This document summarizes key information about oceans and ocean governance. It discusses major problems affecting oceans like pollution and overfishing. It then explains the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which seeks to define territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The document also discusses threats to fisheries from overfishing, bycatch, and fish farming. Specific threats to whales are outlined like whaling, bycatch, and environmental destruction. Current whaling practices by countries are also summarized.

1. OceansRob MillsFebruary 23rd, 2010

2. What Are Oceans?

3. Souce: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/mgg/bathymetry/predicted/explore.html

4. Major Problem AreasPollutionOverfishingFish PopulationBycatchDredging/TrawlingWhalingGlobal WarmingMineral/Gas Exploitation

5. Framing the OceanSource: http://www.thekepka.com/Painting%20Photos/ocean-mist-big.gif

6. Major FramesGeopolitical FramingEconomic FramingStrategic FramingSurvival FramingCultural FramingEnvironmental FramingAesthetic Framing

7. Oceans are internationaland legally complicated!

8. United Nations Convention on the Law of the SeaSigned by 21 (U.S.) Not Signed by 18Ratified by everyone else. Source: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/reference_files/chronological_lists_of_ratifications.htm

9. Defining the TerritoryThe UNCLOS (from now on, LOS) seeks to define the littoral (LOL) “territory” of the oceanTerritorial (12 miles) – Nations LawsContiguous (12-24 miles) – Pollution LawsExclusive Economic Zone (200 Miles)International waters (200+ Miles)

10. Section V Exclusive Economic Zone“1 (a): Sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds”Source: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm

11. Section XI Use of International Waters -aka- Resource Exploitation“Activities in the Area shall, as specifically provided forinthis Part, be carried out in such a manner as to foster healthy development of the world economy and balanced growth of international trade, and to promote international cooperation for the over-all development of all countries, especially developing States, and with a view to ensuring…”Source: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm

12. Section XII Protecting the oceans (sort-of)Article 193: States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment.Article 194: States have the sovereign right to exploit their natural resources pursuant to their environmental policies and in accordance with their duty to protect and preserve the marine environment.Source: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm

13. Section XII Protecting the oceans (actually)Vessel / installation pollution (dumping, toxic runoff, ballast)Control runoffObligation to work with regional partnersReporting / Monitoring Source: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm

14. Rhetorical TreatiesUnderstanding law is key to effective advocacyInternational nature of OceansShows us a lot about the way the ocean is framedLOS is a salient political issue, especially regarding ratification in the USThe treaty itself is a rhetorical artifact

15. Just keep Swimmingor “17 trillion California Rolls to go, please”

16. “Fish Stocks” Are DecliningPew Research Centerclaims that, ifoverfishing doesn’t stop,we will see the completecollapse of fisheries by2048. Source: Pew Center, 2008 http://www.oceanlegacy.org/pdfs/ocean-conservation-2008.pdf]

17. Fishing Related Threats2/3 of Greenpeace’s “Ocean Threats” are related to fishing OverfishingFactory FishingBottom TrawlingBycatchFish FarmingPirate FishingSource: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/oceans/threats

18. Fishing Kills Fish, Surprisingly Pew Center claims that in the last 50 years of industrial fishing large predatory fish populations (sharks, swordfish, tuna) have decreased 90%. Image Source: http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/indicators/C55/

19. Fishing Kills Non-FishSpongesCoralWhalesPlankton Ocean Fauna

20. Aquaculture“Fish Farming” Introduces messed up species into the oceans that out compete native speciesDoes reduce our involvement with trawlingHelpful for Developing NationsViable and sustainable alternative to fishing

21. PETA: Save the Sea Kitten!

22. Don’t you love whales?I actually think they’re pretty ugly. Dolphins too. I prefer SharKat.

23. Americans Love Whales Despite Monstro in Disney’s Pinnochio, Americans seem to love whales. They’re smart, non-threatening, big, mysterious. Save the whales.

24. International Whaling CommissionInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling – 19641986 Moratorium on Whaling (Japan, Norway, Russia, and Peru)“Scientific Whaling” Licenses

25. US EnforcementIWC has no enforcement armUS Packwood-Magnuson and Pelly AmendmentsJapan Whaling Association v. American Cetacean Society (1986)Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (2008)

26. Threats to WhalesWhalingBycatchEnvironmental DestructionBoatsLow Frequency Active Sonar (LFA)

27. Current WhalingExplicit Commercial Whaling (2009): Iceland: 38 Minke WhalesNorway: 536 Minke Whales Source: http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/table_objection.htm“Scientific Whaling” (2009):Japan Only1 Fin, 2 Sperm, 100 Sei, 50 Bryde’s, and 851 Minke WhalesSource: http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/table_permit.htm

28. Aboriginal/Subsistence WhalingAllowed under the IWC: W. Greenland: 14 Fin, 153 MinkeE. Greenland: 1 MinkeSt. Vincent/Grenadines: 2 HumpbackRussia: 130 Gray, 2 BowheadUnited States: 50 Bowhead Source: http://www.iwcoffice.org/conservation/table_aboriginal.htm

29. Whale Advocacy“Save the Whales” CampaignWhale WarsEnvironmental TerrorismSouth Park“Dolphin Free Tuna” (also whale free, please)Whale Watching