MITIGATING IMPACTS Flashcards
whats The Role of the United Nations (UN) in governing the sea
- refers to countries as “states”
- coastal nations—those with a shoreline—have special rights and responsibilities over nearby waters
- 18th century: agreed countries could claim control of the sea 3 mn from its shore
- upgraded system by creating UNCLOS
what are the 3 different attempts the UN did with UNCLOS
UNCLOS I (1958)
UNCLOS II (1960)
UNCLOS III (1973–1982) - major breakthrough - 160 nations participated - Established maritime zonation rules
what 7 zones were established with the creation of UNCLOS III by the UN
- Territorial sea - 12nm
- Contiguous zone – 2-24nm
- EEZ – 200mn
- ECS – 350mn
- High seas outside EEZs - NO NATION MAY GOVERN
- The area – seafloor outside ECS - NO NATION MAY GOVERN
- Archipelagic waters
what are EEZs
exclusive economic zone
- Can exploit all living and non living resources
- water collum, air, sea bed
what are ECSs
extended continental shelf
- Seabed and sub soil
- non living resources
- only sea floor
- Mining
what are High seas
- open to all
- All of water collumn
- Outside EEZs
*“FOR THE BENENFIT OF ALL MANKIND “
what is The area
- open to all
- Sea floor outside nations ECSs
*“FOR THE BENENFIT OF ALL MANKIND “
one of the main reasons Ocean Areas Claimed by the US
manganese nodule mining
- Claiming areas allows the US to potentially access and regulate mineral extraction
6 different marine protection laws
- Endangered species act (ESA)
- Marine mammal protection act (MMPA)
- Magnuson-stevens fisheries conservation and management (FCMA)
- National environmental policy act 1969 (NEPA)
- national marine sanctuaries act 1972
- National marine monument legislation - Antiquities Act 1906
explain Endangered species act (ESA)
- endangered + threatened categories
- conserves individual species + their ecosystems
- Prohibits the taking of listed species
- protection required no matter the cost
- recovery plans - help cons, recovery + survival of species
weaknesses of Endangered species act (ESA)
- not all species have plans
- Actions in plan not funded / not carried out
- Difficult listing process
- By time species is listed they’re almost extinct
- Implementation less than effective
- often Single species approach
who is Endangered species act (ESA) managed by
NOAA NMFS - Office of protected species
explain Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
- goal = Protect populations of marine mammals that have become depleted (below its optimal sustainable pop size)
- Lists depleted populations + prepares conservation plans
- prohibits the importation of marine mammals + their products
weaknesses of Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
- Focus on pop levels not habitats
- Noise pollution
- Takes reduced to 0 by 2001 - didn’t happen
- Potential biological removal level (PBR) = <1/5 the total pop rate of increase
- aimed to keep takes below PBR + eventually 0 takes within 5 years of identifying a depleted stock - didn’t happen
who manages Marine mammal protection act (MMPA)
NOAA NMFS - Office of protected species
explain Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA)
fisheries management
- Replace foreign fishing fleets with American ones + Create a system to determine MSY
- 1996 amendment - Sustainable Fisheries Act:
-Prevent overfishing + rebuild overfished stocks
-Avoid + minimize bycatch
-Identify and protect essential fish habs (EFH) - Those Waters + substrate necessary for fish maturity etc
- 2006 – Created the NOAA Office of Sustainable Fisheries:
-Annual catch limits
-Catch shares
-International cooperation
what does the Office of Sustainable Fisheries (under NOAA) do
- manages 8 regional fisheries mgmt plans (FMPs)
- those involved: Political appointees, Fisheries, Scientists
- decisions based on “best available scientific info”
- goal: Minimize bycatch + mortality, Identify EFHs
weaknesses of Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (FCMA)
- Favors short term commercial gain over sust
- Councils dom by commercial interests
- Not “precauntionary approach”
explain National environmental policy act 1969 (NEPA)
Environmental impact legislation
- goal = Reduce / eliminate damage caused
- EIS = a detailed report that evaluates how a proposed activity or project could affect the environment
- Required for any major federal action that might significantly impact the environment e.g dams, highways
- considers Gear Impacts, seafloor habitats
- Shift Toward Ecosystem-Based Management rather than single species
whats the National environmental policy act (NEPA) managed by
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
explain the national marine sanctuaries act 1972
Legislation to protect geographic areas
- goal = Protect and manage marine areas of special significance
- does not ban or restrict activities - lays the groundwork for future protection - ocean version of national parks
- Clinton expanded protection by creating a National System of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
explain National marine monument legislation - Antiquities Act 1906
- law that gives the President power to protect land or marine areas as national monuments by executive order
First established marine monument under the Antiquities Act 1906
Papahānaumokuākea
- Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010
- Expanded in 2016 to cover the entire U.S. EEZ around that region
Other Major Marine National Monuments under the Antiquities Act 1906
Pacific Remote Islands MNM
Marianas Trench MNM
Rose Atoll MNM
Northeast Canyons and Seamounts MNM
