Entrenching environmental obligation in marine regulation

Area of Science:

• Marine policy and conservation science
• Fisheries management
• International environmental law

Background:

• The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the framework for marine commons.
• The European Union's common fisheries policy is based on this convention.
• Existing environmental legislation has not adequately addressed ecosystem and biodiversity protection in fishing regulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the shortcomings in international and EU fishing regulations regarding ecosystem protection.
• To highlight the link between current fishing practices and ecosystem degradation.
• To advocate for regulatory changes that assign responsibility for environmental damage to the fishing industry.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of international maritime law and EU fisheries legislation.
• Review of environmental impact assessments related to fishing activities.
• Examination of case studies on ecosystem degradation due to fishing.

Main Results:

• International and EU fishing regulations lack specific provisions for ecosystem and biodiversity protection.
• Absence of protective measures has led to significant ecosystem degradation.
• The current regulatory framework does not hold the fishing industry accountable for environmental damage.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to integrate ecosystem and biodiversity protection into fishing regulations.
• Assigning responsibility to the fishing industry for rectifying damage is essential for sustainable marine resource management.
• Reforming the common fisheries policy is crucial to prevent further degradation of marine ecosystems.