Performance of Kuwait Regional Convention on Persian Gulf Marine Environment

Background and In 1978, the Kuwait Regional Convention for Co-operation on Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution was signed between the countries of the region. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are exporting their petroleum from this semi-enclosed sea. According to the convention signatory countries pledged to take all necessary actions to prevent or reduce environmental pollution. This study aimed to investigate the role of this convention on the protection of marine environment in the Persian Gulf. In this study, levels of pollution and their effects on the Persian Gulf were investigated using the data from official sources. This investigation was done based on the production of oil in the Persian Gulf then it was compared with marine pollution in the world. The data was analyzed using statistical software. The level of oil pollutants including oil spills were less compared with that of the world, however, in 1983 and 1991, the amount of pollution in the Persian Gulf was found to be higher. From 1978 (the year that Kuwait Convention was adopted) until 1982, and from 1984 until 1990, the average pollution rate declined compared to the global level. But the occurrence of two wars in the Persian Gulf increased the pollution rate to 63.63%. Kuwait Regional Convention is incapable of taking appropriate actions if the oil facilities, docks and tankers are attacked. In fact emergency plans for protection of pollutants will lose their efficacy due to the extent of disaster. So it is suggested to amend the Kuwait convention protocol or by setting a separate protocol members should be plighted to refrain from attacking each other's oil installations in wars or to agree with emergency operations if these facilities are attacked.