U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea: Living Resources Provisions

Publication Date: September 2003

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Environment

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Abstract:

This short report describes provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to living marine resources and discusses how these provisions comport with current U.S. marine policy. As presently understood and interpreted, these provisions generally reflect current U.S. policy with respect to living marine resource management, conservation, and exploitation. As such, they incur little new U.S. obligation, commitment, or encumbrance, while similarly providing few beneficial new privileges. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.