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SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
AND DEVELOPMENTS

REFERENCES

SUBJECT AREAS:

ACRONYMS

EXTERNSHIPS

ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHIES

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PRIMARY LEGAL SUBJECT AREAS

The Office of General Counsel
for International Law

GCIL staff have developed expertise related to many legal subject areas, including:

Antarctic Issues

Antarctic Treaty

Environmental Protocol

Liability Annex

Arctic Issues

Arctic Council/Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)

Artificial Reefs

See also, Ocean Dumping

Artificial Reefs (Guidelines for Construction and Placement)

Biological Diversity and Related Issues

Convention on Biological Diversity and Related Issues

  • Access and Benefit Sharing
  • Bioprospecting
  • Marine Genetic Resources
  • High Seas Biodiversity
  • Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Coastal Zone Management – International Activities

Integrated Ocean and Coastal Zone Management

Small Island Issues

Ecosystem Management

Large Marine Ecosystems (LME)

High Seas

The Area

Extraterritorial Application of Domestic Laws

  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Application of NEPA and other U.S. Laws Beyond the U.S. Territorial Sea

Fisheries

  • International Fisheries Issues (Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), Aquaculture, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs))

Galapagos Island Issues

Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)

Heritage: Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources – International Activities

Underwater Cultural Heritage and Shipwreck Issues

United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH)

World Heritage Convention

Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements and their Implementation (e.g., Titanic, Japanese Midget Sub, German U-Boats)

Jurisdictional Issues involving the Right of Coastal States to Regulate UCH in the Various Maritime Zones

Treatment of Sunken Military Craft

Hydrography/Survey

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

International Hydrographic Organization Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (ABLOS)

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (ABE-LOS)

Marine Debris

International Marine Debris Issues

Derelict Fishing Gear

MARPOL Annex V

Marine Mammals

Right Whales and Ship Strikes

Underwater Sound

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

MPAs on the High Seas

International Issues Associated with National Marine Sanctuaries

Protection of Particular Areas and Resources from Damage

Marine Pollution

Marine Pollution

Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution

Vessel Sources of Marine Pollution

Marine Scientific Research

LOSC Article 257 (PDF)

Maritime Zones and Boundaries

Baseline — Territorial Sea and Other Maritime Zones

Contiguous Zone (24 nautical miles (nm))

Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm)

Continental Shelf including Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) Beyond 200 nm

Maritime Boundaries with Other Nations

Ocean Dumping

1972 London Convention and the 1996 Protocol

Artificial Reefs (Guidelines for Construction and Placement)

Seabirds

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

Ships, Regulation of

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, International Maritime Organization and Matters Relating to Regulation of Ships

  • Aquatic Nuisance Species and Ballast Water Management Treaty Issues
  • International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention)

Jurisdictional Issues Involving the Right of Coastal States to Regulate Ships in the Various Maritime Zones

  • Marine Protected Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas
  • Marine Scientific Research
  • International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
  • Ship Routing and Reporting Requirements

Trade and Investment

WTO, NAFTA, Bilateral/Multilateral Free Trade Agreements

International Fisheries Agreements with Trade Provisions (e.g., ICCAT)

Pelly Amendment and other U.S. Fisheries Laws with Trade Provisions