Daily Archives: August 27, 2022

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All governments manage their territories with laws. This is easy enough to understand with respect to solid ground: when you look at a map, borders usually mark where the authority of one country ends and anothers begins. But what about maritime countries, which either border or are completely surrounded by the sea? Do their laws stop at the shoreline? Would that mean that the seas beyond are lawless?

The high seas are not lawless. Well, not completely. According to international law, a maritime country extends outward some distance from its shoreline. During the 20th century several attempts to develop an international law of the sea have been made under the aegis of the United Nations. The results of the third and most-recent United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (which took place in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in 1982) were largely successful, with more than 160 countries having signed the agreement by 2017. Several countries, including the United States and others with significant ocean-facing and sea-facing coastlines (such as Colombia, Venezuela, and Turkey) had yet to sign the agreement, however.

Generally speaking, the law of the sea stipulates that maritime countries essentially control their territorial waters from the shore out to a distance of 12 miles (19.3 km), the 12-mile limit.Within this zone, all laws of that country apply: the country can build, extract natural resources, and either encourage or forbid sea passage through it (or flights over it) just as if it were a parcel of land. Maritime countries are also entitled to an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) made up of the water column and the seabed out to a distance of 200 miles (about 322 km). (The sizes of some EEZs may be limited by the presence of the EEZs of other countries, in which case the overlapping area is often divided equally between the various parties.) The maritime country that owns the EEZ also owns the sea life and mineral resources found within it, but it cannot prevent ships, aircraft, and other vessels from foreign countries from passing through it and over it.

Nevertheless, there is still a lot of ocean beyond the worlds 12-mile limits and EEZs.How are legal matters handled in the vast stretches of ocean beyond?In these regions, vessels and aircraft from any country are free to pass through, fly over, fish, and extract mineral resources. With respect to crimes committed in these areas, the laws of the country owning the vessel or structure upon which the crime has been committed hold sway.This may seem pretty straightforward, but vessels in the sea are often on the move, which creates jurisdictional headaches for investigators and government officials. For example, which countrys laws apply when a person from Country X commits a murder aboard a cruise ship owned by Country Y in international waters, but between the time of the crime and its discovery the ship enters the territorial waters of Country Z?

With respect to international crimessuch as piracy, human trafficking, and crimes against humanityany country or international organization can theoretically claim authority over the matter using the concept of universal jurisdiction. This concept could be used to justify the right of one party or another to thwart the criminal activity as it happens, bring charges against the assailants, and try the assailants in their own national (or international) courts. Since the laws of individual countries and international courts are not recognized by all countries, however, there is often no fully accepted referee. Government officials in one country might choose not to recognize the legal authority of another.

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Are There Laws on the High Seas? | Britannica

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Representatives from countries around the world and dozens of civil society organizations are huddled and working around the clock at UN headquarters in New York this week for negotiations on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). The BBNJ Agreement, also referred to as the High Seas Treaty, is one of several important environmental negotiations concluding in the next four months. In addition to this treaty, we are also hoping to conclude one on conserving and restoring biodiversity,we are launching a two-year negotiation of an agreement to tackle the plastic pollutioncrisis, and continue the hard work of implementing the Paris Agreement now that we finished all the rules for implementation at the meeting last November. The decisions we take in these agreements and negotiations will have a make or break impact on the health of the place we all call home.

The high seas span two-thirds of the ocean and cover half the planet.

The first one of these covers what is known as the high seas that currently has only limited governance and is often unmonitored. Right now, there are rules and regulations only covering certain commercial activities like fishing, dumping, seabed mining, and shipping but there is not a single international agreement governing conservation or protection of high seas biodiversity hot spots, and there are only limited regulations for endangered marine biodiversity itself things like migratory birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals have limited protections. Here are 5 reasons why the BBNJ Agreement matters.

It is often said that the ocean is too big to fail. That is simply not true the ocean is more fragile than most people understand. It is also more essential. It provides the oxygen we breathe and food for tens of millions of people. And it has been a source of inspiration for humanity. In fact, as Dr. Jane Lubchenco says, the ocean is too big to ignore. And this week in New York City, the United States will help to lead the way in making sure it is ignored no more.

About the Author: Monica P. Medina was confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs on September 28, 2021.

Excerpt from:

Why Protecting the High Seas Matters - United States Department of State - Department of State

168 world governments had been negotiating the details of a new UN High Seas Treaty to safeguard the high seas and marine life, during a two-week session in New York, however, they could not come to an agreement in the end.

The negotiations focused on four key areas:

Marine protected areas

Environmental impact assessments

Providing finance and capacity building to developing countries

Sharing of marine genetic resources

Fishing catch limitations, shipping lane routes, and exploratory activities like deep-sea mining, which could be hazardous to marine life, would all be affected by the new treaty.

The high seas, which are international waterways where all nations have the right to fish, ship, and conduct research, were created by this agreement.

The growing hazards of climate change, overfishing, and shipping traffic pose a threat to marine species that exist outside of the 1.2 percent of protected areas.

Prior to the summit, more than 70 nations, including the UK, had previously decided to safeguard 30 percent of the worlds seas.

According to research published earlier this year and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 10 to 15 percent of marine species are already on the verge of extinction.

Between now and January, many international meetings on numerous topics are planned, including the UN General Assembly meeting and the COP27 annual climate conference.

Even if the treaty is signed, further work to protect the high seas will still need to be done.

source:BBC

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UN High Seas Treaty postponed until further negotiations - TVP World

The debut of Seabourns sixth ship, the Seabourn Venture, signals a new era in adventure travel for the ultra-luxury cruise line. The worlds newest expedition ship embarked on her first official voyage on July 27. The godmother of the Seabourn Venture, Alison Levine, is an expert climber and bestselling author who has led climbs on the highest peaks of each continent.

A PC6 Polar Class ship, the Seabourn Venture is capable of sailing in all parts of the world. She features modern technology and hardware that extends her global deployment and capabilities.

The Seabourn Venture has 132 oceanfront suites, each with a private veranda, and accommodates 264 guests. There are eight different dining venues, including sushi and pho restaurants. These are complimentary and let guests dine when and with whom they wish. Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines are available. Tipping is neither required nor expected.

The Restaurant on the Seabourn Venture will offer fine dining.

The Seabourn Venture is staffed with a 26-person expedition team that brings destinations to life. Team members include submarine pilots, lead kayakers, bear guides, dive masters, marine biologists, geologists, surface supervisor officers, climatologists, and ornithologists. Their valuable insights are offered via formal presentations and in casual conversations over meals and during leisure experiences.

The Seabourn Venture has been created to provide super-exclusive, off-the-ship adventures for guests. Inclusive expedition experiences include Zodiacs, scuba diving, and snorkeling, plus other complimentary excursions. Optional expedition excursions are available for an additional charge.

The Seabourn Venture is equipped with a great selection of water toys. Besides 24 Zodiacs and kayaks, there are two custom-built submarines, each with a capacity for six persons.

Hosted by members of the expedition team, the Seabourn Venture has an open bridge policy providing first hand access to the ships command center and officers navigating the journey. (This is at the discretion of the captain.)

The Seabourn Ventures Constellation Lounge

Public spaces on the Seabourn Venture have narratives of their own, combining the spirit of adventure and thrill of discovery with Seabourn-style luxury and comfort. The Expedition Lounge, located on Deck 4, is adjacent to the Discovery Center, where guests gather to enjoy the natural history and cultural programming. The Bow Lounge, with the closest access to the water, is a prime setting for watching marine life. The Constellation Lounge, the highest indoor viewing point, is located on the top deck, with stunning 270-degree views and an intimate interior dressed up in dark blue and red, inspired by the constellations in the evening night skies. The Club is a space for guests to enjoy afternoon tea and pre-dinner music.

When the Seabourn Venture sailed out on July 27, she was doing a 12-day Northern Isles expedition cruise, departing from Tromso, Norway, and then sailing on to the Arctic and Svalbard Archipelago. One of the worlds northernmost inhabited areas, the archipelago is home to polar bears, puffins, and other wildlife.

In October, the Seabourn Venture will do 10-to-14-night sailings to the Caribbean and then head south to Central America, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. From November 2022 to February 2023, the Seabourn Venture will sail on 11-to-22-day voyages to Chile, Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. In March and April 2023, she will offer 7-to-12-night sailings in Brazil and the Amazon.

The Seabourn Pursuit will call in Iceland in 2023.

The Seabourn Ventures sister ship, the Seabourn Pursuit, is currently under construction and set to launch in 2023. Like the Seabourn Venture, shell carry two custom-built submarines as well as 24 zodiacs and kayaks. And she will have a 26-person expert expedition team.

The Seabourn Pursuit will explore the waters and beautiful landscapes of Iceland, Greenland, and Norway through the spring months and into early summer 2023. In August 2023, one highlight will be the Northwest Passage journey from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Nome, Alaska.

Seabourn is renowned for luxury amenities, onboard service, and a high level of cuisine. The Thomas Keller steakhouses on their ships, including the Seabourn Ovation, are one example. But combining luxury with super-exclusive adventures on its purpose-built expedition ship, the Seabourn Venture, introduces a new dimension, one to definitely consider when planning your groups next cruise.

By Cindy Bertram

Cindy Bertram has 15+ years of cruise industry expertise in marketing, content creation, sales, and training as well as social media. Her MBA from Loyola University Chicago complements her high creative edge and liberal arts BA. She can be reached atcindy@ptmgroups.com.

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A New Era of Adventure on the High Seas - Leisure Group Travel

The Salt Roads: How Fish Made a Culture

John Goodlad

Birlinn, pp. 254, 17.99

The Shetland Islands and the Faroes may seem to be somewhere out there in distant waters, marginal and in the greater scheme of things not very important in the history of the world. But from a maritime perspective it is precisely the fact that they are suspended in mid-ocean, surrounded by water that teems with fish (if one knows where to look) that has given them a role in human history out of all proportion to their size. In his fascinating account of the part played by these islands in the harvesting of cod and herring from the North Atlantic, John Goodlad raises vital questions about the worlds food supplies. He also brings to light the heroic endeavours of the poor and humble fisherfolk who mastered fierce Atlantic storms and experienced shipwreck in order to bring food to our everyday table.

Beguiled by the sight of modern massive trawlers that use sonar to identify shoals, and are often in consequence guilty of massive overfishing, we forget the sheer physical struggle that was demanded of Shetlanders when they used to set out in their small sailing boats, not unlike those of their Viking ancestors. They could read the seas without any sophisticated instruments and they identified where the fish might lie through canny instinct. They hauled in their catch by hand, while being tossed around by the waves.

We also forget how important fish has been, and remains, in feeding the world. Goodlad reports that fish remains the prime source of protein across the globe, with 180 million tons being consumed annually, significantly more than chicken or red meat: Without fish, the worlds population could not be fed. This means that those who regard eating fish as a crime against nature have gravely over-simplified the problem of making fish sustainable. The author believes this must be done through good management. Fish stocks can recover from overfishing, and the intelligent farming of fish could become a vital resource. Perhaps, though, he needs to pay more attention to the pollution of the oceans, as a result of which fish are ingesting plastic micro-pellets and failing to achieve the size they used to reach. The 80 kilogram halibut of past times have all but disappeared.

Salt also figures largely in the history Goodlad tells, for fish was a product that needed to be carefully preserved after catch. The search for Atlantic cod was already well underway by the end of the 15th century, when Hanseatic merchants visited Shetland to buy salt fish and John Cabot witnessed the shoals off Newfoundland. Soon after, or maybe secretly before Cabot, Basque fishermen arrived in the same waters.

Cod has the advantage of storing its oil in its liver, while its flesh is pure protein, and that makes it suitable for drying in the cold winds of the North Atlantic and for salting. To this day, bacalhau is the national dish of Portugal, and reconstituted stoccafisso, or stockfish cod dried until it has the texture of cardboard still features on menus in Venice.

Occasionally ranging as far as Greenland in their search for cod, Shetlanders were able to tap into this market after the Napoleonic wars. Peace with Spain meant they could sell their produce there, though in the early days the quality was not as high as that fished by the Basques. Shifting their search closer to home, they discovered great shoals off the Faroes, and their salt cod improved to the point where they were even able to convince their Basque rivals to buy it.

These changes took place against a grim background of famines, bankruptcies and shipwrecks. Goodlads wonderful book offers a powerful evocation of a hard life in the unforgiving terrain of the Shetlands and the Faroes. For Shetlanders, fish were for centuries the main means to a livelihood, and the conditions under which local lairds employed their fishermen made the struggle even harder their fishermen is the right phrase, since their legal condition was, Goodlad observes, little better than that of serfs. Attempts to challenge the Dutch command of the herring fisheries faltered, but eventually herring rather than cod became the favoured catch.

This was not an easy switch to make. Herring, a very oily fish, deteriorates quickly, and as far back as the late Middle Ages the Dutch had perfected a way of salting and curing herrings that earned its supposed inventor, Willem Beuckelszoon, the dubious honour of being counted as the 157th most famous Dutch citizen in a poll conducted a few years ago.

Herring was the staple fish in northern Europe, just as cod was in southern Europe, and Shetlanders intruded themselves into the Scottish herring fisheries which, on the eve of the first world war, were sending about 2 million barrels to the Baltic every year. Much of it was then transported by sleigh deep into the eastern European interior, since it was enormously in demand in the Jewish shtetls of Belarus and Ukraine, as it also was among students of Scottish universities, who would arrive each term loaded with herrings and oatmeal.

There is much in this book about life and culture in the Shetlands and Faroes. The sense of a common Viking heritage can be gauged from the presence of plenty of Norse vocabulary in Shetlandic speech (which is based on Scots, the old Scandinavian language known as Norn having died out). Goodlad suggests that, if the economically dynamic Faroes can go their own way as a semi-independent nation with aspirations to full sovereignty, the same could happen in Scotland. More to the point, surely, is the future of Shetland and Orkney in an independent Scotland. With such a strong sense of their distinctive identity and history they might well wish to remain part of Britain, or might acquire a status similar to the Isle of Man, another formerly Norse territory. Or be handed back to Norway after 550 years? Perhaps not.

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Courage on the high seas - The Spectator