Law of the Sea Convention “Constitution of the Oceans”

1. Law of the Sea Convention“Constitution of the Oceans” By Kate Skarvan Drafted on December 10,1982 in Montego Bay, Jamaica and ratified by 160 countries and European Union United States itself has not ratified this Convention, along with 40 others who have signed but not yet ratified, or not signed at all 400 articles of text with development of international law Amended to fit industrialized United States, but extremely difficult for changes because it favors stability over adaptability, although updated for new challenged by Food and Agricultural Organizations

2. Group Responsible+Function • Resulted from Third United Nations Conference • Oil spills and missile systems on the sea bed as well as nodules and “Cod Wars” between Iceland and UK created tension. Claims, pollution, and demands were allowing the free range oceans to be conflicting and unstable, causing competition and uncertain boundaries. LOSC gives a stable, clear, and understood management of the water’s resources so there’s no more over lap of claims and the States are all in goodwill. It lists rights of each nation for rules on environmental affect, economic affect, and use of the natural resources so that fish stocks and mineral resources are not claimed.

3. Environmental Issues Affected • Reduces pollution , limits the area where claims can be made with a 12 mile sea limit and 200 mile economic zone limit • Property rights for mineral resources for deep extraction • Will limit military operations with more of a territorial aspect to the waters • Use of AUV and ROV will be reduced with less examination of topography and deep mining • Prevent transportation of mass nuclear weapons, therefore, preventing potential oil spills or toxins to the water • Supported much by energy industry, but not strongly by environmentalists with the emission controls not being supported or enforced, as U.S. has rejected such previous attempts such as the Kyoto Protocol