Tag Archives: control over the world’s oceans
The UN starts toward new control over the world’s oceans
The United Nations has launched a far-reaching initiative that could give U.N.-sponsored authorities sway over the biological resources of the high seas—all the waters that lie outside national territories and economic zones. The rationale behind the discussions: easing the rising pressure on the world’s undersea biodiversity wrought by over-fishing, pollution, the drainage of nutrients and other substances from surrounding lands, disturbance of underwater seabeds, and fears of even greater threats from underwater industrial technology, including underwater exploration for hydrocarbons. One of the biggest backers of the preliminary talks is the Obama Administration. Even though the U.S. has never ratified the 1982 U.N. Law of the Sea Convention—the new talks are aimed at creating an “implementing agreement” under the Law of the Sea umbrella—the Administration is deeply involved in the negotiations, as are some of the world’s most powerful environmental organizations. Read the rest here 17:09 Development of an international binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Treaty on the Conservation and Sustainable use of Marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction Click here Who is the High Seas Alliance? Click here 10:52
