1. Background of the World Ocean Day

1-1. About the World Ocean Day

The Ocean is the source of life on the Earth. It provides organisms on the Earth with abundant food, and stabilizes the atmosphere to enable viability of organisms. Nevertheless, overuse of the ocean by human beings in recent years has led to the problems of depletion of fisheries resources, impacts of climate change, and deterioration of marine environment. There is a need to rethink and seek ways for solution. As such, in 2008 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution No. 63/111, declaring every 8 June as the World Ocean Day beginning from 2009, to raise the awareness of the issues faced globally on oceans. The themes from 2009 to 2012 are:

Our Oceans, Our Responsibility

 

Our Oceans: Opportunities and Challenges

 

Our Oceans: Greening our Future

 

30^th Anniversary United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

1-2. 30^th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

In the early19^th Century, the sea was free for development and use by all mankind. In the 20^th Century, due to the rapid growth of the world’s population, need of resources, and the advance in technology, States began to extend their targets of resources exploitation from land to sea. The exploitation of coastal and offshore fisheries resources, oil and gas drilling for energy, and seabed mining, have all caused pollution to many oceans, and escalation of fishing pressure, and they have severely deteriorated the marine environment.

In 1956, the United Nations held the first Conference on the Law of the Sea

After three conferences, in1982, the 3^rd United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea adopted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, providing a complete set of rules on the use and protection of the oceans, like the polar star giving guidance to sailors navigating on the vast ocean.

The 2012 marked the 30^th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Taking the opportunity, the UN called upon the world to reaffirm the importance of enhancing capacity in implementing the UNCLOS, in order to exercise the paramount spirit enshrined in the Convention.

1-3. Important items in the UNCLOS

Since the UNCLOS was open for signature in 1982, till June 2012, 162 countries had ratified or acceded the Convention, giving an important benchmark to international law.

We, mankind are benefitted from the oceans, and it is our right and also our obligation to continue implementing the UNCLOS in ensuring the utilization of the oceans, generations after generations.

 

Source of Information: UN Website
http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm

1-2. What is Marine Protected Areas?
Why do countries promote Marine Protected Areas?

Biodiversity includes three levels, gene, species and ecosystem. In order to protect biodiversity, it is necessary to protect the habitats of species for their reproduction. That is to say, “protection of habitats” is more important than “protection of species”. Marine Protected Area (MPA) is one of the important tools recognized internationally for the protection of marine biodiversity and conservation and management of fisheries resources.

Functions of Marine Protected Areas

Is Marine Protected Area a new invention?
No. Early in the 1970s prototypes of MPA were developed. The announcement of Kenting National Park in 1982 by Taiwan is considered as a kind of MPA. In recent years, the ocean has become increasingly important, and people have paid more attentions to MPA.

Is it better to have a larger MPA?
In terms of the theory of island ecology, the larger is the MPA, the better. However, over-sized MPA leads to difficulty in its management, as if there is no MPA. Using MPA network, linking together a number of MPAs of important reproduction and nursery areas of marine organisms, will achieve the result of better protection.

Is MPA no-take zone (prohibition of fishing)?
MPAs emphasize multifunctional use, and in other words, they are not entirely no-take zones. For example, the MPAs within US jurisdiction, less than 3% prohibits fishing (no-take). In fact, for many MPAs, it is hoped that by restricting various improper harmful conducts, marine resources can be protected, giving opportunity for the local community, fishermen and the general public to enjoy these resources without worrying the possibility of overfishing.

Is there law stating that MPA must cover 20% of the sea area of a country?
In the 10^th Conference of Parties (COP10) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, it was proposed that before 2020, there should be at least 10% of the coastal and sea areas under protection. Currently different countries have their own rules, and among the 190 countries in the world, 75% of them have established MPAs smaller than 1% of their exclusive economic zones. In Taiwan’s policy guidelines on sustainable development, it was planned that 20% of the area of its 12-mile territorial sea be demarcated as MPA, and effectively managed.

Is MPA panacea for the conservation of fisheries resources?
MPA is indeed a very useful tool for the protection of marine environment, but not a panacea. More importantly, it has to combine with the policy of sustainable fisheries, and other management measures, such as reducing the number of fishing vessels to control fishing capacity, and effective enforcement actions, in order to achieve the goal of protection and sustainability of marine resources.

1-3-1 International Definition of MPA

The earliest definition of MPA was given by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1994: “Any area of the intertidal or sub-tidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.”

In 2004, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defined MPA as: “Any defined area within or adjacent to the marine environment, together within its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by legislation or other effective means, including custom, with the effect that its marine and/or coastal biodiversity enjoys a higher level of protection than its surroundings.”

In 2011, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations broadly defined an MPA, as: “Any marine geographical area that is afforded greater protection than the surrounding waters for biodiversity conservation or fisheries management purposes.”

(Source of Picture: http://www.fao.org/fishery/mpas/en)

Source: Toropova et. al., 2010. Global Ocean Protection

1-3-2

Distribution of MPAs in the World

Source: Toropova et. al., 2010. Global Ocean Protection
■：World’s 5,878 MPAs
■：Extent of EEZ

1-3-3

Status of the World’s MPAs

In the 10^th Conference of the Parties of CBD held in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, the “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” was adopted, indicating by 2010, at least 10% of the of coastal and sea areas are conserved through effectively managed systems of protected areas. Continual promoting establishment of MPAs to achieve the goal set forth in CBD is the future direction all countries in the world should be pursuing after.

Do you know?
The world’s MPAs have a total area of 4.21 million square kilometers.

World’s MPAs in continental shelves cover 1.27 square kilometers

12 MPAs in the world are over 100 thousand square kilometers in area