Ocean Protection Act 2020
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OCEAN PROTECTION ACT
Proposed by Cllr. Edward Firoux (Inquista) :: Passed (5-0), July 15th, 2020 :: Unamended
PREAMBLE
This Act aims to preserve the world's oceans as viable ecosystems by reducing the amount of pollution caused by human activity in the European Union.
SECTION I. DEFINITIONS
I. Ocean: a large body of saline water not enclosed by land.
II. Waste: by-product of industry or industrial processes.
III. Sewage: water contaminated due to human processes.
IV. Landfill site: a designated place for the purposes of storing waste.
SECTION II. REGULATIONS
I. Member states of the European Union are hereby required to cease the dumping of waste and sewage into ocean(s), and implement measures to prevent the dumping of waste and sewage into ocean(s).
II. Member states shall take measures to prevent any seepage from landfill sites from leaking into ocean(s).
III. Member states shall take appropriate measures to minimize oil spill(s) and any other spill(s) which may be harmful to oceanic environments from maritime vessels into ocean(s).
IV. The use of single-hulled oil tankers shall be banned by member states and they shall not be allowed to operate within European Union waters.
V. This Act shall not prevent member states from adopting more strict national legislation regarding environmental protection. Member states are encouraged to take further action to protect the oceans from pollution.
SECTION. III. SENSITIVE OCEANIC ECOSYSTEMS
I. This Act shall designate certain areas as sensitive oceanic ecosystems (SOE). Member states will not be permitted to conduct any sort of commercial or industrial operations within the boundaries or within 5 kilometres of proximity of these ecosystems. Sensitive oceanic ecosystems (SOE) include:
(i) coral reefs;
(ii) active cetacean mating territories;
(iii) areas that contain a particularly diverse, rare, or endangered maritime flora and fauna.
SECTION IV. ENFORCEMENT
I. All member nations of the European Union are required to harmonize their national law(s) with this Act in 6 months of time from its approval by the European Council.
II. Breaching the articles of this Act will be considered a punishable offense in member states and may be tried in the European Court of Justice.
