Resolution MEPC.106(49)

DESIGNATION OF THE PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE AS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREA

 

(Adopted on 18 July 2003)

 

 

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION COMMITTEE,

 

BEING AWARE of the ecological, social, cultural and educational value of the Paracas National Reserve, as well as its vulnerability to damage by international shipping traffic and activities in the area and the steps taken by Peru to address that vulnerability,

 

NOTING that the Guidelines for the Identification and Designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas adopted under resolution A.927(22) set out procedures for the designation of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas,

 

HAVING CONSIDERED the proposal from Peru to designate the Paracas National Reserve as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area,

 

HAVING AGREED that the criteria for the identification of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area provided in resolution A.927(22) are fulfilled for the Paracas National Reserve,

 

NOTING that the forty-ninth session of the NAV Sub-Committee considered an Area to be Avoided (ATBA) and agreed to its establishment,

 

1. DESIGNATES the Paracas National Reserve as defined in the Annex to this resolution as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area.

 

Annex.

DESIGNATION OF THE SEA AREA OF THE PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE - PERU AS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREA

 

INTRODUCTION

 

1. The use of ships to transport cargoes of various types and volumes, especially goods and substances which are harmful and damaging to the marine environment, and for the extraction and capture of hydrobiological resources, represents a serious threat to the marine environment due to the possibility of spills or operational or accidental pollution resulting in irreversible damage to marine habitats and organisms.

 

2. The Peruvian Sea is one of the world's richest in hydrobiological resources thanks to the favourable oceanographic and climatic conditions off the coast of Peru. The Paracas National Reserve occupies a unique geographical area along its entire shore, since it possesses significant biodiversity, both hydrobiological species and marine mammals, birds and other species.

 

3. The importance of the Paracas National Reserve has been internationally recognized by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR Convention) and the Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network, since the Peruvian Maritime Authority established special protective measures.

 

4. The Government of Peru is seeking via the International Maritime Organization to obtain world recognition of the sea area of the Paracas National Reserve as a particularly sensitive sea area, in accordance with the established procedures, so that seafarers, irrespective of the flag under which their ship is registered, are aware of the special ecological importance of this area and provide it with due protection, thus contributing to the efforts by the entire people of Peru in this respect.

 

PART I.
DESCRIPTION, IMPORTANCE AND VULNERABILITY OF THE AREA

 

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE

 

1.1 The Paracas National Reserve is an area of high ecological value and environmentally sensitive, located in Pisco Province, Department of lea, in a sea and coastal area defined by the following geographical points, as shown in Chart PERU HIDRONAV-2170, "Coast of Peru: Pisco-Paracas-Bahia Independencia", annexed to this document:

 

(a) 13°46'52" South 76°30'00" West

(b) 13°46'52" South 76°17'40" West

(c) 13°47'20" South 76°17'40" West

(d) 13°49'00" South 76°18'25" West

(e) 13°51'26" South 76°14'55" West

(f) 14°26'42" South 76°00'00" West

(g) 14°26'42" South 76°30'00" West

 

1.2 The sea area of the Paracas National Reserve has a total area of 217,594 hectares, including several islands, the main ones being:

 

(a) Isla San Gallan

 

(b) Islas Ballestas

 

(c) Islas Independencia group.

 

1.3 The Paracas National Reserve is the only marine reserve in Peru. It was created by Supreme Decree No.l281-75-AG of 25 September 1975, and includes within its boundaries the Paracas National Prehistoric Park, designated by Supreme Decree No. 15 of 21 June 1960.

 

1.4 The Reserve was created to preserve and sustainably use representative samples of the natural formations and the biological diversity in the bio geographical areas (Udvardy, 1980) of the Pacific subtropical desert and the Pacific temperate desert, or according to another classification of zoogeographic regions: the Peru-Chilean Oceanic Zone and the Coastal Desert (Brack, 1976).

 

1.5 Due to the high primary productivity, it concentrates significant nuclei of terrestrial and aquatic fauna, notably the large seal populations, the high density of guano birds and the abundance of migratory birds, making it an area of particular economic and ecological interest, which combined with the Paracas culture form an area of great scientific and cultural significance and great tourist potential.

 

1.6 The coastline is varied, marked by geographical features such as the Bay of Paracas, the peninsula of Paracas, Punta Carreta, Bahia de la Independencia, Morro Quemado, Punta Gallinazo and the Islas Independencia and San Gallan.

 

1.7 These features are the result of diastrophic forces active now and in the past in Peru. The drowning of the palaeozoic range known as the "Cordillera de la Costa" is clear from observation of the Bahia de la Independencia and the group of islands bearing the same name, or the Peninsula of Paracas and Isla San Gallan. The shorelines corresponding to the high ground along the same coast are all steep, further evidence of the drowning.

 

1.8 The climate is conducive to the formation of subtropical desert, meaning that there is a difference of about 6° to 8° in the average temperature between the hottest and the coldest months. In February and August, it is 22°C and 15.5°C respectively, with an annual average of 18.7°C. Precipitation is very low. The average annual total in the north of the Reserve is 1.83 mm with relative humidity of 82 per cent and 83 per cent in winter.

 

1.9 The average height of cloud is 590 metres, and it should be noted that unlike in other parts of the coast, the sun also shines in winter, which can be explained by the fact that the beaches and plains of the Reserve, by reducing the relative humidity, disperse clouds by reflecting the heat induced on the surface by infrared rays and rising warm air.

 

1.10 The prevailing winds are south and south-west, reaching an average speed of 14.9 km/h. However, the strongest shore winds, known as "Paraca" reach 32 km/h.

 

1.11 The Bay of Paracas is shallow, ranging from 0 to 7 metres in depth, but deeper in the vicinity of Punta Pejerrey.

 

1.12 The principal productive activity in the area is fishing, both industrial and small-scale, including fish-farming, with barges and wharves for direct unloading of hydrobiological products. The biodiversity, beautiful scenery and archaeological sites in the Reserve make it an important tourist destination (over 120,000 visitors a year).

 

1.13 Also located in the Bay of Paracas is a port terminal for large ships, handling different types of cargoes for export, import and coastal trade, especially fish meal, salt and sulphuric acid, as well as a multi-buoy off-shore terminal for supplying oil from tankers to the refinery which provides fuel for the region.

 

1.14 There is merchant shipping and tanker traffic bound for other ports in and around the sea area of the Reserve.

 

2. IMPORTANCE OF THE PARACAS NATIONAL RESERVE

 

2.1 Ecological criteria

 

2.1.1 Unique and representative character

 

2.1.1.1 This section of the coastal and sea area includes the sea area of the Paracas National Reserve. Its characteristics make it quite unique and exceptional compared with many areas of the Peruvian coast. It is important for its upwelling currents and its physical and environmental conditions make it one of the most productive and diverse areas of the coast.

 

2.1.1.2 While from latitude 5° South, off Bayovar, Piura, the coastal region offers these ecological characteristics, a series of factors combine in the area south of Pisco to produce the extraordinary wealth of environments and marine species. The Peru current brings a constant supply of inorganic nutrients, the richest in the world, to the coast off San Juan de Marcona. These nutrients provide a high concentration of raw materials, mainly phytoplankton, which are the basis of the rich shore and aquatic fauna found there. This makes the coastal waters of Pisco-Paracas one of the most productive in the world.

 

2.1.1.3 The first area touched by the current is the Bahia de la Independencia, where the concentration of nutrients results in an exceptional wealth of hydrobiological life which is reflected, among other things, in the rich harvests of molluscs. The south side of the Peninsula of Paracas to some extent hinders the South to North flow and gives rise to an area where the cold water from the South mixes with the local warm waters, which then flow north-west.

 

2.1.1.4 The Bay of Paracas has shallow waters which are easily heated by the sun's rays. These waters receive a variable but constant inflow of fresh water from the Rio Pisco, greater mainly during the summer months, which reduces their salinity.

 

2.1.1.5 The wealth of biological resources within the Reserve is thus supported by the dynamics of the marine ecosystem, both in the bentonic and pelagic populations. It concentrates both a wide diversity of species and considerable commercial volumes due to the physical features of the coast with its many small bays and creeks, shallow open beaches and many cliffs. The shallowness of the coastal waters encourages photosynthetic processes or primary productivity of phytoplankton and algae which start the trophic chain. The cold Peruvian Current and the submarine counter-currents encourage the upwelling of masses of water from the seabed to the surface, laden with nutrients on which phytoplankton and macroscopic algae feed in the extremely sunny conditions. This generates an explosion of its biomass through photosynthetic activity, starting the trophic chain which makes the sea of Paracas one of the richest in the world.

 

2.1.1.6 The bentonic population of the waters of the Paracas Reserve consists mainly of a great biological diversity of molluscs, algae, fish and arthropods, especially mussels, winkles, scallops, sole, cabrilla, pintadilla, chita, etc. as well as various species of marine algae. These species form the basis of the country's fish-farming, using techniques specific to the area. The pelagic population consists of wild species, especially anchovies, mackerel, sardines, silverside, machete and bonito.

 

2.1.1.7 The wide biological diversity of the bentonic and pelagic ecological populations of the sea of Paracas also depends on the nature and variety of the substratum (sand, mud, sandy mud, rock, stony, shells, etc.), tidal movements, (with species living at the lower, middle and upper shore levels) and the physical and chemical composition of the sea water which encourages primary growth which is the basis of the biological chain in the Peruvian sea.

 

2.1.2 Productivity

 

2.1.2.1 Despite its tropical position, the most striking characteristic of the Peruvian Sea is its cold waters. This coldness is the result of the vertical stream of water from deeper layers to the surface, by the process known as the Peruvian upwelling system, which is summarized below.

 

2.1.2.2 The coastal area of the Peruvian Sea is considered to be one of the most productive in the world. The trade winds drive the coastal waters of Peru from south-east to north-west. This circulation is called the Peruvian Coastal Current. The direction and strength of the wind and the geographical shape of the west coast of the continent cause a bend in the coastal waters at right angles to the wind direction and against the coastline. This bend leaves a "void" which is filled by the upwelling of subsurface waters rich in inorganic nutrients. This extra provision of nutrients and the action of sunlight are the basis for the high phytoplanktonic and zooplanktonic productivity, which in turn sustains the famous riches of the Peruvian Sea.

 

2.1.3 Diversity

 

2.1.3.1 The diversity of coastal micro environments, the geographical shape of its coastline, the variety of substrata and the high primary productivity of these waters support a wide variety of species which offer, in practice and potentially, a large number of alternatives for sustainable local and national development.

 

 

Source: INRENA - January 2000

 

2.1.3.2 Invertebrates should be highlighted among the most important resources, of which arthropods are the most varied and molluscs offer the best prospects for farming. The most representative species include scallops, argopecten purpuratus, for its great economic potential, and abalone (concholepas concholepas) the wedge clam (donax sp.), the Pacific clam (gari solida), the mussel (aulacomya ater), the octopus (octopus sp.). Other groups of invertebrates are also important, such as equinoderms, including the sea urchin (loxechinus albus) and crustaceans such as the crab (platyxanthns orbigny), both of which are of economic importance and constantly harvested.

 

2.1.3.3 Plants are another important group. Algae, for example, are a raw material in pharmaceutical research and the pharmaceutical industry as well as a traditional source of human food. Also noteworthy is the seasonal vegetation, basically herbaceous, which grows on the slopes of the hills nearest the coast which rise to over 400 metres. This "coastal hill" vegetation, is encouraged by the occurrence of winter mists. In general, little is known of these formations which in the Paracas National Reserve at least occur in the Lechuza hills, Morro Quemado and San Gallan Island.

 

2.1.3.4 The third important group consists of vertebrates. Fish are the traditional basic resource of the local economy, not only in domestic and small-scale fishing, but also industrial. The periodic appearance of sea turtles is a cause for concern since it leads to the hunting of and resulting trade in these animals, despite the fact that it is a prohibited activity. In addition, the wide diversity of migratory and resident birds, marine mammals (seals, whales and otters) are a great attraction for students, teachers, researchers and tourists.

 

Flora

 

2.1.3.5 The terrestrial flora of the Paracas Reserve are divided between local biotopes in the uplands called coastal hill vegetation and those growing on the shores, known as halophytic plants. The Paracas coastal desert is characterized by high temperatures and scant precipitation, with heights of 500 metres above sea level in the Peninsula of Paracas and 600 metres above sea level in the Bahia de la Independencia, which capture the humidity in the mists encouraging the presence of hill vegetation.

 

2.1.3.6 In the Lechuza and Lagarto hills in the Bay of Paracas and San Gallan Island there are sandy soils with three species of tillandsia sp., xerophytic plants which grow in the sandy substratum and capture atmospheric humidity.

 

2.1.3.7 In the stony soils there are fissures and crevices which collect humus, lichens and mosses, which allow the growth of the species solarium, oxalis and spergularia. These species dry out in summer and grow again in winter by capturing the humidity. The hill vegetation occupies very limited areas and has been altered by the local beachcombers known as guaqueros.

 

2.1.3.8 Halophytic species grow along the shorelines. In the Bay of Paracas, Playon and Mendieta, the species sesuvium portulacastrum, distichlis spicata and cressa trixillensis can be found.

 

2.1.3.9 The marine flora consists of microscopic algae and larger seaweed (Acosta, 1977). 254 species of marine algae are recorded in the area, 3 species of cyanophytas, 11 phaeophytas, 1 euglenophyta, 79 pirrophytas, 104 criysophytas and 44 rodophytas.

 

2.1.3.10 Of the larger seaweed, the most important are: ulva lactuca; ulva fasciata; ulva papenfussi and ulva sp., commonly called sea lettuce; grateloupia doryphara; chondracanthus chamissoi; chondracanthus glomerata and porphyrya columbina, known as "yuyo" and used in cooking.

 

Fauna

 

2.1.3.11 The diversity of the substratum of the shores allows the presence of micro habitats and thus great biological diversity among the species making up the marine fauna, birds, fish, marine mammals and molluscs. The terrestrial fauna is very scarce, with three species of small lizard (tropidurus peruvianus, tropidunis tigris and a gecko) and the coastal fox.

 

2.1.3.12 The main species of marine fauna include: mugli cephalus (striped mullet); engraulis ringens (anchovy); dasyatis brevis (stingray); urotrigon peruvianus (ray); paralichthys adspersus (sole); occasional visitors such as: delphinus delphinits (dolphin); small species of whales and sperm whales; arctocephalus australis (South American fur seal); otaria byron (sea lion); molluscs: thais chocolata (winkle); argopecten purpuratus (scallop); octopus fontaineanus (octopus); crustaceans: platyxanthus orbigny (purple crab); and ocypode gaudichaudi (crab).

 

2.1.3.13 The bird life consists of the following: condors; guanay cormorants; cormorants; booby; pelicans; flamingo; great egret; snowy egret; blue heron; white-cheeked pintail; turkey vulture; osprey; peregrine falcon; common oystercatcher; black oystercatcher; snowy plover; black-bellied plover; semi-palmated plover; turnstone; solitary sandpiper; sanderling; semi-palmated sandpiper; western sandpiper; lesser yellowlegs; greater yellowlegs; migrating snipe; whimbrel; skimmer; elegant tern; common tern; Peruvian tern; royal tern; band-tailed gull; kelp gull; grey gull; grey-headed gull; Franklin's gull; Peruvian seaside cinclodes; and grebe.

 

Seals

 

2.1.3.14 The Paracas National Reserve, as a conservation unit, contains within its shores one of the main concentrations of seals on the entire Peruvian coast. The Reserve has three of the largest stable colonies of South American fur seals, whose population is recovering from the effects of the 97-98 El Nino phenomenon.

 

2.1.3.15 The creation of the Reserve put an end to their indiscriminate slaughter primarily for profit since their skins fetched a good price on the market. In addition to the creation of the Reserve, the Peruvian Government issued Ministerial Resolution No. 00103-76-PE of 9 March 1976, pursuant to Decree-Law No. 18810, which prohibits seal hunting and it is as a result of this protection that the seal populations have been recovering, as shown by the statistics. In 1976, the total population for all colonies was 2,048 seals, in 1982 the estimated population was 15,821 seals and now these populations have increased so significantly that they are no longer considered to be endangered.

 

2.1.3.16 Seal colonies live on Morro Quemado, Islas Independencia and Santa Rosa, Mendieta, Isla Zarate, Punta Arquillo, Punta Lechuza, Punta Lagarto, Isla San Gallan, Islas Ballestas and Islas Chincha.

 

Marine Invertebrates

 

2.1.3.17 The area of the Reserve, which includes the Bay of Paracas and Bahia de la Independencia is the leading place on the Peruvian coast for the production and harvesting of shellfish. In recent years, the boom in scallops, argopecten purpuratus, as a result of the El Nino phenomenon requires greater attention from researchers into marine ecology, especially the bentonic subsystem.

 

2.1.3.18 In 10 places in the Paracas National Reserve and 14 points on the lower beach 8 biotopes can be distinguished: rocky shore; muddy sand; sandy and stony and sandy mud beds; sandy, stony and rocky.

 

2.1.3.19 Bentonic invertebrates of 330 types of (excluding nematodes) have been found, 305 of which identified at least to generic level. These types are grouped into 145 families, 43 orders and 15 phyla. Of the total types, 112 are mollusca (33.9 %), 184 anelidae (31.5 %), 75 Crustacea (22.7 %) and 39 belong to various other classification groups (11.8 %).

 

2.1.3.20 More species were found in hard substrata than in soft substrata: 119 species exclusive to rocky seabeds and 39 on rocky shores; 79 species were found in the remaining 6 biotopes. The numerical results obtained for the main classification groups are still provisional because the samples have not been exhaustive, especially in stony and muddy sand seabeds.

 

2.1.3.21 The total number of molluscs, worms and crustaceans recorded in the Reserve has increased considerably from 103 to 289 species. In the case of crustaceans, species of the orders Ostracoda, Tanaidacea, Cumacea, Isopoda and Amphipoda are being recorded for the first time, the latter being significant, since the 18 species found are 12 amphipods and 6 isopods.

 

2.1.4 Natural character

 

2.1.4.1 The coast contains two thirds of Peru's total population. Industries of various kinds have been established along the coast and the country's largest towns have grown up there. The Pisco-Paracas area is no exception. However, in its 25 years of existence, the ecosystem of the Paracas National Reserve displays relatively natural conditions compared with other parts of the coast, which reflect the resilience of its natural processes such as maintenance of productive processes, persistence of breeding zones, stability of its colonies, and resistance to drastic change, such as very strong El Nino phenomena, etc.

 

2.1.4.2 It is universally recognized that global populations of migratory shore birds are declining, mainly due to the accelerating destruction of the wetlands which form their habitat. Consequently, international efforts and commitments to protect migratory birds and their habitats, such as the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR Convention) and the Convention on the Conservation Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention); commitments to which Peru is an official party.

 

2.1.4.3 The situation of wetlands in Peru is no different from that found elsewhere in the world, which is why the Peruvian State is freely and absolutely committed to protecting wetlands and migratory birds.

 

2.1.4.4 Because of its importance and natural character, the Paracas National Reserve has been included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance of the Convention on Wetlands of