Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
12.4.2 Areas beyond national jurisdiction
The technological developments during the Second World War laid the foundation for in-
creased abilities to exploit the seabed and ocean resources. This triggered associated exten-
sion of national jurisdictions, which in turn led to gradual renewal of the law of the sea,
with internationally agreed national jurisdictions to include the EEZs (cf. Kullenberg
et al
.,
ploitationofmarineresourceswellbeyondnationaljurisdictions.Thediscoveryinthe1970s
of deep-sea vents triggered an increasing interest in the use of deep-sea resources for phar-
maceutical and medical research, food resources, fossil fuel, and mineral exploitation pur-
poses (cf.
Chapter 9
in this topic). These developments go in parallel with enhanced techno-
logical capacities and economic interests, which are limited mostly to a few leading nations.
This situation has stimulated renewed interest in adequate governance of marine areas bey-
There is a strong need for education regarding the impacts of human exploration and
exploitation of this under-protected zone of the planet. It should address concerns for food
resources, climate regulation, biodiversity, and biogeochemical cycles of fundamental im-
portance for maintaining life on Earth. The biodiversity in these areas faces serious threats
from resources exploitation, impacts of climate change, and ocean acidification (Vierros
et
al
.,
2012
;
cf. also
Chapters 3
and
4
). However, neither the climate nor the life-support sys-
tem can be enclosed under national jurisdiction or as national property. The climate change
problem, food security, unbalanced resource utilization, distribution of wealth, and lack of
equity must also be addressed at global level through global instruments.
Incentives need to be established for governments, populations, and various industrial
and economic interests to act in accordance with agreed guidelines, norms, and conventions
of global coverage. Many such instruments exist, including UNCLOS and those developed
through the 1992 UNCED process, sufficient to take action, although requirements for some
implementation and enforcement are evident in the socio-economic necessity to address the
