Policing the Seas: How to Regulate the Use of the Ocean’s Resources Courtesy of Donald R. Kobayashi Kristina Maria Gjerde IUCN Senior High Seas Advisor [email protected] Good Governance for Sustainable Marine Development Cascais, Portugal, June 3-5, 2013 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS, 1982) Strengths Weaknesses in ABNJ • Clearly defined rights and duties • Obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment • Address all forms of marine pollution • Conduct prior assessments • Cooperate on global and regional basis • Few incentives for compliance • No mention of marine biodiversity, precaution, etc. • No provisions for protected areas • No global rules for EIAs; no cumulative assessments • Fragmentary regional cooperation Gjerde, K. 2012. Challenges to Protecting the Marine beyond National Jurisdiction, 27 IJMCL 839–847 WANTED:  Shared responsibility  Conditional access  Effective enforcement Shared responsibility  Update and harmonize principles Para 158: ...We therefore commit: 1. to protect, and restore, the health, productivity and resilience of oceans and marine ecosystems, and 2. to maintain their biodiversity,… 3. to effectively apply an ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach… to deliver on all three dimensions of sustainable development Rio+20 Outcome Document “The Future We Want” Shared Responsibility © Philippe Rouja Add specific mandate for MPA networks and other area-based conservation tools Ban et al, 2013. Systematic conservation planning, Conservation Letters, Shared Responsibility Modernize regional oceans management Ban et al. 2013, Cons. Letters Disclaimer: Maps for information only and do not express opinion on boundaries Condition access Strengthen procedures for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), including cumulative impacts, and Druel, E. 2013. Environmental Impact Assessments in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, IDDRI Credit: Elliott Norse  Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) Deep Sea Bottom Fishing on the High Seas • States and RFMOs to protect “vulnerable marine ecosystems” and ensure sustainable fisheries • Prevent “significant adverse impacts” (SAIs) including through – prior impact assessments – adoption of management measures to prevent SAIs  or not authorize fishing to proceed UNGA RESOLUTIONS 61/105 (2006), 64/72 (2009) & 66/68 (2011) FAO International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas (2009) Credit: Deep Atlantic Stepping Stones Science Team_IFE_URI_NOAA Condition access Strengthen implementation United Nations, NY Effective Enforcement Globalize monitoring, control and surveillance AIS satellites Autonomous buoys Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Subsea cables Brooke SD, Lim TY, and Ardron JA. (2010) Surveillance technical options, MCBI Elements of a new agreement for ABNJ Shared responsibility  Update and harmonize principles  Add specific mandate for MPA networks and other area-tools  Modernize regional oceans management Conditional access  Adopt global procedures for EIAs and SEAs  Strengthen implementation  Address equity issues Effective enforcement  Globalize monitoring, control and surveillance Credit: John Weller Credit: John Weller 1. 2. Legally binding agreement under UNCLOS most effective Much can be done now! Thank You! [email protected]