
Likely 66-100% probability
About as likely as not 33 to 66% probability
Unlikely 0-33% probability
Very unlikely 0-10% probability
Exceptionally unlikely 0-1% probability

Similarly, when referring to the ‘risk’ of occurrence or change, language reflecting the approximation of a risk level has also been used with the categories:
Low, Medium, High, Extreme, Critical
Copepod search for term
Small (only a few millimetres long) marine or freshwater crustaceans of the order (or subclass) Copepoda, lacking compound eyes or a carapace and usually having six pairs of limbs on the thorax, some species are abundant in plankton, others are parasitic on fish.
COPs search for term
Conference of the Parties
COREP search for term
Convention Concerning the Regional Development of Fisheries in the Gulf of Guinea and the Regional Fisheries Committee for the Gulf of Guinea (COREP)
CPPS search for term
Permanent Commission of the South Pacific
CPR search for term

The Continuous Plankton Recorders (CPR) is a plankton sampling instrument designed to be towed from merchant ships, or ships of opportunity, on their normal sailings.
Recorders have been towed in all oceans of the world, the Mediterranean, Baltic and North Seas and in freshwater lakes. However, SAHFOS CPR sampling primarily focuses on the northwest European shelf and the Northeast and Northwest Atlantic, with these regions undergoing monthly sampling; regular sampling is also now carried out in the North Pacific. Additionally, sister CPR surveys, not conducted by SAHFOS but using similar methodology, are operated from the USA and Australia.
Diagram showing a cutaway view of the CPR, the plankton filtering mechanism, and a photograph of the instrument.
The CPR is towed at a depth of approximately 10 metres. Water passes through the CPR and plankton are filtered onto a slow-moving band of silk (270 µm mesh size) and covered by a second silk. The silks and plankton are then spooled into a storage tank containing formalin. On return to the laboratory, the silk is removed from the mechanism and divided into samples representing 10 nautical miles (19 km) of tow.

CRFM search for term
Agreement establishing the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)
CRFM search for term
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism
CRFM search for term
Agreement establishing the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM)
CROP search for term
Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific

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D

DDD search for term

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane

DDE search for term

Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene

DDT search for term

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene and its metabolites, a man-made chemical for agricultural applications.

DDTs search for term

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene and its metabolites, a man-made chemical for agricultural applications.

DHM search for term

Degree Heating Month. Difference between observed Sea Surface Temperature and a climatology, in °C.month, this difference can be accumulated on several months.

DIN search for term

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen

DIP search for term

Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus

DON search for term

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen

DOP search for term

Dissolved Organic Phosphorus

DPSIR search for term
Drivers-pressures-state-impact-response
DSi search for term

Dissolved Silica

Dugong MoU search for term
Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their Habitats throughout their Range

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E

EAF search for term
Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries.
East Atlantic Turtles MoU search for term
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning Conservation Measures for Marine Turtles of the Atlantic Coast of Africa (1998) is a multilateral environmental memorandum of understanding under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It’s focus is on the protection of six marine turtle species along the Atlantic Coast of Africa.
EEZ search for term
An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a sea zone prescribed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. Generally, a state's EEZ extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370 km) out from its coastal baseline. The exception to this rule occurs when EEZs would overlap; that is, state coastal baselines are less than 400 nautical miles (740 km) apart. When an overlap occurs, it is up to the states to delineate the actual maritime boundary. Generally, any point within an overlapping area defaults to the nearest state.
El Niño search for term

a band of anomalously warm ocean water temperatures that periodically develop off the pacific coast of South America. Extreme climate change pattern oscillations fluctuate weather across the Pacific Ocean which results in fluctuating droughts, floods, and crop yields in varying regions of the world.

ENSO search for term

El Niño–Southern Oscillation refers to variations in the temperature of the surface of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (El Niño and La Niña) and in air surface pressure in the tropical western Pacific. The two variations are coupled: the warm oceanic phase, El Niño, accompanies high air surface pressure in the western Pacific, while the cold phase, La Niña, accompanies low air surface pressure in the western Pacific.

EU Maritime Policy search for term
European Union Integrated Maritime Policy
EU-CFP search for term
European Union Common Fisheries Policy
EUCFP search for term
European Union Common Fisheries Policy
EUMP search for term
European Union Maritime Policy

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F

FAO search for term
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAO Compliance Convention search for term
The Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas - 1993
FCWC search for term
Convention for the establishment of Fishery Committee of the West Central Gulf of Guinea
FFA search for term
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency
FFAC search for term
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency/South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency Convention

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G

GFCM search for term
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
GFCM Agreement search for term
Agreement for the establishment of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
GHG search for term

Green House Gas

Global Distribution of Coral Reefs, 2010 search for term
Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project validated maps provided by the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing, University of South Florida (IMaRS/USF) and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD, Centre de Nouméa), with support from NASA. Millennium Coral Reef Mapping Project unvalidated maps provided by the Institute for Marine Remote Sensing, University of South Florida (IMaRS/USF), with support from NASA. Unvalidated maps were further interpreted by UNEP-WCMC. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD, Centre de Nouméa) do not endorse these products.
Global Orchestration scenario search for term

The calculations for future years 2030 and 2050 are based on a “current trends” scenario, which describes a globalized world with a focus on economic development with rapid economic and urbanization growth, and a reactive environmental management. This scenario is a quantitative interpretation of the Global Orchestration scenario of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (Alcamo et al. 2005: Changes in Ecosystem Services and Their Drivers across the Scenarios. In: CARPENTER, S., PINGALI, P., BENNET, E. & ZUREK, M. (eds.) Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Volume 2: Scenarios. Washington: Island Press).

Governance completeness indicators search for term

The level of completeness of the structure of arrangements to address a given issue or issues

Governance engagement indicator search for term

the level of engagement of countries in the LME participating in arrangements that address the suite of identified transboundary issues within the LME

Governance integration indicator search for term

the level of integration of institutions involved in addressing the suite of identified transboundary issues within the LME

GPA search for term
Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities

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H

HCHs search for term

Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, a man-made chemical for agricultural applications.

HELCOM search for term
Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission
HELCON search for term
Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area - Helsinki Convention
Helsinki Convention search for term
Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, 1992 (Helsinki Convention) is an international convention encompassing various measures for the prevention and elimination of pollution of the Baltic Sea.
High seas search for term
High Seas search for term
An international legal term used by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which refers to the area of ocean not included in the EEZ, territorial sea or internal water of any State.
Highly Migratory Fish Stocks search for term
HMS search for term
highly migratory species
Hong Kong Convention search for term
Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships
HSDN search for term
United Nations Resolution on High Seas Drift Netting

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I

IAC search for term
Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles
IAEA search for term
International Atomic Energy Agency
IASC search for term
International Arctic Science Committee
IATTC search for term
Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
IBSFC search for term
The International Baltic Sea Fishery Commission
ICCAT search for term
International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
ICEP search for term

Index of Coastal Eutrophication Potential

ICES search for term
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
IMO search for term
International Maritime Organisation
IOC search for term

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Home website: ioc-unesco.org

IOSEA search for term
The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia
IOTC search for term
Agreement for the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
IPCC search for term

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body under the auspices of the United Nations,[1][2] set up at the request of member governments. The IPCC produces reports that support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the main international treaty on climate change. The ultimate objective of the UNFCCC is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (i.e., human-induced) interference with the climate system". IPCC reports cover "the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to understanding the scientific basis of risk of human-induced climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation."
IPCC website: http://www.ipcc.ch/

IPHC search for term
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC)/Convention for the Preservation of the Halibut Fishery
IUU search for term
Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated
IWC search for term
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

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J

Jeddah Convention search for term
A Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment. Associated Protocols include: The Protocol Concerning the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden; and the Protocol concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in cases of Emergency.
Jeddah LBS Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Jeddah Oil Pollution Protocol search for term
Protocol concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in cases of Emergency

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K

Kuwait - Continental Shelf Exploitation Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning Marine Pollution Resulting from Exploration and Exploitation of the Continental Shelf
Kuwait Convention search for term
Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution – Kuwait Convention. Associated Protocols include the Protocol on the Control of Marine transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous wastes and other wastes, 1998; and the Protocol concerning regional cooperation in combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances in cases of emergency, 1978.
Kuwait Convention search for term
Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution – Kuwait Convention
Kuwait Convention - Hazardous Wastes Protocol search for term
Protocol on the Control of Marine transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous wastes and other wastes, 1998
Kuwait Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Regional Convention for Cooperation on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution – Kuwait Convention
Kuwait Convention - Oil Spills Protocol search for term
Protocol concerning regional cooperation in combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances in cases of emergency, 1978

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L

La Niña search for term

a coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon that is the counterpart of El Niño as part of the broader El Niño–Southern Oscillation climate pattern. During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3–5°C. In the United States, an appearance of La Niña happens for at least five months of La Niña conditions.

Large Marine Ecosystems search for term
Large Marine Ecosystems are vast regions of coastal ocean space of 200,000 km2 or more, extending from river basins and estuaries seaward to the continental shelf break or slope or to the outward margins of major current systems. Unique defining ecological criteria of LMEs include bottom depth contours, currents and water mass structure, marine productivity, and food webs.
LBS search for term
Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution
Lima Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the Southeast Pacific
Lima Convention - Hydrocarbons Protocol search for term
Lima Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution in the Southeast Pacific by Hydrocarbons and other Harmful Substances in cases of Emergency
Lima Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Lima Protocol for the Protection of the South East Pacific Against Pollution from Land- Based Sources
Lima Convention - Radioactive Pollution Protocol search for term
Lima Protocol for the Protection of the Southeast Pacific from Radioactive Pollution
LMEs search for term

Large Marine Ecosystems are vast regions of coastal ocean space of 200,000 km2 or more, extending from river basins and estuaries seaward to the continental shelf break or slope or to the outward margins of major current systems. Unique defining ecological criteria of LMEs include bottom depth contours, currents and water mass structure, marine productivity, and food webs.

Reference: www.lme.noaa.gov

London Convention search for term
London Convention (1975)
London Convention - Protocol search for term
London Convention Protocol (2006)

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M

Marine Trophic Index search for term

The Marine Trophic Index (MTI) measures the change in mean trophic level of fisheries landings by region and globally.
Trophic level is defined as the position of an organism in the food chain, and ranges from a value of 1 for primary producers up to a level of 5 for marine mammals and humans.

MARPOL search for term
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annexes I - VI
MEPC search for term
IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee
MEPC search for term
IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee
Mesozooplankton abundance search for term

The total abundance of zooplankton organisms retained in each CPR sample (mesh size 270µm), excluding microplankton and eggs.

Montreal Protocol search for term
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Montreal Protocol search for term
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
MPA search for term
Marine Protected Area are protected areas of seas, oceans or large lakes. MPAs restrict human activity for a conservation purpose, typically to protect natural or cultural resources. The IUCN defines a marine protected area as: "Any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment."
The Convention on Biological Diversity defined the broader term of marine and coastal protected area (MCPA): "Any defined area within or adjacent to the marine environment, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by legislation or other effective means, including custom, with the effect that its marine and/or coastal biodiversity enjoys a higher level of protection than its surroundings."

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N

N-ICEP search for term

Nitrogen ICEP

NAFO search for term
Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
Nairobi Convention search for term
Protocol for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities. Associated Protocols include the Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Marine Pollution in Cases of Emergency in the Eastern African Region; and the Protocol for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities
Nairobi Convention - Emergency Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Marine Pollution in Cases of Emergency in the Eastern African Region
Nairobi Convention - LBS Protocol search for term
Protocol for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean from Land-Based Sources and Activities
NAMMCO search for term
Agreement on Cooperation in Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic
NASCO search for term
Convention for the Conservation of Salmon in the North Atlantic Ocean
NEAFC search for term
Northeast Atlantic Fisheries Commission
NEWS search for term

Nutrient Exports from Watersheds

Niue Treaty/NTSA search for term
Niue Treaty on Cooperation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforcement in the South Pacific Region and Multilateral NTSA Agreement on Strengthening Implementation of the Niue Treaty
NM search for term
A nautical mile (symbol M, NM or nmi) is a unit of distance that is approximately one minute of arc measured along any meridian. By international agreement it has been set at 1,852 metres exactly (about 6,076 feet).
Noumea Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region. http://www2.unitar.org/cwm/publications/cbl/synergy/cat1_agree/noumea.htm
Noumea Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific
Noumea Convention - Dumping Protocol search for term
Protocol for the Prevention of Pollution of the South Pacific Region by Dumping
Noumea Convention - Emergency Protocol search for term
Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution Emergencies in the South Pacific Region
NOWPAP search for term
Action Plan for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Northwest Pacific Region
NPAFC search for term
Convention for the Conservation of Anadromous Stocks in The North Pacific Ocean

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O

Ocean heat content search for term

the amount of heat stored in oceanic layer, stored in an water layer between ocean's surface and a given depth.

OECS search for term
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
OFP search for term
Ocean Fisheries Programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Commission (SPC)
OLDEPESCA search for term
Agreement instituting the Latin American Organization for Fisheries Development
OneSharedOcean.org search for term
The web portal that contains the data and results for both the Open Ocean and Large Marine Ecosystem Components of the Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme, and which was co-financed by the European Commission's FP7 GEOWOW Project (www.geowow.eu) under Grant Agreement 282915.
Open Ocean search for term
For the purpose of this assessment, the open ocean refers to the areas beyond national jurisdiction, and as well, the High Seas (as defined above) whilst noting that these areas are connected to and impact on areas within national jurisdiction, and therefore the 'scope' of the assessment 'global'.
Open Ocean search for term

TBA

OPRC 90 search for term
International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation 1990
OSPAR search for term
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic
OSPAR Convention search for term
Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic
OSPESCA search for term
Central America Fisheries and Aquaculture Organization

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P

P-ICEP search for term

Phosphorus ICEP

PCBs search for term

Polychlorinated biphenyls, a man-made chemical used for industrial applications

PEMSEA search for term
Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia
Phytoplankton search for term

Tiny single-celled free-floating organisms collectively known as phytoplankton are comprised of chlorophyll. They are the photosynthesizing organisms of plankton, and influence ocean colour.

PICES search for term
The North Pacific Marine Science Organization
PIF search for term
Pacific Islands Forum
PIF/POF/PIROP search for term
Pacific Islands Forum/Pacific Oceanspace Framework/Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Policy
PIROP search for term
Pacific Islands Regional Oceans Policy
PN search for term

Particulate Nitrogen

PNA search for term
Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest
POF search for term
Pacific Oceanscape Framework
Polar Bear Convention search for term
Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears
POPs search for term

Persistent Organic Pollutants are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes.

PP search for term

Particulate Phosphorus

PRCM search for term
Regional Marine and Coastal Conservation Programme for West Africa
Primary productivity search for term

Primary productivity is the rate of organic matter production by plants (photosynthesis). The bulk of marine Primary Productivity is carried out by phytoplankton, which can be seen from space due to their photosynthetic pigments (mainly chlorophyll).
More details in http://oceancolor.gsfc.nasa.gov/SeaWiFS/TEACHERS

PSC search for term
Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada concerning Pacific Salmon
Pteropod search for term
A term applied to what are now considered to be two separate taxonomic groups which are specialized free-swimming pelagic (zooplanktonic) sea snails (Thecosomata pteropods) and sea slugs (Gymnosomata pteropods), marine gastropod molluscs. Most Thecosomata pteropods have a calcified shell, which make them particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification, whereas mature Gymnosomata pteropods do not.

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R

RACMED search for term
Regional Advisory Council for the Mediterranean
Radar altimetry search for term
altitude retrieval via the measurement of the satellite-to-surface round-trip time of a radar pulse.
RCP search for term

The Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenarios (CMIP5) are four greenhouse gas concentration (not emissions) trajectories adopted by the IPCC for its fifth Assessment Report (AR5).
The pathways are used for climate modeling and research. They describe four possible climate futures, all of which are considered possible depending on how much greenhouse gases are emitted in the years to come. The four RCPs, RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0, and RCP 8.5, are named after a possible range of radiative forcing values in the year 2100 (+2.6, +4.5, +6.0, and +8.5 W.m-2, respectively). RCP 2.6 correspond to a mitigation scenario leading to a very low forcing level, RCP 4.5 and RCP6.0 are two stabilisation scenarios, RCP 8.5 is the scenario with very high greenhouse gas emissions.
RCP Database: http://tntcat.iiasa.ac.at:8787/RcpDb

RECOFI search for term
Agreement for the establishment of the Regional Commission for Fisheries
Regional Seas Convention search for term
The Regional Seas Programme, (since 1974) co-ordinated by UNEP aims to address the degradation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas through sustainable management and use of the marine and coastal environment. This is achieved through engaging countries sharing a common body of water to engage in comprehensive and specific actions to protect their shared marine environment. The Convention and associated Protocols form a legal framework in which to implement the Regional Seas Action Plans.
Representative Concentration Pathways search for term
Tools used by researchers to predict different greenhouse gas emission scenarios, endorsed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
RFB search for term
Regional Fishery Bodies
RFMOs search for term
Regional fisheries management organisations

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S

SAARC search for term
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
SACEP search for term
South Asian Cooperative Environment Programme
SADC search for term
South African Development Community
SASAP search for term
The South Asian Seas Action Plan.
SCAR search for term
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
SEAFDEC search for term
Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
SEAFO search for term
The Convention on the Conservation and Management of Fishery Resources in the Southeast Atlantic Ocean
SICA search for term
Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana
SICCME search for term
ICES-PICES Strategic Initiative on Climate Change Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
SIOFA search for term
South Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement
SOPAC search for term
Pacific Islands Applied GeoScience Commission
SPA/BD Protocol search for term
The Specially Protected Areas Protocol and Biodiversity Protocol is the Mediterranean’s main tool for implementing the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, as regards the in situ sustainable management of coastal and marine biodiversity. The Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the Barcelona Convention adopted the Protocol in 1995.
SPAW Protocol search for term
Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol, Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region
SPC search for term
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (initially South Pacific Commission)
SPREP search for term
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
SPRFMO search for term
The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization. This body implements the Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Seas Fishery Resources in the South Pacific Ocean
SRFC search for term
Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission
SSP1 search for term
A sustainable development pathway with reduced fossil fuel emissions and highly educated and economically productive population making healthy lifestyle choices.
SSP3 search for term
A fragmented world development scenario where wealth is unevenly distributed with pockets of concentrated wealth and of extreme poverty, and majority of countries having mediocre living standards and high population growth rates.
SST search for term

Sea Surface Temperatures is the water temperature close to the ocean's surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between 1 millimetre (0.04 inch) and 20 metres (70 feet) below the sea surface.

Statistical classification and ordination techniques search for term
Classification techniques order objects (e.g. LMEs) that are associated with values for multiple variables (indicators). Similar objects are placed near each other, and objects that are dissimilar are placed further away. Ordination methods, such as Principal Components Analysis, develops new sets of variables (principal components) based on the variance of the values of the original variables (the 11 indicators). The principal components can be used as axes in plotting the objects (the LMEs) to show how they are positioned in relation to one another, and to the indicators.
Stockholm Convention search for term
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
SWIOFC search for term
The Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission is an FAO regional Fisheries Body and is based on a multilateral agreement.

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T

TCHP search for term

Tropical Cyclone Heat Content

TN search for term

Total Nitrogen

TP search for term

Total Phosphorus

Transboundary Full Size Project (FSP) search for term
The Full Size Project in which the Transboundary Water's Assessment Programme was funded (by GEF) and implemented from 2013 to 2015.
Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme search for term

The world’s first transboundary waters assessment, funded by the Global Environment Facility (2012 to 2015), the results of which will be provide a status of the health of 5 ecosystem components (groundwater, lakes, rivers, Large Marine Ecosystems and open ocean). See www.geftwap.org for more information.

TWAP OO search for term
The Transboundary Waters Assessment Programme's assessment of the Open Ocean.

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U

UNCLOS search for term
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
UNCLOS – Seabed Agreement search for term
Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
UNFCC search for term
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFCC - Kyoto Protocol search for term
Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFSA search for term
UN Fish Stocks Agreement
USP search for term
University of the South Pacific

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V

Vienna Convention search for term
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer

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W

WCPFC search for term
Convention on the Conservation and Management of High Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean
WECAFC search for term
Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission
Wellington Convention (SP Drift Nets) search for term
Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Drift Nets in the South Pacific
West African Cetaceans MoU search for term
The MOU was concluded under the auspices of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and came into effect in 2008. It aims to achieve and maintain a favourable conservation status for manatees and small cetaceans of Western Africa and Macaronesia and their habitats and to safeguard the associated values of these species for the people of the region. Both member countries and range states are signatories to the MOU.
The MOU is accompanied by an action plan which is included as an Annex of the MOU. The goal of the action plan is to conserve small cetaceans and their habitats in the African Eastern Atlantic Basin and Macaronesia by reducing the negative effects of human activities on cetaceans. It seeks to balance the interests of local communities and fishermen and the socio-economic development of the region, with the need to reduce or eliminate threats to cetaceans and their habitats in order to ensure their conservation.
WIOSEA search for term
Western Indian Ocean Sustainable Ecosystem Alliance

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Z

Zooplankton search for term

The animal constituent of plankton consisting mainly of small crustaceans and fish larvae and including some gelatinous groups. They are passively floating, drifting, or somewhat motile organisms occurring in a body of water.

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