What laws govern the sea? (Secondary) - Lesson One

Lesson 1 - What international laws apply to the sea?
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Slide 1: Slide
Social StudiesHistory+311th,12th Grade

This lesson contains 10 slides, with interactive quiz and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Introduction

Lesson 1 – What international laws apply to the sea? This lesson introduces the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, focusing initially on Part VII High Seas. Learning activities:  Writing and discussion exercises on the convention, freedoms and obligations on vessels, and prohibited activities.

Instructions


Time: 45 minutes

Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Instructions

Items in this lesson

Lesson 1 - What international laws apply to the sea?

Slide 1 - Slide

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd.  Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. 
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Watch  the video

Slide 2 - Slide

During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.
LAWS OF THE SEA

71% of this planet is ocean.

Nearly 50% of the planet is international waters.


Slide 3 - Slide

This course looks at the laws of the sea.  These laws impact all movement in the ocean, but we will focus on how it relates to the commercial fishing industry and illegal fishing activity.
The ocean covers 71% of this planet.  Nearly 50% of the planet is classified as being international waters.
Ask students “What do think we mean by international waters?”

Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.
INTERNATIONAL WATERS

the areas of the sea that are not under the jurisdiction of any country.

Slide 4 - Slide

International waters are defined as ‘the areas of the sea that are not under the jurisdiction of any country’.
What laws apply to the seas?

Slide 5 - Mind map

Ask students: “What laws do you think apply to the seas?



Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Slide 6 - Slide

The ocean is covered by the ‘UN Convention on the Law of the Sea’ which was signed in December 1982, by agreement of over 160 countries.
Ask students “What do you think this convention might cover?”

Illegal Fishing
Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.
UN CONVENTION ON LAW OF THE SEA
The UN convention covers a range of provisions including:
-    Territorial seas.
-    Exclusive economic zones.
-    High seas provisions, which covers areas like::
 o    Flag state rules 
o    Duty to render assistance  
o    Management of living resources in sea and marine mammals
o    Protecting marine environment  
o    Pollution
o    International cooperation

Slide 7 - Slide

The UN convention covers a range of provisions including:
-    Limits of and passage in territorial seas.
-    Exclusive economic zones.
-    Rules for merchant and government owned ships – commercial and non-commercial use.
-    Passage through international waters, such as sea lanes.
-    High seas provisions such as;
o    No claim allowed
o    Nationality of ships
o    Right of passage
o    Flag state rules
o    Duty to render assistance
o    Piracy
o    Management of living resources in sea and marine mammals
o    Protecting marine environment
o    Pollution
o    International cooperation

Over 100 million tons of fish caught each year.
Part VII High seas

Slide 8 - Slide

Part VII High Seas Section 1 provisions of the Convention sets out the freedoms of the sea, rights of navigation and flag state provisions.  Which is the right of every state to sail ships, flying its flag on the high seas.  We will discuss more about flag states in a later lesson.
First, we are going to take a closer look at this section convention.   Ask students to read this section.   https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm

www.seashepherdglobal.org

Slide 9 - Slide

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LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Slide 10 - Slide

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.