This document discusses the depletion of marine life due to a lack of integrated ocean governance and overfishing. It presents a new case proposing that these issues violate the rights of the ocean as outlined in the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth. Specifically, it notes that regional fisheries organizations set catch limits higher than scientific advice for many fish stocks, threatening their ability to survive. It also discusses inadequate conservation efforts and the impacts of pollution, deep sea mining, and other threats. The document argues for improved ocean governance and adherence to catch limits that allow fish populations to maintain their vital cycles.

1. InternationalRightsofNatureTribunal,Paris
5thDecember2015
Depletion of Marine Life

2. Lisa Mead
earthlawyers.org
www.marinet.org.uk
Case Presenter

3. Part 1
Lack of Integrated Ocean Care
and Governance
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life

4. Part 2
Extensive overfishing
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life
Part 3
Inadequacy of marine
conservation efforts

6. Part 1
Lack of Integrated Ocean Care
and Governance
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life

7. Deep Sea Mining

8. Pollution from plastics & other toxins

9. Sewage and agricultural run-off

10. Birds & mammals killed by nets & lines

11. Fish farms affect native species

12. Coral reefs destroyed by fishing gear

13. Lack of Integrated Ocean
Care and Governance
Proliferation of:-
• Declarations
• Recommendations
• Treaties
• Resolutions

14. Lack of Integrated Ocean
Care and Governance
500 international agreements on
the environment, containing:-
• Targets
• Pledges
• Protocols
To what effect??

15. Lack of Integrated Ocean
Care and Governance
• Ecosystems continue to decline
• Ocean acidification gets worse
• Climate change accelerates

16. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations

17. Regional Fisheries Management Organisations
67% of RFMO managed commercial fish
stocks were recorded as depleted or
overfished in 2012

18. Lack of Ocean Care & Governance:
Violations of the Universal Declaration of
the Rights of Mother Earth?
• The right to maintain its identity
and integrity as a distinct, self-
regulating and interrelated being
• The right to life and to exist
• The right to continue vital cycles
and processes free from human
disruption

19. Part 2
Extensive overfishing
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life

20. Common Fisheries Policy 2014
Agreed that Total Allowable Catch
(TAC) should accord with scientific
advice so fish stocks can be rebuilt
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life

21. Northern European Fish:
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) set for 96 fish
stocks (28 species).
60 of these 96 stocks were given catch
levels higher than scientists had advised
EU Common Fisheries Policy 2014

23. Baltic Sea Fish (10 stocks):
In 2015: 5 out of 10 stocks were given
catch levels higher than scientists had
advised
EU Common Fisheries Policy 2014
In 2016: 8 out of 10 stocks were given
catch levels higher than scientists had
advised

24. Deep Sea Fish (16 stocks governed by
scientific advice):
11 of these 16 stocks were given catch
levels higher than scientists had advised
EU Common Fisheries Policy 2014

25. Ministers acting illegally under EU Law
and
in violation of Article 2 of U.D. Rights of
Mother Earth – that is, the right to life and to
exist, and the right of these fish species to
continue their vital cycles and processes free
from human disruptions
EU Common Fisheries Policy 2014

26. Part 3
Inadequacy of marine
conservation efforts
New Case Proposal -
Depletion of Marine Life

29. Darwin Mounds
Cold Water Coral
Reef, Scotland

33. www.marinet.org.uk
Further Information

36. The EU’s Marine Strategy Framework
Directive requires that:
“Populations of all commercially
exploited fish and shellfish are
within safe biological limits,
exhibiting a population age and
size distribution that is indicative of
a healthy stock.”
Ref. Marine Strategy Framework Directive, 2008/56/EC,
Annex 1, paragraph 3.

37. 0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
TAC agreed by
Ministers (Tonnes)
Scientific Advice
(Tonnes)