PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREAS, 2007 Edition

Compilation of all guidance documents and PSSAs designated by IMO since 1990

A Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) is an area of the marine environment that needs special protection through action by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) because of its significance for recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes where such attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities. At the time of designation of a PSSA, an associated protective measure (APM), which meets the requirements of the appropriate legal instrument establishing such measure, must have been approved or adopted by IMO to prevent, reduce, or eliminate the threat or identified vulnerability.

IMO is the only international body responsible for assessing proposals for and designating areas as PSSAs and adopting measures applicable to international shipping.

This publication provides the reader with an overview of all PSSAs designated by the MEPC since 1990 and includes all key ‘legal documents’ as follows:

• 1 Revised PSSA Guidelines;
• 2 Revised Guidelines to submit a PSSA Proposal to IMO;
• 3 PSSA Proposal Review Form; and
• 4 Uniform PSSA Resolution Format.

These texts were designed by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to assist Member Governments in the preparation, identification and submission of PSSAs and to provide the MEPC with the information for a robust review method of a PSSA proposal to ensure that the revised PSSA Guidelines are fulfilled.

It is also hoped that this publication will also assist mariners worldwide to approach and navigate near or through these PSSAs with caution and act as recommended by the APMs.