The primary aim of the Advisory Committee on Protection of the Sea [ACOPS] is to promote and implement strategies for the sustainable development of the coastal and marine environment, through scientific, legal and policy research, advisory and public awareness activities, and development of project proposals for Partnership Conferences of all stakeholders. Work is carried out at the global, regional and national levels. Given that effective responses often demand complex cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approaches, assistance is provided to both countries and regions in the development and implementation of concrete initiatives and projects. Studying our seas and oceans both as indicators of pollution and as a threatened resource in their own right, ACOPS strives to identify cost-effective, long-term environmental solutions that can be effectively implemented across the world, and to present these solutions to stakeholders in order to solicit commitments for concrete actions.



Established in 1952 as one of the world`s first environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, ACOPS originally concentrated on encouraging international agreements to reduce marine oil pollution. Since then, ACOPS has expanded its interests to include land-based sources of marine pollution, as well as other aspects of degradation of the coastal and marine environment. Our operations include:



assistance to national governments and regional organisations in the development and implementation of projects, activities, and mechanisms for the protection and development of the coastal and marine environment;



research regarding marine pollution problems, and development of concrete proposals for their solution and quantification;



formulation of policy options and the conduct of studies in co-operation with central and local governments and intergovernmental agencies, as well as regional and global organisations;



preparation of project proposals to be considered at Partnership Conferences which bring together all stakeholders;



educational programmes covering all scientific, legal and political aspects of the degradation and threats to, the marine and coastal environment;



promotion of the North-South dialogue; and



public awareness campaigns, through high-level international conferences.