International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
The International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) was put in place in 1973 and revised in 1978. This is one of the most important international environmental conventions for our ocean. It was developed by the International Maritime Organization which is a specialised agency of the UN responsible for regulating shipping. MARPOL regulates and prevents any form of pollution from happening that affects our oceans. This includes: oil pollution, sewage, air pollution, marine debris and other harmful substances.
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972
It was created to protect marine mammals from harassment, hunting, capture or murder. The law was put in place after a decrease was seen in sea lions, orcas and polar bears. For example, before the act was in place, orcas were shot as they were seen as a competitor for fishing boats. Between 1964 and 1976, they were captured and used as entertainment for organisations such as Sea World (See “Our Night at the Movies” Blackfish documentary). The act holds individuals and government agencies accountable for their actions.
An interesting expectation is that Alaskan Natives can continue with their traditions and cultures that preserve their way of life.
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972
Which is also known as the "Ocean Dumping Act". This law allows the EPA to regulate the dumping activities of industrial and municipal waste into the oceans or other territorial waters in the US. It was created as an act towards the many years of unregulated and unsupervised dumping. The dumping was mainly being done by government bodies who were turning the water around the US in a marine rubbish dump. MPRSA regulations are directed to “prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean waters of any material that would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecosystems, or economic potentialities." Not only has this law allowed for dumping operations to be brought under control, but there are now mechanisms in place to warn tourists of dangerous metal toxicities that would be left over from a time before the act. For ecotourists, this means that the oceans are now much safer to swim, snorkel, dive, and fish in than they once were.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969
It means that United States government agencies have to monitor the impacts their actions have on the environment, including the oceans. It also gives the public a chance to voice their concerns and opinions on the agency’s actions. They have to put together environmental assessments and impact statements. It is meant to encourage the government agencies to make decisions that protect the environment and to limit the damage they cause.
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas
It is an international agreement. It was designed to find solutions to solve the problems involved in the conservation of living animals in the high seas. The convention opened for signature in 1958 but only came into force eight years later, in 1966. Some of the countries that have participated include: Australia, France, Spain, the UK, the U.S. and the Netherlands. Other countries have signed the convention but not yet confirmed their participation; these include, Ghana, New Zealand, Uruguay among others.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
It encourages governments to “to preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance, the resources of the Nation’s coastal zone for this and succeeding generations.” This act also provides countries who have an approved management plan with funding in order to preserve and protect their coasts.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
This law is a basic principle of how our oceans work. It was signed by 157 countries in 1982. It is the principle that our oceans are an extension of a nation's territory. Countries have anywhere between 3 to 12 nautical miles of ocean territory based on their coastlines. This has been done for territorial and economic reasons. So overall, the convention broke ocean into seven areas: internal water (ocean that go inside a country), territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles), Archipelago Water (based on having islands of the coast of the mainland), Contiguous Zone (where a nations’ law still apply), Exclusive Economic Zones (200 Nautical Miles from the coast where any citizen can exploit the natural resources), the Continental Shelf (the geographical zone where the rise in country’s land, under the ocean, ends). Anything other than this is called the High Seas, where International Laws don’t apply. It also requires countries to have a minimum level of responsibility for their territorial waters, looking after marine life and biodiversity.
References
https://www.marineinsight.com/maritime-law/marpol-convention-shipping/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARPOL_73/78
https://crosscut.com/opinion/2020/11/help-save-orcas-pause-whale-watching
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/07/19/5-key-laws-protect-ocean/
http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org/OceansAct.html#:~:text=Marine%20Protection%2C%20Research%2C%20and%20Sanctuaries,waters%20of%20the%20United%20States
https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXI-3&chapter=21&lang=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Fishing_and_Conservation_of_the_Living_Resources_of_the_High_Seas
http://www.internationalwildlifelaw.org/OceansAct.html#:~:text=Marine%20Protection%2C%2
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eesi.org%2Farticles%2Fview%2Ftwo-bills-propose-to-amend-the-coastal-zone-management-act-to-improve-coastal-resilience&psig=AOvVaw1GC3S7x4Pkhz027Xm1pGui&ust=1606308227571000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKinltSam-0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2019/07/19/5-key-laws-protect-ocean/