Quote:
Originally Posted by renormalised
The problem, Stephen, is we can't wait around for definitive answers to come from peer reviewed literature and arguments amongst academics before we make a decisions as to what to do. If we did, we'd surely go down the gurgler faster than what already are. Some of the answers will come through further research, but not before common sense should tell us that we're not doing our planet any good by stuffing it around like we are. Action should be brought to bear now, but action that is tempered by some common sense and from what we actually know, to the extent that we do know that we're causing some deleterious changes.
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Hi Carl,
There were recommendations made at the ISPO workshop. I'll quote...
"
4. Recommendations from the workshop
The participants of the meeting agreed to the following recommendations based on workshop conclusions.
Technical means to achieve the solutions to many of these problems already exist, but that current societal values prevent humankind from addressing them effectively. Overcoming these barriers is core to the fundamental changes needed to achieve a sustainable and equitable future for the generations to come and which preserves the natural ecosystems of the Earth that we benefit from and enjoy today. This meeting of experts offers the following recommendations to citizens and governments everywhere to transform how we manage, govern and protect the ocean:
Immediate reduction in CO2 emissions coupled with significantly increased measures for mitigation of atmospheric CO2 and to better manage coastal and marine carbon sinks to avoid additional emissions of greenhouse gases.
o It is a matter of urgency that the ocean is considered as a priority in the deliberations of the IPCC and UNFCCC.
Urgent actions to restore the structure and function of marine ecosystems, including the coordinated and concerted action in national waters and on the High Seas (the high seas water column and seabed Area beyond national jurisdiction) by states and regional bodies to:
o reduce fishing effort to levels commensurate with long‐term sustainability of fisheries and the marine environment;
o close fisheries that are not demonstrably managed following sustainable principles, or which depend wholly on government subsidies;
o establish a globally comprehensive and representative system of marine protected areas to conserve biodiversity, to build resilience, and to ensure ecologically sustainable fisheries with minimal ecological footprint;
o prevent, reduce and strictly control inputs of substances that are harmful or toxic to marine organisms into the marine environment;
o prevent, reduce and strictly control nutrient inputs into the marine environment through better land & river catchment management and sewage treatment;
o avoid, reduce or at minimum, universally and stringently regulate oil, gas, aggregate and mineral extraction;
o assess, monitor and control other uses of the marine environment such as renewable energy schemes or cable / pipeline installation through comprehensive spatial planning and impact assessments procedures.
Proper and universal implementation of the precautionary principle by reversing the burden of proof so activities proceed only if they are shown not to harm the ocean singly or in combination with other activities.
Urgent introduction by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly of effective governance of the High Seas beyond the jurisdiction of any individual nations. This should include a global body empowered to ensure compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant legal duties and norms and to establish new rules, regulations and procedures where necessary to implement these requirements in an ecosystem‐based and precautionary manner. (See Annex 2 for detailed proposals for a new Global Ocean Compliance Commission GOCC)."
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They are under no illusions as to the obstacles:
"Technical means to achieve the solutions to many of these problems already exist, but that current societal values prevent humankind from addressing them effectively. Overcoming these barriers is core to the fundamental changes needed to achieve a sustainable and equitable future for the generations to come and which preserves the natural ecosystems of the Earth that we benefit from and enjoy today."
I'm sorry to quote so much, but I'll include the following, a detailed description of the "UN Global Ocean Compliance Commission (GOCC)" they recommended above:
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"
Annex 2. Detailed proposals for a UN Global Ocean Compliance Commission (GOCC).
Based on evidence presented at this meeting, it is recommend that:
1. The burden of proof under UNCLOS [and international customary law and treaties] be reversed to ensure that those utilizing resources or engaging in activities that affect the High Seas (defined as the high seas water column and seabed Area beyond national jurisdiction) must demonstrate that their activities are in compliance with the law.
2. Within the next 6 months, the UN Security Council in conjunction with the General Assembly call on the UN Secretary General to establish a Global Ocean Compliance Commission (GOCC) for the High Seas to address issues such as, but not limited to, highly migratory and straddling species, discrete high seas species, pollution including long‐range/transboundary pollution, illegal fishing, overfishing, marine spatial planning, protected areas and ecosystem conservation and other processes and activities that may adversely affect the High Seas.
3. Powers: The Compliance Commission will set out the regulatory requirements to comply with the provisions of UNCLOS with respect to protection and preservation of the marine environment and the conservation, sustainable and equitable use of high seas biodiversity and resources in accordance with the ecosystem approach and precautionary principle. It will have reference to UNFSA, decisions taken by the CBD, the UNFCCC, the IMO, the ISA, the UN Convention on Desertification, and other relevant bodies, conventions and global commitments.
4. The Commission shall have power to levy mandatory contributions from inter alia, States, High Seas resource users, and registered vessel owners
5. The Commission shall have powers to develop and implement a regime for sharing of benefits of marine genetic resources originating from areas beyond national jurisdiction, building on the access and benefit sharing agreement developed under the CBD and other relevant mechanisms.
6. Secretariat: The Commission will establish a Secretariat to oversee the implementation of and compliance with the regulations established by the Commission.
7. Compliance Fund: The Commission will establish a Compliance Fund. . The fund shall be used to enhance the conservation and equitable use of High Seas resources and biodiversity, and to build the capacity of developing states to participate in the formulation of and to comply with Commission regulations.
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8. Enforcement: The Commission shall be empowered to develop an effective enforcement regime. Such a regime should include powers to levy fines, suspend a States right to flag vessels and/or to suspend the power of an RFMO to regulate fisheries and allocate fish quotas if found in repeated breach of the Commission’s regulations. In furtherance of such a regime, the Commission shall have the power to establish or designate an organization to conduct investigations, initiate judicial proceedings on an expeditious basis, and apply sanctions in respect of violations that are adequate in severity to be effective in securing compliance and discourage violations wherever they occur and deprive offenders of the benefits accruing from their illegal activities. In circumstances where there is no RFMO or the RFMO is suspended, the Commission shall have the power to assume management responsibility or designate another body for that purpose.
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9. Data and Information: The Commission shall have the power to require the provision of data and information
3 from any one engaged in high seas activities or resource use that it deems necessary to demonstrate compliance with Commission regulations. The Commission shall have regard to the need to protect commercial and other sensitive information and to maintain such confidentially, as appropriate. The confidentiality of such data must in no way be used to impair the proper functioning of the Commission. Consistent with the above, the Commission shall endeavor to make all data and information freely available.
10. Capacity building and development: The Commission shall have the power to provide financial support and develop programs of training and technical assistance for the purposes of building the capacity of developing states to participate in the formulation of and to comply with Commission regulations.
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1 From Article 21 of the Port State Measures Agreement
2 Based on 1958 High Seas Living Resources Agreement.
3 Based on UNCLOS 217
4 From Article 21 of the Port State Measures Agreement"
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There doesn't seem to be much disagreement or equivocation amongst the experts who attended this workshop. The above seems to me a pretty solid outline of some specific and immediate things that can be done, notwithstanding the obstacles they acknowledged in the preamble to the recommendations.
If people want to look at each of these recommendations and pull them apart, that is a good thing. I think the main thing is that somehow as many people as possible get look at what has been presented by this workshop, and talk about it and form opinions and test them. My own criteria is that anything I take on board should be rigorously tested, based on solid evidence and peer reviewed
I like what they have said of the recommendations:
"This meeting of experts offers the following recommendations to citizens and governments everywhere to transform how we manage, govern and protect the ocean:"