Save our Oceans, Ratify the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
The Issue
To: US Senate and US House of Representatives
Congress, what is the holdup! It’s been 22 years since the U.S. signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and only you can ratify it. Until this ratification happens, enforcement limiting unsustainable fishing practices is hampered which greatly impacts the oceans and the delicate coral reefs.
The UNCLOS is an attempt by the international community to “regulate all aspects of the resources of the sea and uses of the ocean”1 and was called “possibly the most significant legal instrument of this century”1, by the then Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. The treaty outlines nations’ responsibilities and rights on their use of the oceans and its resources. It also provides guidelines for businesses and the management of the marine natural resources.
Why do we need this law? Our oceans can’t create their own laws or a militia to defend itself. Here are a few reasons why we need this law.
- Over-fishing. This occurs when more fish are caught than the population can successfully reproduce. An example is what is currently happening with the ocean’s large predators such as sharks, grouper and tuna. Their decline is causing the fish they eat to expand in population which disrupts the oceanic ecosystem.
- Damaging Fishing Practices. Dynamite fishing is a common tactic that fishermen use to stun the fish, making them easier to catch. Little do they know that they are also destroying the coral reef in the process. Careless fishermen also drive their boats through coral causing damage with their propellers, anchors and waves.
- Lack of Enforcement - Even when laws exist, they often lack adequate enforcement mechanisms. The UNCLOS treaty calls for enforcement and penalties to ensure that the laws are obeyed and that violators are prosecuted.
The Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Secretary of State have all testified before the U.S senate that ratifying the UNCLOS would strengthen the U.S economy, help create American jobs and protect the world's oceans. The United States needs to lead the international community in this most important effort. I urge you to join my petition to compel Congress to act now.
1- “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (A historical perspective)”, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations. 2012
Petition Closed
The Issue
To: US Senate and US House of Representatives
Congress, what is the holdup! It’s been 22 years since the U.S. signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and only you can ratify it. Until this ratification happens, enforcement limiting unsustainable fishing practices is hampered which greatly impacts the oceans and the delicate coral reefs.
The UNCLOS is an attempt by the international community to “regulate all aspects of the resources of the sea and uses of the ocean”1 and was called “possibly the most significant legal instrument of this century”1, by the then Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. The treaty outlines nations’ responsibilities and rights on their use of the oceans and its resources. It also provides guidelines for businesses and the management of the marine natural resources.
Why do we need this law? Our oceans can’t create their own laws or a militia to defend itself. Here are a few reasons why we need this law.
- Over-fishing. This occurs when more fish are caught than the population can successfully reproduce. An example is what is currently happening with the ocean’s large predators such as sharks, grouper and tuna. Their decline is causing the fish they eat to expand in population which disrupts the oceanic ecosystem.
- Damaging Fishing Practices. Dynamite fishing is a common tactic that fishermen use to stun the fish, making them easier to catch. Little do they know that they are also destroying the coral reef in the process. Careless fishermen also drive their boats through coral causing damage with their propellers, anchors and waves.
- Lack of Enforcement - Even when laws exist, they often lack adequate enforcement mechanisms. The UNCLOS treaty calls for enforcement and penalties to ensure that the laws are obeyed and that violators are prosecuted.
The Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Secretary of State have all testified before the U.S senate that ratifying the UNCLOS would strengthen the U.S economy, help create American jobs and protect the world's oceans. The United States needs to lead the international community in this most important effort. I urge you to join my petition to compel Congress to act now.
1- “The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (A historical perspective)”, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations. 2012
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Petition created on November 2, 2016