UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Related to Environmental Protection

SOCRATES E FALTADO
Scope of Presentation
History of UNCLOS
UNCLOS Part II-VII and Laws
UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and Preservation of the Marine
Environment
◦ Section 1 – General Provisions
◦ Section 2 - Global and Regional Cooperation
Present Issues Concerning Maritime Governance in the Philippines
History
17th century
▪National rights were limited to a specified belt of water extending
from a nation’s coastlines (usually 3 nmi according to the ‘cannon
shot’ rule by Cornelius van Bynkershoek)
▪“Freedom of the seas” concept: All waters beyond national
boundaries were considered international waters: free to all
nations, but belonging to none of them (mare liberum principle by
Grotius)
 History
20th century
▪Some nations expressed their desire to extend national claims to include mineral
resources, protect fish stocks and enforce pollution controls.
▪League of Nations called a 1930 conference but no agreements resulted.
▪In 1945, Pres. Truman extended US control to all natural resources of its continental shelf.
Other nations followed suit.
▪1946-1950. Chile, Peru and Ecuador extended their rights to 200 nmi
▪Other nations extended their territorial seas to 12 nmi (22 km)
▪After WWII, the international community requested that the UN ILC consider codifying the
existing laws relating to the oceans. The commission prepared four draft conventions,
which were adopted at the first UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.
 History
UNCLOS I Feb 24 - Apr 29, 1958 Adopted the 1958 Geneva
Conventions:
▪Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone
▪Convention on the High Seas
▪Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the
High Seas
▪Convention on the Continental Shelf.
▪Although successful, it left open the vital issue of breadth of territorial
sea.
 History
UNCLOS II Mar 17 – Apr 26, 1960
▪Did not result in any international agreements.
▪Failed once again to fix a uniform breadth for the territorial
sea or establish consensus on sovereign fishing rights.
▪Developing nations participated only as allies, or dependents
of the US or the Soviet Union, with no significant voice of
their own.
 History
UNCLOS III 1973 - 1982 Took effect: Nov. 16, 1994 (1 year after
ratification by the 60th state)
▪Features: Definition of maritime zones
▪Provisions for passage of ships, protection of marine
environment, freedom of scientific research, and exploitation
of resources
 UNCLOS context
▪Composed of:
▪17 Parts,
▪320 Articles,
▪9 Annexes, with
▪208 pages
▪Discussion will be based on selected articles relative on
subjects on fundamental principles, enforcement and
environmental protection
UNCLOS Part XII:
Protection and
Preservation of the Marine
Environment
SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 192
General obligation
States have the obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment.
Article 193
Sovereign right of States to exploit their natural resources
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.
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
1. States shall take, individually or jointly as appropriate, all measures
consistent with this Convention that are necessary to prevent, reduce and
control pollution of the marine environment from any source, using for this
purpose the best practicable means at their disposal and in accordance with
their capabilities, xxx xxxx
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
2. States shall take all measures necessary to ensure that activities under their
jurisdiction or control are so conducted as not to cause damage by pollution to other
States and their environment,
and that pollution arising from incidents or activities under their jurisdiction or
control does not spread beyond the areas where they exercise sovereign rights in
accordance with this Convention.
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
3. The measures taken pursuant to this Part shall deal with all sources of pollution of
the marine environment. These measures shall include, xxx xxx
(a) the release of toxic, harmful or noxious substances, especially those which are
persistent, from land-based sources, from or through the atmosphere or by dumping;
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
(b) pollution from vessels, in particular measures for preventing accidents and
dealing with emergencies, ensuring the safety of operations at sea, preventing
intentional and unintentional discharges, and regulating the design, construction,
equipment, operation and manning of vessels;
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
(c) pollution from installations and devices used in exploration or exploitation of the
natural resources of the seabed and subsoil, in particular measures for preventing
accidents and dealing with emergencies, xxx xxxx xxxxx
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment

(d) pollution from other installations and devices operating in the marine
environment, in particular measures for preventing accidents and dealing with
emergencies, ensuring the safety of operations at sea, xxxx xxxx
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 194
Measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution
of the marine environment
4. In taking measures to prevent, reduce or control pollution of the marine
environment, States shall refrain from unjustifiable interference with activities
carried out by other States in the exercise of their rights and in pursuance of their
duties in conformity with this Convention.
5. The measures taken in accordance with this Part shall include those necessary to
protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems as well as the habitat of depleted,
threatened or endangered species and other forms of marine life.
UNCLOS Part XII:
Protection and
Preservation of the Marine
Environment
SECTION 2. GLOBAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION
 UNCLOS Part XII: Protection and
Preservation of the Marine Environment
Article 195
Duty not to transfer damage or hazards
In taking measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine
environment, States shall act so as not to transfer, directly or indirectly, damage or
hazards from one area to another or transform one type of pollution into another.
Present Issues Concerning
Maritime Governance in the
Philippines
Present Issues Concerning Maritime
Governance in the Philippines
▪Designation of archipelagic sea lanes passage
▪Delimitation of overlapping EEZ with other States
▪Monitoring of foreign and domestic vessels in the different
maritime zones of the country
▪Conflicting claims of different States in the West Philippine
Sea (WPS)
End of Presentation

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