which will not be included in Annex I. In the issue of permits for the dumping of this matter, the Parties should take full account of the recommendations of the competent international body in this field, at present the International Atomic Energy Agency.ANNEX IIIThe factors to be considered in establishing criteria governing the issue of permits for the dumping of matter at sea taking into account Article 7 include:A. Characteristics and composition of the matter1. Total amount and average compositions of matter dumped (e.g. per year).2. Form (e.g. solid, sludge, liquid or gaseous).3. Properties: physical (e.g. solubility and density), chemical and biochemical (e.g. oxygen demand, nutrients) and biological (e.g. presence of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, parasites).4. Toxicity.5. Persistence: physical, chemical and biological.6. Accumulation and biotransformation in biological materials or sediments.7. Susceptibility to physical, chemical and biochemical changes and interaction in the aquatic environment with other dissolved organic and inorganic materials.8. Probability of production of taints or other changes reducing marketability of resources (fish, shellfish, etc.).B. Characteristics of dumping site and method of deposit1. Location (e.g. coordinates of the dumping area, depth and distance from the coast), location in relation to other areas (e.g. amenity areas, spawning, nursery and fishing areas and exploitable resources).2. Rate of disposal per specific period (e.g. quantity per day, per week, per month).3. Methods of packaging and containment, if any.4. Initial dilution achieved by proposed method of release, particulary the speed of the ship.5. Dispersal characteristics (e.g. effects of currents, tides and wind on horizontal transport and vertical mixing).6. Water characteristics (e.g. temperature, pH, salinity, stratification, oxygen indices of pollution - dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrogen present in organic and mineral form, including ammonia, suspended matter, other nutrients and productivity).7. Bottom characteristics (e.g. topography, geochemical and geological characteristics and biological productivity).8. Existence and effects of other dumpings which have been made in the dumping area (e.g. heavy metal background reading and organic carbon content).9. When issuing a permit for dumping, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to determine whether an adequate scientific basis exists for assessing the consequences of such dumping in the area concerned, in accordance with the foregoing provisions and taking into account seasonal variations.C. General considerations and conditions1. Possible effects on amenities (e.g. presence of floating or stranded material, turbidity, objectionable odour, discoloration and foaming).2. Possible effects on marine life, fish and shellfish culture, fish stocks and fisheries, seaweed harvesting and culture.3. Possible effects on other uses of the sea (e.g. impairment of water quality for industrial use, underwater corrosion of structures, interference with ship operations from floating materials, interference with fishing or navigation through deposit of waste or solid objects on the sea floor and protection of areas of special importance for scientific or conservation purposes).4. The practical availability of alternative land-based methods of treatment, disposal or elimination or of treatment to render the matter less harmfull for sea dumping.CONVENÇÃO para a protecção do mar Mediterrâneo contra a poluiçãoAS PARTES CONTRATANTES, Conscientes do valor económico, social e cultural do meio marinho da zona do mar Mediterrâneo e da sua importância para a saúde, Plenamente conscientes de que lhes compete preservar este património comum no interesse das gerações presentes e futuras, Reconhecendo que a poluição representa uma ameaça para o meio marinho, o seu equilíbrio ecológico, os seus recursos e as suas utilizações legítimas, Tendo em conta as características hidrográficas e ecológicas especiais da zona do mar Mediterrâneo e da sua vulnerabilidade à poluição, Notando que, apesar dos progressos realizados, as convenções internacionais existentes na matéria não se aplicam a todos os aspectos e a todas as fontes de poluição do meio marinho e não satisfazem inteiramente as necessidades