Summary of Conventions

Country	Status	Year
Cameroon	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Congo, R. of	ratified	19-Feb-1988
Benin	ratified	23-Mar-1981
Gabon	ratified	11-Feb-1989
Gambia	ratified	05-Feb-1985
Ghana	ratified	18-Sep-1989
Guinea	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Côte d'Ivoire	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Liberia	ratified	23-Mar-1981
Mauritania	ratified	22-Jun-1981
Nigeria	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Senegal	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Togo	ratified	05-Aug-1984
Language
English
French
Spanish
Document text
	Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region; and Protocol (1981)

     Entry into force: 5 August 1984

     The Contracting Parties,
     Conscious of the economic, social and health value of the marine environment and coastal areas of the West and Central African Region,
     Fully aware of their responsibility to preserve their natural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations,
     Recognizing the threat to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological equilibrium, resources and legitimate uses posed by pollution and by the absence of an integration of an environmental dimension into the development process,
     Realizing fully the need for co-operation among the Contracting Parties in order to ensure sustainable, environmentally-sound development through a co-ordinated and comprehensive approach,
     Realizing also the need for a carefully planned research, monitoring and assessment programme in view of the scarcity of scientific information on marine pollution in the West and Central African Region,
     Noting that existing conventions concerning marine pollution do not cover, in spite of the progress achieved, all aspects and sources of marine pollution and do not entirely meet the special requirements of the West and Central African Region,
     Have agreed as follows:
                              
Article 1                         GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE
     This Convention shall cover the marine environment, coastal zones and related inland waters falling within the jurisdiction of the States of the West and Central African Region, from Mauritania to Namibia inclusive, which have become Contracting Parties to this Convention under conditions set forth in article 27 and paragraph 1 of article 28 (hereinafter referred to as the Convention area).
                              
Article 2                              DEFINITIONS
     For the purposes of this Convention:
     1. "Pollution" means the introduction by man, directly or indirectly, of substances or energy into the marine environment, coastal zones, and related inland waters resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities, including fishing, impairment of quality for use of sea-water and reduction of amenities.
     2. "Organization" means the body designated as the secretariat of the Convention and its related protocols according to article 16 of the Convention.
                              
Article 3                          GENERAL PROVISIONS
     1. The Contracting Parties may enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, for the protection of the marine and coastal environment of the West and Central African Region, provided that such agreements are consistent with this Convention and conform to international law. Copies of such agreements shall be deposited with the Organization and, through the Organization, communicated to all Contracting Parties.
     2. Nothing in this Convention or related protocols shall be deemed to affect obligations assumed by a Contracting Party under agreements previously concluded.
     3. Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the codification and development of the law of the sea by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea convened pursuant to resolution 2750 C (XXV) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, nor the present or future claims and legal views of any Contracting Party concerning the nature and extent of its maritime jurisdiction.
                              
Article 4                         GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
     1. The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly as the case may be, take all appropriate measures in accordance with the provisions of this Convention and its protocols in force to which they are parties to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area and to ensure sound environmental management of natural resources, using for this purpose the best practicable means at their disposal, and in accordance with their capabilities.
     2. In addition to the Protocol concerning cooperation in combating pollution in cases of emergency opened for signature on the same date as this Convention, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the formulation and adoption of other protocols prescribing agreed measures, procedures, and standards to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution from all sources or promoting environmental management in conformity with the objectives of this Convention.
     3. The Contracting Parties shall establish national laws and regulations for the effective discharge of the obligations prescribed in this Convention, and shall endeavour to harmonize their national policies in this regard.
     4. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate with the competent international, regional and subregional organizations to establish and adopt recommended practices, procedures and measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution from all sources in conformity with the objectives of this Convention and its related protocols, and to assist each other in fulfilling their obligations under this Convention and its related protocols.
     5. In taking measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area or to promote environmental management, the Contracting Parties shall act so as not to transfer, directly or indirectly, damage or hazards from one area to another or transform one type of pollution into another.
                              
Article 5                         POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures in conformity with international law to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area caused by normal or accidental discharges from ships, and shall ensure the effective application in the Convention area of the internationally recognized rules and standards relating to the control of this type of pollution.
                              
Article 6       POLLUTION CAUSED BY DUMPING FROM SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area caused by dumping from ships and aircraft, and shall ensure the effective application in the Convention area of the internationally recognized rules and standards relating to the control of this type of pollution.
                              
Article 7                 POLLUTION FROM LAND-BASED SOURCES
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area caused b discharges from rivers, estuaries, coastal establishments and outfalls, coastal dumping or emanating from any other sources on their territories.
                              
Article 8                POLLUTION FROM ACTIVITIES RELATING TO                EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION OF THE SEA-BED
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution resulting from or in connection with activities relating to the exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed and its subsoil subject to their jurisdiction and from artificial islands, installations and structures under their jurisdiction.
                              
Article 9                POLLUTION FROM OR THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution in the Convention area resulting from or transported through the atmosphere.
                              
Article 10                          COASTAL EROSION
     The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control coastal erosion in the Convention area resulting from man's activities, such as land reclamation and coastal engineering.
                              
Article 11                     SPECIALLY PROTECTED AREAS
     The Contracting Parties shall, individually or jointly as the case may be, take all appropriate measures to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other marine life. To this end, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish protected areas, such as parks and reserves, and to prohibit or control any activity likely to have adverse effects on the species, ecosystems or biological processes in such areas.
                              
Article 12      CO-OPERATION IN COMBATING POLLUTION IN CASES OF EMERGENCY
     1. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in taking all necessary measures to deal with pollution emergencies in the Convention area, whatever the cause of such emergencies, and to reduce or eliminate damage resulting therefrom.
     2. Any Contracting Party which becomes aware of a pollution emergency in the Convention area should, without delay, notify the Organization and, either through this Organization or directly, any other Contracting Party likely to be affected by such emergency.
                              
Article 13                    ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
     1. As part of their environmental management policies, the Contracting Parties shall develop technical and other guidelines to assist the planning of their development projects in such a way as to minimize their harmful impact on the Convention area.
     2. Each Contracting Party shall endeavour to include an assessment of the potential environmental effects in any planning activity entailing projects within its territory, particularly in the coastal areas that may cause substantial pollution of, or significant and harmful changes to, the Convention area.
     3. The Contracting Parties shall, in consultation with the Organization, develop procedures for the dissemination of information concerning the assessment of the activities referred to in paragraph 2 of this article.
                              
Article 14               SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION
     1. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate, with the assistance of competent international and regional organizations, in the field of scientific research, monitoring and assessment of pollution in the Convention area, and shall exchange data and other scientific information for the purpose of this Convention and its related protocols.
     2. In addition, the Contracting Parties shall develop and co-ordinate national research and monitoring programmes concerning all types of pollution in the Convention area and shall establish, in co-operation with competent international and regional organizations, a regional network of national research centres and institutions to ensure compatible results. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to participate in international arrangements for pollution research and monitoring in areas beyond their national jurisdiction.
     3. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate directly or through competent international or regional organizations, in the development of programmes for technical and other assistance in fields related to marine pollution and sound environmental management of the Convention area.
                              
Article 15                      LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION
     The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in the formulation and adoption of appropriate rules and procedures for the determination of liability and the payment of adequate and prompt compensation for damage resulting from pollution of the Convention area.
                              
Article 16                      INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
     1. The Contracting Parties designate the United Nations Environment Programme as the secretariat of the Convention to carry out the following functions:
       (i) To prepare and convene the meetings of Contracting Parties and       conferences provided for in articles 17 and 18;  (ii) To transmit to the Contracting Parties notifications, reports       and other information received in accordance with articles 3,       12, and 22; (iii) To perform the functions assigned to it by the protocols to       this Convention;  (iv) To consider enquiries by, and information from, the Contracting       Parties and to consult with them on questions relating to this       Convention and its related protocols and annexes thereto;  (v) To co-ordinate the implementation of cooperative activities       agreed upon by the meetings of Contracting Parties and       conferences provided for in article 17;  (vi) To enter into such administrative arrangements as may be       required for the effective discharge of the secretariat       functions.
     2. Each Contracting Party shall designate an appropriate national authority as responsible for the co-ordination of national efforts for implementing this Convention and its related protocols. The appropriate national authority shall serve as the channel of communication between the Contracting Party and the Organization.
                              
Article 17                 MEETINGS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES
     1. The Contracting Parties shall hold ordinary meetings once every two years and extraordinary meetings at any other time deemed necessary, upon the request of the Organization or at the request of any Contracting Party, supported by at least three other Contracting Parties.
     2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Contracting Parties to keep under review the implementation of this Convention and its related protocols and, in particular:
       (i) To consider reports submitted by the Contracting Parties under  
Article 22;  (ii) To adopt, review and amend as required annexes to this       Convention and to its related protocols, in accordance with the       provisions of article 20; (iii) To make recommendations regarding the adoption of any       additional protocols or amendments to this Convention or its       related protocols in accordance with the provisions of articles       18 and 19;  (iv) To establish working groups as required to consider any matters       concerning this Convention and its related protocols and       annexes;  (v) To review the state of pollution in the Convention area;  (vi) To consider and to adopt decisions concerning co-operative       activities to be undertaken within the framework of this       Convention and its related protocols, including their financial       and institutional implications; (vii) To consider and undertake any additional action that may be       required for the achievement of the purposes of this Convention       and its related protocols.
                              
Article 18                    ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS
     1. The Contracting Parties, at a conference of plenipotentiaries, may adopt additional protocols to this Convention pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 4.
     2. A conference of plenipotentiaries shall be convened for the purpose of adopting additional protocols by the Organization at the request of not less than two thirds of the Contracting Parties.
     3. Pending the entry into force of this Convention, the Organization may, after consulting with the signatories to this Convention, convene a conference of plenipotentiaries for the purpose of adopting additional protocols.
                              
Article 19                AMENDMENT OF THE CONVENTION OR PROTOCOLS
     1. Any Contracting Party to this Convention may propose amendments to the Convention or to any of the protocols. The texts of any such draft amendments shall be communicated to the Contracting Parties by the Organization six months before their submission to an ordinary meeting of the Contracting Parties for examination.
     2. Any amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties and shall enter into force twelve months after its approval.
                              
Article 20                 ANNEXES AND AMENDMENTS TO ANNEXES
     1. Annexes to this Convention or to any of its protocols shall form an integral part of the Convention or such protocol.
     2. Except as may be otherwise provided in any protocol, the procedure foreseen in article 19 shall apply to the adoption and entry into force of any amendments to annexes to this Convention or to any protocol.
     3. The adoption and entry into force of a new annex to this Convention or to any protocol shall be subject to the same procedure as the adoption and entry into force of an amendment to an annex in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this article provided that, if any amendment to the Convention or the protocol concerned is involved, the new annex shall not enter into force until such time as the amendment to the Convention or the protocol concerned enters into force.
                              
Article 21                RULES OF PROCEDURE AND FINANCIAL RULES
     1. The Contracting Parties shall adopt rules of procedure for their meetings and conferences envisaged in articles 17 and 18 above.
     2. The Contracting Parties shall adopt financial rules, prepared in consultation with the Organization, to determine, in particular, their financial participation.
                              
Article 22                                REPORTS
     The Contracting Parties shall transmit to the Organization reports on the measures adopted in the implementation of this Convention and of protocols to which they are Parties, in such form and at such intervals as the meetings of Contracting Parties may determine.
                              
Article 23                          COMPLIANCE CONTROL
     The Contracting Parties undertake to co-operate in the development of procedures enabling them to control the application of this Convention and its related protocols.
                              
Article 24                      SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
     1. In case of a dispute between Contracting Parties as to the interpretation or application of this Convention or its related protocols, they shall seek a settlement of the dispute through negotiation or any other peaceful means of their own choice.
     2. If the Parties concerned cannot settle their dispute through the means mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the dispute shall be submitted to arbitration under conditions to be adopted by the Contracting Parties in an annex to this Convention.
                              
Article 25  RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONVENTION AND ITS RELATED PROTOCOLS
     1. No State may become a Contracting Party to this Convention unless it becomes at the same time a Contracting Party to at least one protocol. No State may become a Contracting Party to a protocol unless it is, or becomes at the same time, a Contracting Party to this Convention.
     2. Any protocol to this Convention shall be binding only on the Contracting Parties to the protocol in question.
     3. Decisions concerning any protocol pursuant to articles 17, 19 and 20 of this Convention shall be taken only by the Parties to the protocol concerned.
                              
Article 26                               SIGNATURE
     This Convention and the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency shall be in Abidjan from 23 March to 22 June 1981 for signature by any coastal or island State, from Mauritania to Namibia inclusive.
                              
Article 27                 RATIFICATION, ACCEPTANCE AND APPROVAL
     This Convention and any protocol thereto shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Government of the Ivory Coast, which will assume the functions of Depositary.
                              
Article 28                               ACCESSION
     1. As from 23 June 1981, the present Convention and the Protocol concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency shall be open for accession by the States referred to in article 26.
     2. After the entry into force of this Convention and any protocol thereto, any African State not referred to in article 26 may accede to them.
     3. This Convention and any protocol thereto shall also remain open after the entry into force for accession by any other State, subject to the prior approval of three quarters of the States referred to in article 26 which have become Contracting Parties.
     4. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.
                              
Article 29                           ENTRY INTO FORCE
     1. This Convention and the first of its protocols shall enter into force on the same date, in accordance with the following paragraph 2.
     2. The Convention and any of its protocols shall enter into force on the sixtieth day following the date of deposit of at least six instruments of ratification acceptance or approval of, or accession to, such Convention and protocol by the Parties referred to in article 26.
     3. Thereafter, this Convention and any protocol thereto shall enter into force with respect to any State referred to in article 26 on the sixtieth day following the date of deposit of the instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.
                              
Article 30                               WITHDRAWAL
     1. At any time after five years from the date of entry into force of this Convention, any Contracting Party may withdraw from this Convention by giving written notification of withdrawal.
     2. Except as may be otherwise provided in any protocol to this Convention, any Contracting Party may, at any time after five years from the date of entry into force of such protocol, withdraw from such protocol by giving written notification of withdrawal.
     3. Withdrawal shall take effect ninety days after the date on which notification of withdrawal is received by the Depositary.
     4. Any Contracting Party which withdraws from this Convention shall be considered as also having withdrawn from any protocol to which it was a Party.
     5. Any Contracting Party which, upon its withdrawal from a protocol, is no longer a Party to any protocol to this Convention, shall be considered as also having withdrawn from this Convention.
                              
Article 31                 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPOSITARY
     1. The Depositary shall inform the Contracting Parties, any other Party referred to in article 26, and the Organization:
       (i) Of the signature of this Convention and any protocol thereto,       and of the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance,       approval or accession in accordance with articles 26, 27 and       28;
       (ii) Of the date on which the Convention and any protocol will come       into force in accordance with the provisions of article 29;
      (iii) Of notifications of withdrawal made in accordance with article       30;
       (iv) Of the amendments adopted with respect to the Convention and to       any protocol, their acceptance by the Contracting Parties and       the date of entry into force of these amendments in accordance       with the provisions of article 19;
       (v) Of the adoption of new annexes and of the amendment of any       annex in accordance with article 20.
     2. The original of this Convention and of any protocol thereto shall be deposited with the Depositary, the Government of the Ivory Coast which shall send certified copies thereof to the Contracting Parties, to the Organization of African Unity, to the Organization, and to the Secretary- General of the United Nations for registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the United Nations Charter.
     In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed this Convention.
     Done at Abidjan on this twenty-third day of March one thousand nine hundred and eighty-one in a single copy in the English, French and Spanish languages, the three texts being equally authentic.
     
                         PROTOCOL CONCERNING CO-OPERATION IN COMBATING POLLUTION IN CASES OF EMERGENCY (1981)

Abidjan, 23 March 1981

Article 1
     For the purposes of this Protocol:
     1. "Appropriate National Authority" means the authority designated by the Government of a Contracting Party in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 16 of the Convention for Co-operation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region, and responsible for:
       (a) Combating and otherwise operationally responding to marine emergencies;
       (b) Receiving and co-ordinating reports of particular marine emergencies;
       (c) Co-ordinating activities relating to marine emergencies in general within its own Government and with other Contracting Parties.
     2. "Marine Emergency" means any incident, occurrence or situation, however caused, resulting in substantial pollution or imminent threat of substantial pollution to the marine and coastal environment by oil or other harmful substances and includes, in particular, collisions, strandings and other incidents involving ships, including tankers, petroleum production blow-outs and the presence of oil or other harmful substances arising from the failure of industrial installations.
     3. "Marine Emergency Contingency Plan" means a plan, prepared on a national, bilateral or multilateral basis, to deal with pollution and other adverse effects on the marine and coastal environment, or the threat thereof, resulting from accidents or other unforeseen events.
     4. "Marine Emergency Response" means any activity intended to prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution by oil or other harmful substances or threat of such pollution resulting from marine emergencies and includes the clean-up of oil slicks and recovery or salvage of packages, freight containers, portable tanks, or road and rail wagons.
     5. "Related Interests" means the interests of a Contracting Party directly or indirectly affected or threatened by a marine emergency, such as:
       (a) Maritime, coastal, port or estuarine activities, including fisheries activities;
       (b) Historic and tourist attractions of the area concerned;
       (c) The health and well-being of the inhabitants of the area concerned, including the conservation of living marine resources and wildlife and the protection of marine and coastal parks and reserves.
     6. "Convention" means the Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region.
     7. "Organization" means the organization referred to in article 16 of the Convention as responsible for the secretariat functions of the Convention.
                              
Article 2
     The area to which this Protocol applies (hereinafter referred to as the "protocol area") shall be the same as the Convention area as defined in article 1 of the Convention.
                              
Article 3
     This Protocol shall apply to actual or potential marine emergencies which constitute a substantial pollution danger to the Protocol area and related interests of the Contracting Parties.
                              
Article 4
     The Contracting Parties undertake to co-operate in all matters relating to the taking of necessary and effective measures to protect their respective coastlines and related interests from the threat and effects of pollution resulting from marine emergencies.
                              
Article 5
     Each Contracting Party shall provide the other Contracting Parties and the Organization with information concerning:
       (a) Its appropriate national authority;
       (b) Its laws, regulations and other legal instruments relating generally to matters referred to in this Protocol, including those concerning the organization and operation of the appropriate national authority, to the extent that this organization and operation relates to matters referred to in this Protocol;
       (c) Its national marine emergency contingency plans.
                              
Article 6
     The Contracting Parties shall exchange, either through the Organization or directly, information on research and development programmes, including results concerning ways in which pollution by oil and other harmful substances may be dealt with, and on experiences in combating such pollution.
                              
Article 7
     1. Each Contracting Party undertakes to require masters of ships flying its flag and pilots of aircraft registered in its territory, and persons in charge of offshore structures operating under its jurisdiction, to report by the most rapid and adequate channels in the circumstances, and in accordance with the annex to this Protocol, to any Contracting Party:
       (a) All accidents causing or likely to cause pollution of the sea by oil or other harmful substances;
          (b) The presence, characteristics and extent of spillages of oil or other harmful substances observed at sea which are likely to present a serious and imminent threat to the marine environment or to the coast or related interests of one or more of the Contracting Parties.
     2. Any Contracting Party receiving a report pursuant to paragraph 1 above shall promptly inform the Organization and, either through the Organization or directly, the appropriate national authority of any Contracting Party likely to be affected by the marine emergency.
                              
Article 8
     1. Any Contracting Party requiring assistance for dealing with a marine emergency, including the recovery or salvage of packages, freight containers, portable tanks, or road or rail wagons, may call for assistance from any other Contracting Party. The call for assistance shall be made initially to other Contracting Parties whose coastlines and related interests might be affected by the marine emergency involved. The Contracting Parties to whom a request is made pursuant to this paragraph undertake to use their best endeavours to render the assistance requested.
     2. The assistance referred to in paragraph 1 of this article may include:
       (a) The provision and reinforcement of personnel, material, and equipment;
       (b) The provision and reinforcement of surveillance and monitoring capacity;
       (c) The provision of pollution disposal sites; or
       (d) The facilitation of the transfer of personnel, equipment and material into, out of, and through the territories of the Contracting Parties.
     3. Any Contracting Party requesting assistance pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article shall report the results following from the request to the other Contracting Parties and to the Organization.
     4. The Contracting Parties undertake to consider as soon as possible and in accordance with the means available to them the allocation of tasks for responding to marine emergencies within the Protocol area.
     5. Each Contracting Party undertakes to inform the other Contracting Parties and the Organization of measures taken in dealing with marine emergencies in cases where those other Contracting Parties are not called upon to provide assistance.
                              
Article 9
     1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to maintain and promote, either individually or through bilateral or multilateral co-operation, marine emergency contingency plans and means for combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances. These means shall include, in particular, equipment, ships, aircraft and manpower prepared for operations in cases of emergency.
     2. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in developing standing instructions and procedures to be followed by their appropriate national authorities who have responsibility for receiving and transmitting reports of pollution by oil and other harmful substances made pursuant to article 7 of this Protocol. Such co-operation shall be designed to ensure speedy and routine reception, transmission and dissemination of these reports.
                              
Article 10
     1. Each Contracting Party shall act in accordance with the following principles in the conduct of marine emergency responses carried out under its authority:
       (a) Make an assessment of the nature and extent of the marine emergency and transmit the results of the assessment to any other Contracting Party concerned;
       (b) Determine the necessary and appropriate action to be taken with respect to the marine emergency in consultation, where appropriate, with other Contracting Parties;
       (c) Make the necessary reports and requests for assistance under articles 7 and 8 of this Protocol; and
       (d) Take appropriate and practical measures to prevent, reduce, combat and control the effects of pollution, including surveillance and monitoring of the marine emergency.
     2. In carrying out marine emergency responses under this Protocol the Contracting Parties shall:
       (a) Act in conformity with the principles of international law and with international conventions having applicability to marine emergency responses; and
       (b) Inform the Organization of those marine emergency responses.
                              
Article 11
     1. Ordinary meetings of the Contracting Parties to this Protocol shall be
Short Name:
Full Name:	Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region
Purpose:	environment
Established:	23-Mar-1981
Entered into force:	05-Aug-1984
Type:	convention, multi-lateral
Place where established:	Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Schedule to expire:
Goals and Objectives:	To protect the marine and coastal environment of the West and Central African Region. Convention cover the marine environment, coastal zones and related inland waters. To prevent, reduce, combat and control pollution of the Convention area and to ensure sound environmental management of natural resources.
Related Legislation:	Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution in Cases of Emergency, Abidjan, 1981. (Entered into force on 5 Aug 1984).
Internet source:
Secretariat's address	UNEP Regional Co-ordinating Unit for the Western and Central African Action Plan, c/o Department of Environment, Ministry of Housing, Quality of Life, and Environment, PO Box 153, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Telephone	+225-210323
Fax	+225-210495
E-Mail	kaba@cro.orstom.ci#mailto:kaba@cro.orstom.ci#
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