Source: http://docplayer.net/21491097-The-law-of-the-sea-marine-scientific-research.html
Timestamp: 2018-10-22 13:51:18
Document Index: 370452930

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 5', 'art. 5', 'art. 27', 'art. 40', 'art. 54', 'art. 87', 'art. 123', 'art. 1', 'art. 1', 'art. 1', 'art. 48', 'art. 240', 'art. 246', 'art. 241', 'art. 137', 'art. 238', 'art. 242', 'art. 242', 'art. 278', 'art. 242', 'art. 242', 'art. 243', 'art. 244', 'art. 244', 'art. 143', 'art. 197', 'art. 239', 'art. 251', 'art. 255', 'art. 245', 'art. 245', 'art. 40', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 248', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 77', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 248', 'art. 248', 'art. 248', 'art. 248', 'art. 250', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 246', 'art. 252', 'art. 252', 'art. 248', 'art. 252', 'art. 249', 'art. 248', 'art. 247', 'art. 249', 'art. 246', 'art. 248', 'art. 249', 'art. 248', 'art. 253', 'art. 249', 'art. 246', 'art. 257', 'art. 87', 'art. 257', 'art. 87', 'art. 87', 'art. 87', 'art. 87', 'art 7', 'art. 4', 'art. 257', 'art. 26', 'art. 69', 'art. 257', 'art. 87']

The Law of the Sea. Marine Scientific Research - PDF
Download "The Law of the Sea. Marine Scientific Research"
1 The Law of the Sea Marine Scientific Research A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs United Nations, New York 2010
2 NOTE Symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letterscombinded with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.10.V.12 ISBN No e-isbn No Cover photo: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Copyright United Nations 2010 All right reserved Printed at the Untied Nations, New York
3 Foreword The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. The Convention, in its Preamble, recognizes the desirability of establishing [...] a legal order for the seas and oceans which will [...] promote [...] the study [...] of the marine environment. Part XIII of the Convention is entirely devoted to the subject of marine scientific research. The General Assembly of the United Nations has consistently highlighted the importance of marine science for eradicating poverty, contributing to food security, conserving the world s marine environment and resources, helping to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable development of the oceans and seas. One of the tasks of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, is to assist States in the uniform and consistent application of the Convention, including through the preparation of relevant publications. In this connection, the Division has revised the United Nations publication, produced in 1991, entitled Marine Scientific Research: A guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In this work, the Division was assisted by a Group of Experts which met at United Nations Headquarters in April 2009 for this purpose. The present Guide, among other things, includes practical guidance on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention relating to marine scientific research based on the outcome of the meeting of the Group of Experts. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, is grateful to the Experts for their valuable contribution. Their names are listed in Annex II to this publication. iii
5 Introduction The 1991 Guide Marine Scientific Research: A Guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea advises States of the means by which articles in the Convention could be implemented by coastal and researching States. It has proven useful in implementing the marine scientific research regime as contained in the Convention. However, in almost two decades, several trends have become apparent that suggested a need to reassess the Guide. Of particular importance are trends in marine data acquisition, marine data dissemination, and the emergence of large-scale, international collaborative programmes. With regard to marine data acquisition, marine scientific research is increasingly conducted from autonomous platforms that can be either fixed or mobile, within the ocean (in-situ) or remote, manned or unmanned, and powered by nature or by humans. One of the key drivers of this autonomous technology has been the increased cost of ship-borne research coupled with the growing demand for continuous, high-resolution, long-term ocean observations for both research and societal needs. Equipment and sensors for marine scientific research have also been improved to enhance both the accuracy and duration of their performance, and to increase the ability to sample in areas of extreme environmental conditions. With regard to marine data dissemination, an analysis of the trends indicates that intergovernmental and international organizations have facilitated the adoption of standards and protocols to enhance data exchange resulting from marine scientific research. Greater use of national, regional and global oceanographic data centres have likewise become more commonplace. The establishment and use of these data centers promotes access to large volumes of data, making collaborative efforts to interpret the results of research necessary. Finally, the continued emergence of large-scale, international collaborative programmes often occurs across many areas within as well as beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The scope and scale of these activities require the efforts of all States both developed and developing. Thus, capacity-building and technology transfer are critical to the success of the research objectives of these types of programmes. For instance, the need to better understand the oceans role in climate change, as well as the impacts of human activities on ocean resources have driven this need. This revised Guide takes these trends into account and attempts to inform all those stakeholders involved in marine scientific research of the significance of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. v
7 Contents Foreword... Introduction... Part I Provisions of the Convention related to marine scientific research... 1 A. Brief legislative history of the provisions of the Convention related to marine scientific research The 1958 Geneva Conventions Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction ( Seabed Committee ) Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea... 3 B. General aspects of marine scientific research under the Convention What is marine scientific research under the Convention? General provisions governing the conduct of marine scientific research 6 3. International co-operation Promotion and facilitation of marine scientific research... 9 C. Marine scientific research in internal waters, archipelagic waters and the territorial sea... 9 D. Marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf Overview of rights and duties of the coastal State relating to the granting and withholding of consent Procedure for requesting and granting consent Conduct during marine scientific research Rights and obligations after the completion of the research E. Marine scientific research beyond areas of national jurisdiction Marine scientific research in the high seas and water column beyond the exclusive economic zone Marine scientific research in the area F. Scientific research installations or equipment G. Development and transfer of marine techonology H. Protection and preservation of the marine environment I. Responsibility and liability... J. Settlement of disputes... iii v vii
8 Part II Experience of states in implementing the provisions of the convention related to marine scientific research A. International cooperation B. The planning stage C. Marine scientific research within areas of national jurisdiction Submitting the request for consent Response by the coastal State Conduct during marine scientific research Rights and obligations after the completion of the research D. Marine scientific research beyond areas of national jurisdiction E. Scientific research installations and equipment F. Development and transfer of marine techonology G. Settlement of disputes Part III Practical guidance on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention on marine scientific research A. General considerations B. The planning stage C. Submitting the request for consent Submission through official channels Scheduling considerations relating to a marine scientific research project application Information to be provided to the coastal State D. Response by the coastal State General Request for supplementary information Consent in normal circumstances Discretionary power to withhold consent Conditions imposed when granting consent Additional information of importance to the researching State Research by or under the auspices of international organizations E. Conduct during marine scientific research Participation by the coastal State Duty to inform the coastal State of major changes in the research programme viii
9 3. Suspension or cessation of marine scientific research activities Scientific research installations and equipment Port calls F. Rights and obligations after the completion of the research Provision of preliminary reports and final results Access to data and samples Assessment of data, samples and research results International availability of research results Fulfillment of obligations Annexes I. Documents related to Part III of the guide Draft standard form A: Application for consent to conduct marine scientific research Draft standard form B: Consent to conduct marine scientific research Draft standard form C: Preliminary cruise report II. Extracts from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea III. List of participants in the meeting of the group of experts on marine scientific research, New York, 20 to 24 April ix
11 Part I Provisions of the Convention related to marine scientific research This section presents a brief legislative history of the provisions of the Convention related to marine scientific research and provides an overview of those provisions with a focus on Part XIII of the Convention. A. Brief legislative history of the provisions of the Convention related to marine scientific research 1. The 1958 Geneva Conventions 1. Until the 1950s, marine scientific research was not regulated under any international treaty. Customary law provided the main source of law in this field. An increase in scientific research in the oceans and technology development after World War II, together with their gradual application to resource exploration and exploitation and military purposes, prompted the international community to develop and codify the international legal framework in this regard. 2. Marine scientific research was first considered during the first United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea in Among the four 1958 Geneva Conventions, 1 the Convention on the Continental Shelf specifically provides in its art. 5, para. 8, that [t]he consent of the coastal State shall be obtained in respect of any research concerning the continental shelf and undertaken there. Nevertheless the coastal State shall not normally 1 The four 1958 Conventions, which were adopted in Geneva on 29 April 1958, include: the Geneva Conventions on the High Seas, on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, on the Continental Shelf and on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas. 1
12 Part I withhold its consent if the request is submitted by a qualified institution with a view to pure scientific research into the physical or biological characteristics of the continental shelf, subject to the proviso that the coastal State shall have the right, if it so desires, to participate or to be represented in the research, and that in any event the results shall be published. The elements contained in art. 5 of the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf would become the basis for the development of detailed provisions of the regime for marine scientific research contained in the 1982 Convention. Marine scientific research was not specifically addressed in the Convention on the High Seas Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction ( Seabed Committee ) 3. Discussions on marine scientific research took place within the Seabed Committee to study various aspects of the problem and to indicate practical means to promote international cooperation. 3 Several proposals submitted to the Committee contained specific references to marine scientific research. 4 In 1970, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration of Principles Governing the Seabed and the Ocean Floor, and the Subsoil Thereof, Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, in which States were urged to promote international cooperation in scientific research exclusively for peaceful purposes through international programmes, publication and dissemination of information as well as the strengthening of the research capabilities of developing States. The Seabed Committee was later tasked with preparing work for the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. In its report to the Conference, the Committee had listed scientific research as one of the subjects to be discussed in the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, as well as transfer of technology, scientific research on the continental shelf and scientific research in the exclusive economic zone. 2 Yearbook of the International Law Commission, 1956, vol. II (United Nations publication, Sales No V.3.), chapter III, commentary to art. 27, para. 2, p The General Assembly established the Ad Hoc Committee to Study the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction by its resolution 2340 (XXII) of 18 December One year later, the Ad Hoc Committee was replaced by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction established under the General Assembly resolution 2467 A (XXIII) of 21 December Its terms of reference contained a specific reference to marine scientific research. 4 See for example, Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-fifth Session, Supplement No.21, (A/8021); Twenty-sixth Session, Supplement No.21, (A/8421); Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No.21, (A/8721). See also Official Records of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, Vol. 8 and 33. 2
13 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 3. Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea 4. Substantial developments took place in the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which was held from 1973 to 1982 over eleven sessions. The negotiations were conducted on the basis that nothing was agreed until everything was agreed and therefore the draft text represented a package that had to be accepted in its entirety. 5 The Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea was confronted with conflicting positions on many issues, inter alia, the distinction between pure and applied research; freedom of scientific research and coastal States control over marine scientific research, in particular, in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf and dispute settlement. The emerging new concept of an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles under the expanded coastal State s jurisdiction required new responses regarding the rights, obligations and duties of coastal and researching States. A balance needed to be found to accommodate the concerns of major researching States, mostly developed countries and coastal States, most of which were newly independent and developing States. Researching States considered that the limitations to research that would be introduced by the coastal State, would constitute an infringement on the traditional freedom of marine scientific research, which would not only adversely affect the advancement of science, but also deny its potential benefits to all nations in fields such as weather forecasting and the study of effects of ocean currents and the natural forces at work on the ocean floor. On the other hand, many developing States were promoting a marine scientific research regime which adequately protected their natural resources and guaranteed peace and development. 5. During the Conference, scientific research was addressed by the Third Committee which was also mandated to address the preservation of the marine environment, and development and transfer of marine technology. As many issues were, by nature, interrelated, the other two Committees of the Conference 6 also conducted some negotiations on marine scientific research in so far as it was necessary within their respective contexts of work. That is why in addition to Part XIII of the Convention on marine scientific research, other relevant provisions include arts. 19, 21 and 52 (innocent passage), art. 40 (transit passage), art. 54 (archipelagic sea lanes passage), arts. 56 and 62 (exclusive economic zone), art. 87 (high seas), art. 123 (enclosed or semi-closed sea), and arts. 143 and See Tommy T.B. Koh and Shanmugam Jayakumar, The Negotiating Process of the Third United Nations Conference on the law of the Sea, in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982: a commentary, Myron H. Nordquist, ed. (Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff, 1985). 6 First Committee on Seabed Mining, the Area; and Second Committee on: Territorial Sea, Innocent Passage, Straits Used for International Navigation, Archipelagic States, the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Continental Shelf and High Seas, Regime of Islands, Enclosed or Semi-enclosed Seas, and Right of Access of Land-locked States to and from the Sea and Freedom of Transit. 3
14 Part I (the Area) 7. Part XII on Protection and preservation of the marine environment, Part XIV on Development and transfer of marine technology, Part XV on Settlement of disputes and Annex VIII ( Special arbitration ), are also relevant. These provisions constitute together the first comprehensive set of rules on marine scientific research, which aim to strike a balance between various States interests. The core provisions dealing with marine scientific research are to be found in the twenty-eight arts. that constitute Part XIII of the Convention (arts ). B. General aspects of marine scientific research under the Convention 6. In addition to the specific rules regulating marine scientific research in the maritime areas defined under the Convention, some general aspects of the Convention s regime may be highlighted. 1. What is marine scientific research under the Convention? 7. The term marine scientific research is not defined in the Convention, despite the number of proposals that were made for a definition during the negotiations for the Convention, particularly during the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 8. During the Second Conference on the Law of the Sea, 8 the following general definition of marine scientific research was proposed: any study, whether fundamental or applied, intended to increase knowledge about the marine environment, including all its resources and living organisms, and embraces all related scientific activity In 1973, during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, the Third Committee continued discussing the development of a definition of marine scientific research. The following description of what was termed scientific research in the world ocean was put forward:... any fundamental or applied research and related experimental work, conducted by States and their juridical and physical persons, as well as by international organizations, which does not aim directly at industrial exploitation but is designed to obtain knowledge of all aspects of the natural processes and phenomena occurring in the ocean space, on the seabed and subsoil thereof, which is necessary for the peaceful activity of States for the further development of navigation and other 4 7 For the definition of the Area, see art. 1 (1) of the Convention on the use of terms and scope. See also para. 58 below. agreement. 8 The Second Conference on the Law of the Sea took place in 1960 for six weeks, but did not yield any 9 Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No.21, (A/8721), documents annexed to Part IV, document A/AC.138/SC.III/L.18 (Canada), Preamble, para. 2, and principle 2.
15 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea forms of utilization of the sea and also utilization of the airspace above the world ocean. 10 With this definition, marine scientific research was recognized as a right only with regard to research of no direct significance for the exploration and exploitation of marine resources, to be conducted in maritime zones not subject to the jurisdiction of coastal States Thereafter, in 1974, a draft art. 1 on definitions was proposed as follows: (a) Marine Scientific Research is any study or investigation of the marine environment and experiments related thereto; (b) Marine Scientific Research is of such a nature as to preclude any clear or precise distinction between pure scientific research and industrial or other research conducted with a view to commercial exploitation or military use. 12 Following this proposal, some concerns were expressed 13 that it was impossible to make a distinction between pure scientific research and industrial or other research, and that rather a fundamental distinction should be made between open basic scientific research, carried out for the benefit of the community, without concern for profit, and industrial research. 14 It was argued that the main difference lay in the possibility of immediate utilization of industrial research for economic purposes, while scientific research, which did not involve the same restraints on time and efficiency for the sake of specific results, yielded data which were accessible to all, were not of a secret nature, and were public property. 15 The difficulty of clearly distinguishing between research directed towards the exploration and exploitation of marine resources and research not directed towards those purposes became the core issue of the negotiations. 11. By 1975 other formulations were put forward describing marine scientific research as: (a) any study of, or related experimental work in, the marine environment that is designed to increase man s knowledge and is conducted for peaceful purposes ; 16 and (b) any study and related experimental work conducted in the marine environment designed to increase mankind s knowledge thereof Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Seabed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, vol. 8, Subcommittee III, A/AC.138/SC.III/L.31 (Bulgaria, Poland, Ukrainian SSR and USSR), arts. 1 and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982: a commentary, Myron H. Nordquist, ed. (Dordrecht, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1991), vol. IV, Part XIII, Section I, para , p Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. III (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.V.5), Trinidad and Tobago: draft arts. on marine scientific research, art. 1, paras. (a) and (b), p Ibid., vol. II (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.V.4), Third Committee, 7th meeting, paras. 11 and Ibid., 13th meeting, para Ibid., para Ibid., vol. IV (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.V.10), Bulgaria, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Czechoslovakia, German Democratic Republic, Hungary, Mongolia, Poland, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: draft arts. on marine scientific research, arts. 1 and 2, para Ibid., Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico and Nigeria: draft arts. on marine scientific research, arts. 1 and 2. 5
16 Part I 12. The Informal Single Negotiating Text 18 which was issued in 1976, provided in its draft Part III, art. 48, that: [f]or the purpose of this Convention, marine scientific research means any study or related experimental work designed to increase mankind s knowledge of the marine environment. 13. By 1977, an Informal Composite Negotiating Text had been agreed upon but it did not include a definition of marine scientific research The Convention does not contain a definition of marine scientific research. It may be noted that survey activities, prospecting and exploration and exploitation are primarily dealt with notably in Parts II, III, XI, Annex III to the Convention, as well as in the Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 and related instruments General provisions governing the conduct of marine scientific research 15. In art. 240, the Convention identifies general principles for the conduct of marine scientific research. Thus, marine scientific research shall: (a) Be conducted exclusively for peaceful purposes (this is in keeping with the general spirit of the Convention to promote the peaceful uses of the seas, as provided for in the preamble of the Convention and reiterated in its various articles, including arts. 88, 143 and 301); 21 (b) Be conducted with appropriate scientific methods and means compatible with the Convention; (c) Not unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea compatible with the Convention and shall be duly respected in the course of such uses; and 6 18 Ibid., vol. V (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.76.V.8), arts. 48 and Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. VIII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.V.4), art See, for example, The 2000 Regulations on Prospecting and Exploration for Polymetallic Nodules in the Area, available from 21 The discussion about peaceful conduct in the seas was raised during the negotiations, particularly during the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, in the context of attempts at defining marine scientific research. This eventually resulted in the phrase for peaceful purposes, as regards the conduct of marine scientific research, being incorporated into art With regard to the question of military research, art. 246, para. 3, of the Convention would appear to address all research aimed at the furtherance of knowledge in general; although this does not pointedly include or exclude research for military purposes (See Wegelein, Florian H. Th., Marine Scientific Research: The Operation and Status of Research Vessels and Other Platforms in International Law (Martinus Nijhoff publishers, 2005, p. 95).
17 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (d) Be conducted in compliance with all relevant regulations adopted in conformity with the Convention including those for the protection and preservation of the marine environment. 16. Furthermore, marine scientific research activities shall not constitute the legal basis for any claim to any part of the marine environment or its resources (art. 241). This is in keeping with the intent of similar provisions with respect to the non-appropriation of the high seas (arts. 89 and 90) and the Area (art. 137, paras. 1 and 3). 17. All States, irrespective of their geographical location, and competent international organizations have the right to conduct marine scientific research, subject to the rights and duties of other States as provided for in the Convention (art. 238). Thus, the right to conduct marine scientific research is not an absolute right since it is subject to the rights and duties of other States. 18. Although the term competent international organizations is not defined in the Convention, it may be considered to generally include intergovernmental organizations which are empowered by their constituting instruments or other rules to undertake, coordinate, or promote and facilitate the development and conduct of marine scientific research. An indicative list of such organizations is provided in Annex VIII to the Convention, art International co-operation 19. The Convention requires cooperation in marine scientific research as follows: between and among States (for example, art. 242, para. 2); between States and international organizations (for example, art. 242, para. 1); and between and among international organizations (for example, art. 278). 20. Part XIII articulates the following provisions on international cooperation: (a) States and competent international organizations are required to promote international cooperation in marine scientific research for peaceful purposes in accordance with the principle of respect for sovereignty and jurisdiction and on the basis of mutual benefit (art. 242, para. 1); (b) A State must provide, as appropriate, other States with a reasonable opportunity to obtain from it, or with its cooperation, information necessary to prevent and control damage to the health and safety of persons and to the marine environment (art. 242, para. 2); 22 See also Law of the Sea 1996, Bulletin No. 31, pp (United Nations publication). 7
18 Part I 8 (c) States and competent international organizations are also required to cooperate through the conclusion of bilateral and multilateral agreements, to create favourable conditions for the conduct of marine scientific research in the marine environment and to integrate the efforts of scientists in studying the essence of phenomena and processes occurring in the marine environment and interrelations between them (art. 243); (d) States and competent international organizations are also required to make available by publication and dissemination through appropriate channels information on proposed major programmes and their objectives, as well as knowledge resulting from marine scientific research (art. 244, para. 1); (e) States, both individually and in cooperation with other States and with competent international organizations, shall actively promote the flow of scientific data and information and the transfer of knowledge resulting from marine scientific research, especially to developing States, as well as the strengthening of the autonomous marine scientific research capabilities of developing States, through, inter alia, programmes to provide adequate education and training of their technical and scientific personnel (art. 244, para. 2). 21. Other relevant provisions in other parts of the Convention include art. 143, para. 3, which encourages the promotion of international cooperation in relation to marine scientific research in the Area. Article 123 of the Convention provides that States bordering enclosed and semi-enclosed seas should cooperate with each other in the exercise of their rights and in the performance of their duties under the Convention. They are required to endeavour, directly or through an appropriate regional organization to, inter alia, coordinate their scientific research policies and undertake joint programmes of scientific research in the enclosed or semi-enclosed sea, and invite, as appropriate, other interested States or international organizations to cooperate to this end. 22. Also particularly relevant to marine scientific research is art. 197 of the Convention, which encourages States to cooperate on a global and, as appropriate, on a regional basis, directly or through competent international organizations, in formulating and elaborating international rules, standards and recommended practices and procedures consistent with the Convention,
19 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the protection and preservation of the marine environment, taking into account characteristic regional features (see also section H of the present Part). 4. Promotion and facilitation of marine scientific research 23. States and competent international organizations have the obligation to promote and facilitate the development and conduct of marine scientific research in accordance with the Convention (art. 239). 24. States are required to promote through competent international organizations the establishment of general criteria and guidelines to assist in ascertaining the nature and implications of marine scientific research (art. 251). 25. States are required to adopt reasonable rules, regulations and procedures to promote and facilitate marine scientific research beyond their territorial sea and facilitate, subject to the provisions of their laws and regulations, access to their harbours and promote assistance for marine scientific research vessels (art. 255). C. Marine scientific research in internal waters, archipelagic waters and the territorial sea 26. Coastal States, in the exercise of their sovereignty, have exclusive rights to regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in their territorial sea. Therefore, marine scientific research in the territorial sea may only be conducted with the express consent of and under the conditions set forth by the coastal State (art. 245). In straits used for international navigation and in archipelagic sea lanes, foreign ships, including marine scientific research and hydrographic survey ships, may not carry out any research or survey activities without the prior authorization of the States bordering straits during their transit passage or archipelagic sea lanes passage (arts. 40 and 54) Note that a broad reference to any research or survey activities is used in these provisions to include all kinds of research and survey activities. With respect to the different terminology used in art. 245 (express consent) and art. 40 (prior authorization), the Drafting Committee (see Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.80.V.12)), explained in one of its reports that it should aim for standardization in translation of expressions such as consent or authorization, but that standardization of expressions within each language may not be possible. Based on the afore-mentioned explanation, it could be concluded that, in the context of arts. 245 and 40 of the Convention, consent has the same meaning as authorization. 9
20 Part I D. Marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf 1. Overview of rights and duties of the coastal State relating to the granting and withholding of consent 27. Coastal States, in the exercise of their jurisdiction, have the right to regulate, authorize and conduct marine scientific research in their exclusive economic zone and on their continental shelf. Research in those maritime areas may only be conducted with the consent of the coastal State (art. 246, paras. 1 and 2). 28. In normal circumstances, a coastal State is under a duty to grant its consent to marine scientific research to be carried out in accordance with the Convention exclusively for peaceful purposes and in order to increase scientific knowledge of the marine environment for the benefit of all mankind (art. 246, para. 3) According to art. 246, para. 5, a coastal State may, in its discretion, withhold consent for the conduct of marine scientific research in four specified cases. The information provided to the coastal State pursuant to art. 248 (see para. 38) is particularly important to the coastal State in its assessment of whether to withhold consent or not. The four cases specified in art. 246, para. 5, are the following: a. Marine scientific research projects of direct significance for resource exploration and exploitation 30. Article 246, para. 5 (a), refers to a research project which is of direct significance for the exploration and exploitation of natural resources, whether living or non-living. Such research projects may generally be considered to be those which can reasonably be expected to produce results enabling resources to be located, assessed and monitored with respect to their status and availability for commercial exploitation. 31. Notwithstanding the provisions of para. 5, coastal States may not exercise their discretion to withhold consent under subpara. (a) in respect of marine scientific research projects to be undertaken in accordance with the provisions of Part XIII on the continental shelf, beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, outside those specific areas which coastal States may at any time publicly designate as areas in which exploitation or detailed exploratory operations focused on those 24 The Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea did not make a general distinction between so-called pure scientific research and applied scientific research; art. 246 (3) and (5) apply different rules in the two scenarios. 10
21 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea areas are occurring or will occur within a reasonable period of time. Coastal States are required to give reasonable notice of the designation of such areas, as well as any modifications thereto, but shall not be obliged to give details of the operations therein (art. 246, para. 6). 32. The above provision is without prejudice to the coastal States rights over the continental shelf as established in art. 77 according to which the rights of the coastal State over its continental shelf do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on any express proclamation (art. 246, para. 7). b. Marine scientific research projects involving drilling, use of explosives or introduction of harmful substances 33. Research involving drilling into the continental shelf and the use of explosives can be regarded as examples of marine scientific research activities which can provide information of direct significance for the exploration of natural resources. In this respect, para. 5 (b) may be considered a further specification of para. 5 (a). In addition, drilling and the use of explosives have a common aspect with the third activity referred to in the subparagraph, namely research involving the introduction of harmful substances into the marine environment: they can cause harmful effects on the marine environment. c. Marine scientific research projects involving artificial islands, installations and structures 34. According to art. 246, para. 5 (c), the coastal State may, in its discretion, withhold consent to conduct marine scientific research involving the construction, operation or use of artificial islands, installations or structures as referred to in arts. 60 and 80 of the Convention. 35. The wording of the latter two arts. would seem to imply that they refer to stationary (fixed and anchored) installations and structures including those penetrating the surface of the sea, as well as those remaining entirely sub-surface. d. Marine scientific research projects containing inaccurate information or to be conducted by a State or competent international organization having outstanding obligations 36. According to art. 246, para. 5 (d), the coastal State may exercise its discretion to withhold consent if the information received from the researching State or competent international organization pursuant to art. 248 regarding the nature and objectives of the research project is inaccurate. Only information regarding the nature and objectives of the project (art. 248, para. (a)) is mentioned, thus seemingly leaving the other information to be provided pursuant to art. 248 beyond the scope of para. 5 (d). 11
22 Part I 37. The coastal State may also exercise its discretion to withhold consent if the researching State or competent international organization has outstanding obligations to that coastal State from a prior research project. It may be assumed that the coastal State may do so only when each outstanding obligation becomes overdue. 2. Procedure for requesting and granting consent a. Request by the researching State or competent international organization to conduct marine scientific research 38. At least six months in advance of the expected starting date of the research activities, a full description of the research project must be provided to the coastal State in accordance with art. 248, as follows: 12 (a) The nature and objectives of the project; (b) The method and means to be used, including name, tonnage, type and class of vessels and a description of scientific equipment; (c) The precise geographical areas in which the project is to be conducted; (d) The expected date of first appearance and final departure of the research vessels, or deployment of the equipment and its removal, as appropriate; (e) The name of the sponsoring institution, its director, and the person in charge of the project; and (f) The extent to which it is considered that the coastal State should be able to participate or to be represented in the project. 39. All communications are to be made through appropriate official channels, unless otherwise agreed (art. 250). b. Response by the coastal State 40. Article 246, para. 3, establishes the conduct of the coastal State in response to requests for consent to conduct scientific research in its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf. It provides for the coastal State to grant, in normal circumstances, its consent for marine scientific research projects by other States or competent international organizations to be carried out in accordance with the Convention. 41. With regard to the references to delays in granting consent, art. 246, para. 3, recognizes the importance for the researching State or competent
23 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea international organization to know at an early stage whether the research will be allowed to proceed. The mere absence of diplomatic relationships between the coastal and researching States does not necessarily mean that the situation is not normal (art. 246, para. 4). 42. The consent of the coastal State to a request to conduct marine scientific research in its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf can be granted either expressly (art. 246) or implicitly (art. 252). 43. Under art. 252 of the Convention, the marine scientific research project may begin six months after the date upon which the information required under art. 248 was provided by the researching State or competent international organization to the coastal State, unless the coastal State has informed the researching State or competent international organization within four months of the receipt of the communication that it does not grant its consent, or that the information given does not conform to the manifestly evident facts, or that the coastal State requires more, or that outstanding obligations exist with respect to a previous marine scientific research project carried out by that State or organization. If the coastal State does not respond at all, consent may be presumed. 44. According to art. 252, subpara. (c), the coastal State is entitled, within four months of the receipt of a request for consent, to require supplementary information relevant to conditions under art. 249 (see paras. 46, 48 and 52-53) and the information provided for under art. 248 (see para. 38). 45. If a coastal State is a member of or has a bilateral agreement with a competent international organization, which intends to undertake, directly or under its auspices, a research project in that State s exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf, the coastal State is presumed to have granted its consent for the project to be executed if it approved the project at the time the international organization took the decision to undertake the project and it has not expressed any objection within four months of the notification of the project to it by the organization (art. 247). This provision is especially relevant for research projects which require access to the maritime areas of several coastal States (see para. 103). 46. Article 249, para. 1, sets out the conditions which have to be complied with by the researching State and competent international organizations. Should the coastal State decide to grant its consent in any of the situations described in paras of this Guide, where it is not under a duty to grant consent, it has the opportunity to require any conditions for the execution of the research project it deems necessary for the protection of its interests (art. 249, para. 2). 13
24 Part I 47. Any dispute over whether a coastal State has inappropriately withheld its consent under art. 246 is subject to conciliation and the procedure set out in Annex V to the Convention (see section J of the present Part). 3. Conduct during marine scientific research a. Participation or representation by the coastal State 48. When undertaking marine scientific research in the exclusive economic zone or on the continental shelf of a coastal State, researching States and competent international organizations are subject to a series of obligations set out in art In particular, they are required, inter alia, to ensure the right of the coastal State to participate in or be represented in the project, especially on board research vessels and other craft or scientific research installations, when practicable, without payment of any remuneration to the scientists of the coastal State and without obligation to contribute towards the costs of the project. b. Rights of neighbouring landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States 49. It should be noted that certain rights for information and participation are also granted to neighbouring landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States with regard to marine scientific research conducted in the exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf of the coastal State, as set out in art c. Suspension or cessation of marine scientific research activities 50. Article 253 provides that a coastal State has the right to require the suspension of marine scientific research activities in progress within its exclusive economic zone or on its continental shelf either if they are not being conducted in accordance with the information communicated according to art. 248, upon which the consent of the coastal State was based, or if the researching State or international organization fails to comply with the provisions of art. 249 concerning the rights of the coastal State with respect to the research project. 51. The coastal State may require the cessation of marine scientific research activities if any of the above situations are not rectified within a reasonable period of time or if non-compliance with the provisions of art. 248 amounts to a major change in the research project (art. 253, paras. 2 and 3). 14
25 A revised guide to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 4. Rights and obligations after the completion of the research 52. Following completion of the research, the researching State has a number of obligations, as described in art. 249, including: (a) Providing the coastal State, at its request, with the preliminary reports and final results and conclusions; (b) Providing access for the coastal State, at its request, to all data and samples derived from the project and with data and samples which may be divided without detriment to their scientific value; (c) If requested, providing the coastal State with an assessment of the data, samples and research results or providing assistance in their assessment and interpretation; (d) Making internationally available the research results subject to the coastal State s discretion in withholding consent under art. 246, para. 5; and (e) Removing the scientific research installations or equipment after the research is completed, unless otherwise agreed. 53. Article 302 of the Convention states that [ ] nothing in this Convention shall be deemed to require a State Party, in the fulfilment of its obligations under this Convention, to supply information the disclosure of which is contrary to the essential interests of its security. The understanding of the negotiators of the Convention was that this article, did not detract from the obligations under the Convention concerning marine scientific research and transfer of technology. 25 E. Marine scientific research beyond areas of national jurisdiction 54. The conduct of marine scientific research beyond areas of national jurisdiction is governed by the general principles of Part XIII of the Convention (see para. 15), as well as specific provisions related to marine scientific research in the high seas/water column beyond the exclusive economic zone and the Area. The question of whether marine scientific research in the water column beyond areas of national jurisdiction should be dealt with in the same context 25 Report of the President on the work of the Informal Plenary on General Provisions, in Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XIV (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.V.2). 15
26 Part I as marine scientific research on the seabed and subsoil was the subject of discussions at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea Marine scientific research in the high seas and water column beyond the exclusive economic zone 55. All States, irrespective of their geographical location, and competent international organizations have the right to conduct marine scientific research in the water column beyond the limits of the exclusive economic zone (art. 257). 27 The reference to all States, irrespective of their geographical location ensures that not only coastal States, but also landlocked and other geographically disadvantaged States, have the right to conduct marine scientific research in the high seas. 56. Freedom of scientific research is expressly referred to in the Convention as a freedom of the high seas (art. 87). While art. 257 uses the term marine scientific research, art. 87 uses the term scientific research. 28 Under art. 87, the freedom of scientific research is subject to Part VI on the continental shelf, and Part XIII on marine scientific research. This acknowledges the fact that the continental shelf, over which a coastal State has sovereign rights, may extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines. Also a coastal State may choose not to establish any exclusive economic zone, leaving all superjacent waters as high seas. Freedom of scientific research is to be exercised with due regard for the interests of other States in their exercise of the freedoms of the high seas, and also with due regard for the rights related to activities in the Area (art. 87). 29 The freedom envisioned in art. 87 is not limited to marine scientific research but also extends to such activities as hydrographic surveys. 26 The text agreed upon in informal meetings of the Third Committee during the second session read: In the International area, all States, whether coastal or land-locked, and appropriate international organizations have the freedom to carry out marine scientific research related to the seabed, subsoil and superjacent waters. See CRP/SC.Res/40, art 7, in Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. X, Renate Platzöder, ed. (Dobbs Ferry, NY, Oceana Publications, 1986), pp ; see also CRP/Sc.Res./39, art. V, ibid., pp ; and CRP/Sc.Res./40/rev.1, art. 4, ibid., p.327. Later alternative formulations are contained in Texts submitted to or elaborated by the informal meetings of the Third Committee on items 13 and 14 (marine scientific research and development and transfer of technology), CRP/Sc.Res/41, ibid., pp For the various iterations of art. 257, see Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. IV (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.75.V.10) Part II, art. 26; vol. V (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.76.V.8) art. 69; and vol. VIII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.78.V.4) art Subsequent revisions to what became art. 257 of the Convention incorporated drafting suggestions from the Drafting Committee, see vol. XII (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.80.V.12); vol. XV (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.83.V.4). 28 The Drafting Committee, established during the Conference to harmonize words and expressions recurring throughout the informal composite negotiating text, pointed to a number of inconsistencies in terms, including between art. 87 and art The Committee, however, only recommended that the term marine scientific research be used consistently in Part XIII and that this term also could be used in art No mention was made of arts. 87 and 257 in the recommendations of the Committee. See Official Records of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, vol. XIV (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.V.2). 29 Article 1 of the Convention defines activities in the Area as all activities of exploration for, and exploitation of, the resources of the Area. 16