Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2017
The United Nations General Assembly has convened a new Conference on the Law of the Sea. Its object is to achieve comprehensive agreement on the international law of the sea. Most if not all members of the United Nations, as well as other states, can be expected to attend the substantive session in Caracas this summer.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of State or the U.S. Government.
1 Reports of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, 25 UN GAOR SUPP. 21, UN Doc. A/8021 (1970); 26 UN GAOR SUPP. 21, UN Doc. A/8421 (1971); 27 UN GAOR SUPP. 21, UN Doc. A/8721 (1972); 28 UN GAOR Supp. 21, UN Doc. A/9021 (1973). Hereinafter abbreviated as 25, 26, 27, 28, Rep. The 1973 Report is in six volumes; since the texts of proposals submitted to Subcommittees I and HI are not printed therein, they are cited hereinafter by individual UN Doc. number.
2 Convention on the High Seas, 13 UST 2312; TIAS 5200, 450 UNTS 82; 52 AJIL 842 (1958). Convention on the Continental Shelf, 15 UST 471; TIAS 5578; 499 UNTS 311; 52 AJIL 858 (1958). Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 15 UST 1606; TIAS 5639; 516 UNTS 205; 52 AJIL 834 (1958). Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, 17 UST 138; TIAS 5969; 559 UNTS 285; 52 AJIL 851 (1958).
3 GA Res. 2749, 25 UN GAOR, SUPP. 28, at 24, UN Doc. A/8028 (1970).
4 USA: Draft United Nations convention on the international sea-bed area; 25 Rep. 130–76 (1970).
5 United Kingdom: Working paper on international régime, 25 Rep. 177–84 (1970);
United Kingdom: International sea-bed régime—proposals for elements of a convention, 25 Rep. 83–91 (1971).
6 France: Proposals for establishment of a régime for the exploration and the exploitation of the seabed, 25 Rep. 185–90 (1970).
7 Tanzania: Draft Statute for an international sea-bed authority, 26 Rep. 51–64 (1971).
8 USSR: Provisional draft article on use of the sea-bed for peaceful purposes, 26 Rep. 67–75 (1971); USSR: Preamble to a treaty on the use of the sea-bed for peaceful purposes, 28 Rep. II, 166 (1973).
9 Poland: Working paper concerning an international organization on exploration and exploitation, 26 Rep. 76–81 (1971).
10 Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela: Working paper on the régime for the sea-bed and ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, 26 Rep. 93–101 (1971).
11 Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore: Preliminary working paper, 26 Rep. 194–96 (1971).
12 Canada: International sea-bed régime and machinery working paper, 26 Rep. 205–25 (1971).
13 Italy: Articles on composition of the council, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.1/L.24 (July 24, 1973); Italy: Preliminary draft articles concerning basic principles of the régime and regulations for the granting and administration of licenses for the exploration and exploitation of minerals, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.I/L.28 (August 14, 1973).
14 Malta: Draft ocean space treaty, 26 Rep. 105–93 (1971).
15 Turkey: Articles on archaeological and historical treasures, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.I/L.21 (March 28, 1973).
16 Greece: Draft article on protection of archaeological and historical treasures, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.I/L.25 (August 14, 1973).
17 Working Group I, Texts illustrating areas of agreement and disagreement: Report of Subcommittee I, Annex III, 28 Rep. II, 39 (1973); see also Working Group I: Texts illustrating areas of agreement and disagreement; 27 Rep. 81–108 (1972).
18 28 Rep. II, 57–58 (1973).
19 Brazil: Draft articles containing basic provisions on the question of the maximum breadth of the territorial sea and other modalities or combinations of legal régimes of coastal State sovereignty, jurisdiction or specialized competences, 28 Rep. III, 29 (1973); 12 ILM 1222 (1973).
20 Uruguay: Draft treaty articles on the territorial sea, 28 Rep. III, 23 (1973).
21 Ecuador, Panama and Peru: Draft articles for inclusion in a convention on the law of the sea, Working paper, 28 Rep. III, 30 (1973); 12 ILM 1224 (1973).
22 Malta: Preliminary draft articles on the delimitation of coastal State jurisdiction in ocean space and on the rights and obligations of coastal States in the area under their jurisdiction, 28 Rep. III, 35 (1973).
23 China: Working paper on sea area within the limits of national jurisdiction, 28 Rep. III, 1 (1973); 12 ILM 1230 (1973).
24 Supra note 2.
25 USA: Draft articles on the breadth of the territorial sea, straits, and fisheries, 26 Rep. 241–45 (1971).
26 USSR: Draft articles on straits used for international navigation, 27 Rep. 162–63 (1972).
27 USA: Draft articles on the breadth of the territorial sea, straits, and fisheries, supra note 25.
28 Art. 14, supra note 2.
29 China: Working paper on sea area within the limits of national jurisdiction, supra note 23.
30 Cyprus, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Spain, and Yemen: Draft articles on navigation through the territorial sea including straits used for international navigation, 28 Rep. III, 3 (1973).
31 Fiji: Draft articles relating to passage through the territorial sea, 28 Rep. III, 91 (1973); 12 ILM 1251 (1973).
32 Malta: Preliminary draft articles on the delimitation of coastal State jurisdiction in ocean space and on the rights and obligations of coastal States in the area under their jurisdiction, supra note 22.
33 Organization of African Unity: Addis Ababa Declaration, 28 Rep. II, 4 (1973); 12 ILM 1200 (1973).
34 USA: Draft articles on the breadth of the territorial sea, straits, and fisheries, supra note 25.
35 Malta: Preliminary draft articles on the delimitation of coastal State jurisdiction in ocean space and on the rights and obligations of coastal States in the area under their jurisdiction, supra note 22.
36 Cyprus, Greece, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Spain, and Yemen: Draft articles on navigation through the territorial sea, including straits used for international navigation, supra note 30.
37 USSR: Draft article on straits used for international navigation, supra note 26.
38 Italy: Draft article on straits, 28 Rep. III, 70 (1973); 12 ILM 1230 (1973).
39 Fiji, Indonesia, Mauritius and the Philippines: Draft articles on archipelagoes, 28 Rep. III, 102 (1973); 12 ILM 1263 (1973).
40 United Kingdom: Draft article on the rights and duties of archipelagic States, 28 Rep. III, 99 (1973); 12 ILM 1259 (1973).
41 Conference of the Caribbean Countries on Problems of the Sea: Text of the Santo Domingo Declaration, 27 Rep. 70–72 (1972); 66 AJIL 918 (1972); 11 ILM 892 (1972); African States Regional Seminar on Law of the Sea held in Yaounde: General Report, 27 Rep. 73–76 (1972); Kenya: Draft articles on exclusive economic zone concept, 27 Rep. 180–82 (1972); Organization of African Unity: Addis Ababa Declaration, supra note 33; Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela: Draft articles of treaty, 28 Rep. III, 19 (1973); Iceland: Jurisdiction of coastal States over natural resources of the area adjacent to their territorial sea, 28 Rep. III, 23 (1973); China: Working paper on sea area within the limits of national jurisdiction, supra note 23; Argentina: Draft articles, 28 Rep. III, 78 (1973); Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and Zaire: Draft articles on exclusive economic zone, 28 Rep. III, 87 (1973); 12 ILM 1246 (1973); Pakistan: breadth of territorial sea and boundaries of exclusive economic zone, 28 Rep. III, 106 (1973).
42 Netherlands: Working paper concerning the concept of an intermediate zone, UN Doc. A/AC.138/86 (March 16, 1973); Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore: Preliminary working paper, supra note 11; Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Nepal, and Singapore: Draft articles on resource jurisdiction of coastal States beyond the territorial sea, 28 Rep. III, 85 (1973); 12 ILM 1243 (1973); Uganda and Zambia: Draft articles on the proposed economic zone, 28 Rep. III, 89 (1973); 12 ILM 1249 (1973); Jamaica: Draft articles on regional facilities for developing geographically disadvantaged coastal States, 28 Rep. III, 110 (1973); Netherlands: Proposal concerning an intermediate zone, 28 Rep. III, 111 (1973); 12 ILM 1271 (1973).
43 Turkey: Draft article related to the following items: 2.3.1; 5.3; 6.7.2, 28 Rep. III, 22 (1973); see also Tunisia and Turkey: Amendments to the Turkish draft articles, 28 Rep. III, 71 (1973); Romania: Working paper on certain specific aspects of the régime of islands in the context of delimitation of the marine space between neighbouring States, 28 Rep. III, 106 (1973); Japan: Principles on the delimitation of coastal seabed area, 28 Rep. III, 111 (1973); 12 ILM 1270 (1973).
44 USA: Draft article for a chapter on the rights and duties of States in the coastal sea-bed economic area, 28 Rep. III, 75 (1973); 12 ILM 1235 (1973); Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore: Preliminary working paper, supra note 11; USSR: Rough draft of basic provisions on the question of the outer limit of the continental shelf, 28 Rep. III, 28 (1973); 12 ILM 1223 (1973).
45 USA: Revised draft fisheries articles, 27 Rep. 175–79 (1972); see also USA: Working paper on special considerations regarding the management of anadromous fishes and highly migratory oceanic fishes, 28 Rep. III, 11 (1973); USSR: Draft article on fishing, 27 Rep. 158–61 (1972); Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and the USSR: Declaration on principles of rational exploitation of the living resources of the seas and oceans, 27 Rep. 78–80 (1972); Australia and New Zealand: Principles for a fisheries régime, 27 Rep. 183–87 (1972); Japan: Proposal for a régime of fisheries on the high seas, 27 Rep. 188–96 (1972); Canada: Working paper on management of the living resources of the sea, 27 Rep. 164–74 (1972); Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, and Sri Lanka: Draft articles on fisheries, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.II/L.38 and Corr. 1, (July 16, 1973); Ecuador, Panama, and Peru: Draft articles on fisheries in national and international zones in ocean space, 28 Rep. III, 107 (1973); 12 ILM 1267 (1973); Zaire: Draft articles on fishing, 28 Rep. III, 114 (1973).
46 USA: Draft United Nations convention on the international sea-bed area, supra note 4.
47 USA: Draft articles on the breadth of the territorial sea, straits, and fisheries, supra note 25.
48 Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore: Preliminary working paper, supra note 11.
49 Malta: Draft ocean space treaty, supra note 14.
50 Conference of the Caribbean Countries on problems of the sea: Text of the Santo Domingo Declaration, supra note 41; African States Regional Seminar on Law of the Sea held in Yaounde: General Report, supra note 41.
51 Kenya: Draft articles on exclusive economic zone concept, supra note 41.
52 Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, and the USSR: Declaration on principles of rational exploitation of the living resources of the seas and oceans, supra note 45.
53 USSR: Draft article on fishing, supra note 45.
54 Japan: Proposal for a régime of fisheries on the high seas, supra note 45.
55 Canada: Working paper on management of the living resources of the sea, supra note 45.
56 USA: Revised draft fisheries articles, supra note 45.
57 Australia and New Zealand: Principles for a fisheries régime, supra note 45.
58 OAU: Addis Abada Declaration, supra note 33.
59 Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela: Draft articles of treaty, supra note 41; Algeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania, and Zaire: Draft articles on exclusive economic zone, supra note 41.
60 Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, and Sri Lanka: Draft articles on fisheries, supra note 45.
61 Supra note 2.
62 Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, and Sri Lanka: Draft articles on fisheries, supra note 45.
63 Uganda and Zambia: Draft articles on the proposed economic zone, supra note 42.
64 Netherlands: Proposal concerning an intermediate zone, supra note 42.
65 USA: Draft articles for a chapter on the rights and duties of States in the coastal sea-bed economic area, supra note 44.
66 USA: Draft United Nations convention on the international sea-bed area, supra note 4.
67 Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Nepal, Netherlands, Singapore: Preliminary working paper, supra note 11.
68 USA: Draft articles for a chapter on the rights and duties of States in coastal sea-bed economic area, supra note 44.
69 Canada, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal, and Sri Lanka: Draft articles on fisheries, supra note 45.
70 Australia and New Zealand: Principles for a fisheries régime, supra note 45.
71 USA: Revised draft fisheries articles, supra note 45.
72 USSR: Draft article on fishing, supra note 45.
73 Japan: Proposals for a régime of fisheries on the high seas, supra note 45.
74 Uganda and Zambia: Draft articles on the proposed economic zone, supra note 42.
75 Australia: Working paper on preservation of the marine environment, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.27 (March 6, 1973); Canada: Draft articles for a comprehensive marine pollution convention, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.28 (March 9, 1973); USSR: Draft articles for a convention on general principles for the preservation of the marine environment, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.32 (March 15, 1973); Malta: Draft articles for the preservation of the marine environment (including, inter alia, the prevention of pollution), UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.33 (March 16, 1973); Netherlands: Observations concerning the preservation of the marine environment including the prevention of marine pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.35 (March 23, 1973); USA: Working paper on competence to establish standards for the control of vessel source pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.36 (April 2, 1973).
76 Report of Subcommittee III, Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-bed and the Ocean Floor Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction (hereinafter cited as Rep. of SC.III) 28 Rep. I, 86–88 (1973).
77 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.40 (July 13, 1973); Kenya: Draft articles on prevention and control of pollution in the marine environment, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.41 (July 16, 1973); Norway: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment against pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.43 (July 19, 1973); France: Draft articles concerning the rights exercisable by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.46 (July 20, 1973); Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay: Working paper on the preservation of the marine environment, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.47 and Corr. 1 (July 24 and 26, 1973); Netherlands: Draft articles on the enforcement of international provisions for the prevention of marine pollution from vessels, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.48 (Aug. 10, 1973); Japan: Proposal on enforcement measures by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.49 (Aug. 13, 1973).
78 Rep. of SC.III, supra note 76, at 91–102.
79 Id., at 86–88.
80 Id., at 91.
81 id., at 92–93.
82 Id., at 93.
83 Id., at 94–95.
84 Id., at 95–98.
85 Id., at 98–100.
86 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, supra note 77.
87 Netherlands: Draft articles on the enforcement of international provisions for the prevention of marine pollution from vessels, supra note 77.
88 Australia: Working paper on preservation of the marine environment, supra note 75.
89 Canada: Draft articles for a comprehensive marine pollution convention, supra note 75.
90 Kenya: Draft articles on prevention and control of pollution in the marine environment, supra note 77.
91 Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay: Working paper on the preservation of the marine environment, supra note 77.
92 France: Draft articles concerning the rights exercisable by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, supra note 77.
93 Japan: Proposal on enforcement measures by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, supra note 77.
94 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter. Adopted Nov. 13, 1972, not yet in force. 6 Dept. State Bull. 711 (1972); 67 AJIL 626 (1973); 11 ILM 1294 (1972).
95 Canada: Draft articles for a comprehensive marine pollution convention, supra note 75.
96 Kenya: Draft articles on prevention and control of pollution in the marine environment, supra note 77.
97 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, supra note 77.
98 Australia: Working paper on preservation of the marine environment, supra note 75.
99 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, supra note 77.
100 Norway: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment against pollution, supra note 77.
101 Ecuador, El Salvador, Peru, and Uruguay: Working paper on the preservation of the marine environment, supra note 77.
102 Canada: Draft articles for a comprehensive marine pollution convention, supra note 75.
103 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, supra note 77.
104 Australia: Working paper on preservation of the marine environment, supra note 75.
105 France: Draft articles concerning the rights exercisable by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, supra note 77.
106 Malta: Draft articles for the preservation of the marine environment (including inter alia, the prevention of pollution), supra note 75.
107 USA: Draft articles on the protection of the marine environment and the prevention of marine pollution, supra note 77.
108 Canada: Draft articles for a comprehensive marine pollution convention, supra note 75.
109 France: Draft articles concerning the rights exercisable by coastal States for the purpose of preventing marine pollution, supra note 77.
110 Australia: Working paper on preservation of the marine environment, supra note 75.
111 Canada: Working paper on principles on marine scientific research, 27 Rep. 203—05 (1972); Bulgaria, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR: Draft articles for a convention on scientific research in the world ocean, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.31 (March 15, 1973); Malta: Draft articles on scientific research, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.34 (March 23, 1973); China: Working paper on marine scientific research, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.42 (July 19, 1973); USA: Draft articles for a chapter on marine scientific research, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.III/L.44 (July 19, 1973); Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay: Working paper on scientific research within the zone subject to the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the coastal State, UN Doc. A/AC.138/SC.1II/L.45 (July 19, 1973).
112 Rep. of SC.III, part. III. B, Report of Working Group 3, supra note 76, at 102.
113 Art. 5(8), supra note 2.
114 Canada: Working paper on principles on marine scientific research, supra note 111.
115 China: Working paper on marine scientific research, supra note 111.
116 Brazil, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay: Working paper on scientific research within the zone subject to the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the coastal State, supra note 111.
117 Malta: Draft articles on scientific research, supra note 111.
118 USA: Draft articles for a chapter on marine scientific research, supra note 111.
119 USA: Draft articles for a chapter on the settlement of disputes, UN Doc. A/AC.138/97 (Aug. 21, 1973); 12 ILM 1220 (1973).