Sub-topic 3: Current Affairs - Maritime Disputes & Ocean Conservation
This section delves into the critical contemporary issues shaping our oceans: the complex web of maritime disputes and the urgent imperative of ocean conservation. Understanding these topics is vital for a comprehensive grasp of global geography and international relations, particularly for competitive exams like the UPSC.
Maritime Disputes: Navigating Contested Waters
Maritime disputes arise from overlapping claims to territorial waters, exclusive economic zones (EEZs), and the resources within them. These conflicts often stem from differing interpretations of international maritime law, historical claims, and strategic geopolitical interests. Key areas of contention include resource extraction (oil, gas, fisheries), shipping lanes, and military positioning.
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the foundational international agreement governing maritime boundaries and resource rights.
UNCLOS defines various maritime zones, including territorial seas, contiguous zones, EEZs, and the continental shelf, each with specific rights and responsibilities for coastal states. It also establishes rules for navigation and resource management.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), often referred to as the 'constitution for the oceans,' entered into force in 1994. It establishes a comprehensive legal framework for all marine and maritime activities. Key provisions include the definition of baseline, territorial sea (up to 12 nautical miles), contiguous zone (up to 24 nautical miles), exclusive economic zone (EEZ, up to 200 nautical miles), and the continental shelf. Within its EEZ, a coastal state has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil. Disputes often arise when these zones overlap or when interpretations of UNCLOS differ, particularly concerning islands, artificial islands, and the delimitation of boundaries in shared seas.
200 nautical miles from the baseline.
Prominent examples of maritime disputes include the South China Sea, where multiple nations assert claims over islands and waters rich in resources, and the East China Sea, involving territorial disputes over islands and their surrounding maritime areas. These disputes have significant implications for regional stability, international trade, and environmental management.
Ocean Conservation: Protecting Our Blue Planet
Ocean conservation addresses the critical need to protect marine ecosystems from human-induced threats. These threats include pollution (plastic, chemical, noise), overfishing, habitat destruction, climate change impacts (ocean acidification, warming, sea-level rise), and invasive species. Effective conservation requires a multi-faceted approach involving international cooperation, policy implementation, scientific research, and public awareness.
Ocean acidification is a significant threat caused by the absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) into seawater. This process lowers the pH of the ocean, making it more acidic. The increased acidity reduces the availability of carbonate ions, which are essential for marine organisms like corals, shellfish, and plankton to build and maintain their shells and skeletons. This can lead to widespread disruption of marine food webs and ecosystems.
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Key conservation efforts include establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), implementing sustainable fishing practices, reducing plastic waste through circular economy models, mitigating climate change emissions, and promoting research into marine biodiversity and ecosystem health. International agreements and initiatives, such as the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), aim to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
Overfishing is a major driver of marine ecosystem degradation, depleting fish stocks faster than they can replenish and disrupting the delicate balance of marine food webs.
Interconnections: Disputes and Conservation
Maritime disputes can significantly hinder ocean conservation efforts. When territories are contested, it becomes challenging to implement unified conservation strategies, monitor resource exploitation, or enforce environmental regulations. Conversely, effective conservation requires cooperation and shared stewardship, which can be undermined by unresolved territorial claims. Addressing both maritime disputes and conservation needs often requires diplomatic solutions and a commitment to international law and shared environmental responsibility.
Contested territories make it difficult to implement unified conservation strategies, monitor resource exploitation, and enforce environmental regulations.
Learning Resources
The official text of the UNCLOS, providing the foundational legal framework for all ocean and maritime activities.
An accessible overview of the complex territorial claims and geopolitical implications in the South China Sea.
Detailed information from NOAA on the causes, impacts, and ongoing research related to ocean acidification.
Information from the IUCN on the role and effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in conserving marine biodiversity.
An overview of the global issue of overfishing, its impacts on marine ecosystems, and potential solutions from WWF.
The official United Nations page detailing the targets and progress for SDG 14, focused on ocean conservation.
An article discussing the prevalence and nature of maritime boundary disputes worldwide.
A comprehensive explanation of plastic pollution in oceans, its sources, and its environmental consequences.
An analysis of how international law, particularly UNCLOS, is applied and challenged in resolving maritime disputes.
Information on various strategies and innovative approaches being used globally for ocean conservation.