Sustaining the Unknown Seas: Changes in U.S. Ocean Policy and Regulation Since Rio '92

February 2002
Citation:
32
ELR 10190
Issue
2
Author
Robin Kundis Craig

Introduction

Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet.1 With an average depth "about five times the average elevation on land,"2 the world's oceans hold "about 97% of the total water on earth"—a massive amount compared to the 0.02% of the earth's water found in inland lakes, channels, and seas.3 Oceans were the cradle of life on earth, supporting primitive life forms that arose "approximately 3.5 to 3.7 billion years ago."4 Today, scientists estimate that, conservatively, "more than 250,000 different types of plants and animals live in oceans"; some estimates run as high as 10 million species.5 In addition, water evaporating from oceans drives the earth's hydrological cycle6; "seawater dissolves large quantities of existing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere"7; and oceans play a significant role in the earth's weather.8

Despite the obvious importance of the oceans to the well-being of the world, however, our knowledge of this vast expanse is extremely limited. "We are better informed about the Moon and Mars than about the bottom of the ocean floor; we know more about the life cycle of stars than those of the sperm whale, giant squid, and many of the creatures sought by the world's fishing fleets."9 Given this ignorance, for much of history humans have looked at the ocean's size and refused to believe that they could do it any real harm. As little as a quarter of a century ago, the sustainability of the oceans seemed like a non-issue.10

[Editors Note: In June 1992, at the United National Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, the nations of the world formally endorsed the concept of sustainable development and agreed to a plan of action for achieving it. One of those nations was the United States. In September 2002, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, these nations will gather in Johannesburg to review progress in the 10-year period since UNCED and to identify steps that need to be taken next. In anticipation of the Rio + 10 summit conference, Prof. John C. Dernbach is editing a book that assesses progress that the United States has made on sustainable development in the past 10 years and recommends next steps. The book, which is scheduled to be published by the Environmental Law Institute in June 2002, is comprised of chapters on various subjects by experts from around the country. This Article will appear as a chapter in the book. Further information on the book will be available at www.eli.org or by calling 1-800-433-5120 or 202-939-3844.]

Robin Kundis Craig is an Associate Professor of Law at Western New England College School of Law. She received her J.D. in 1996 from the Lewis & Clark School of Law; her Ph.D. in literature and science in 1993, from the University of California; and her M.A. in Writing About Science in 1986 from the Johns Hopkins University. In addition, from 1986 to 1988, Professor Craig taught marine biology and island ecology at the Catalina Island Marine Institute, Avalon, California.

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