Protecting the Oceans Beyond National Jurisdiction: Strengthening the International Law Framework Book

Series Editor's Preface xiii

Preface xv

List of Abbreviations xvii

Table of Treaties Instruments and Declarations xxi

Chapter 1 The Impact of Human Uses on the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 1

A Introduction 1

B The Physical Characteristics of the Open Ocean and Deep Seabed Environments 2

1 Marine Biological Divisions of the Ocean 3

2 Biogeographic Divisions of the Ocean 5

3 Seafloor Topography 6

C Deep Sea Habitats 7

1 Seamounts 7

2 Hydrothermal Vents 8

3 Cold Seeps and Pockmarks 10

4 Deep Sea Trenches 11

5 Deep Sea Coral Reefs 13

D Threats to the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction from Human Activities 14

1 Threats Associated with Marine Living Resource Exploitation 15

2 Threats Associated with Marine Transport 17

3 Threats Associated with Deep Seabed Mining 18

4 Threats Associated with Bioprospecting and Marine Scientific Research 20

5 Threats Associated with Climate Change Mitigation Activities 21

E Conclusion 25

Chapter 2 The Law of the Sea Convention Framework for Regulating Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 27

A Introduction 27

B The High Seas Regime 28

1 Invalidity of Sovereign Claims over the High Seas 30

2 Freedoms of the High Seas 31

3 Flag State Jurisdiction 35

4 Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas 39

C The Seabed Beyond National Jurisdiction 40

D Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment 47

1 General Provisions 47

2 Global and Regional Cooperation in Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 50

3 Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring 51

4 Prescriptive Jurisdiction over Pollution of theMarine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 52

5 Enforcement Jurisdiction over Pollution of the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 55

E Conclusion 64

Chapter 3 Developing Complementary Principles for Regulating the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 67

A Introduction 67

B Establishing a Framework for Protection and Preservation of the Marine Environment 68

1 Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment 68

C Integrated and Ecosystem Based Management of the Marine Environment 74

1 World Conservation Strategy - IUCN/UNEP/WWF Report 1980 75

2 Our Common Future - Brundtland Report 1987 77

3 Caring for the Earth - A Strategy for Sustainable Living - IUCN/UNEP/WWF Report, 1991 79

4 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), 1992 80

5 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 1992 91

6 World Summit on Sustainable Development - Johannesburg 2002 95

D Conclusion 96

Chapter 4 Sectoral Implementation of Environmental Protection in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction - Marine Living Resource Exploitation and Maritime Transport 99

A Introduction 99

B The Exploitation of Marine Living Resources Beyond National Jurisdiction - Regulatory Framework for Environmental Protection 100

1 1995 UN Fish Stocks Agreement 102

2 FAO Code for Responsible Fisheries, 1995 108

3 FAO High Seas Compliance Agreement, 1993 111

4 Regional Fisheries Management Organizations 112

5 Overall Assessment of RFMO Performance in relation to Protection of the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 124

C Maritime Transport Beyond National Jurisdiction - Environmental Regulation 127

1 Vessel Source Pollution 128

2 Invasive Aquatic Species in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 145

3 Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas 148

4 The Effectiveness of the Maritime Transport Framework for Environmental Protection in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 154

Chapter 5 Sectoral Implementation of Environmental Protection in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction - Deep Seabed Mining 157

A Introduction 157

B ISA Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area 158

1 Polymetallic Nodule Environmental Guidelines and State Practice in Complying with Polymetallic Nodules Regulations 162

C Draft ISA Regulations for Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Sulphides and Ferromanganese Cobalt Rich Crusts (PSFCRC Regulations) 166

D Conclusion 170

Chapter 6 Regional Implementation of Environmental Protection in Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 173

A Introduction 173

B UNEP Regional Seas Conventions and their Application to Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 175

1 Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (Noumea Convention) 177

2 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean (Barcelona Convention) 181

3 Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) 187

4 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and Coastal Areas of the South East Pacific (Lima Convention) 190

C Non UNEP Regional Marine Environmental Protection Regimes and their Application to Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 193

1 Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic (OSPAR Convention) 193

2 Integrated Protection of the Antarctic Marine Environment 199

D Conclusion 204

Chapter 7 International Initiatives to Strengthen the Environmental Protection Framework for Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 207

A Introduction 207

B Current International Discussions on the Protection of the Marine Environment Beyond National Jurisdiction 208

1 United Nations Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS) 209

2 BBNJ Working Group 211

3 Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (CBD COP) 214

4 FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) 215

5 IUCN High Seas Governance for the 21st Century Workshop 215

C Options for Strengthening the Environmental Protection Framework for Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 220

1 Soft Law Declaration of Oceans Governance Principles for Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction 221

2 Global Binding Instruments to Strengthen Environmental Protection Beyond National Jurisdiction 221

3 Regional Agreements 231

D Conclusion 233

Bibliography 235

Index 257