Bernaerts' Guide _UNCLOS 1982
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Book page 54-55

 PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE AREA
Section: Part XI, Articles 133-191
 

Principal Articles: 133-149
Principles Governing the Area - UNCLOS 1982The Area is defined as the sea-bed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;[1] in other words, it consists of the entire ocean floor which is not subject to sovereign rights of coastal states in an exclusive economic zone or the continental shelf ("the outer shelf').[2] The water surface above the area is the high seas.[3] While the latter is governed by the principle of freedom of the seas, the Area has been declared the common heritage of mankind.[4] Although this expression is an important political manifest, it is not a recognized legal term which would be directly applicable. The declaration of the common heritage is to be put into effect according to the following principles:

First: All rights to the resources, which means all solid, liquid, or gaseous minerals, including polymetallic nodules,[5] in situ in the Area,[6] and to archaeological and historical objects[7] are vested in mankind as a whole.[8] An international organization, the Sea-Bed Authority,[9] is to act on behalf of mankind;[10] 
     Second: All activities of exploration for and exploitation of the resources from the Area are to be carried out for the benefit of mankind[11] and the benefits shared on a non-discriminatory basis which is to provide for the equitable sharing of financial and other economic benefits;[12]  
    Third: The Area is open to use by all states exclusively for peaceful purposes.[13] The states are to adhere to the Convention and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the interest of maintaining peace and security;[14]   
    Fourth: All states are to be given the opportunity to participate in activities in the Area, and monopolization must be avoided;[15]
    Fifth: In particular, special attention is to be paid to developing countries;[16] 
    Sixth: The Authority has the power necessary to exercise its functions as set forth in Part XI and is to adopt all rules and regulations required for this purpose[17].

[1] Art. 1 Subpara. 1(1) ,  
[2]
Art. 57, 76, 134, 142,  
[3]
Art. 135, 86,  
[4]
Art. 136, Preamble,   
[5] Art. 133, Subpara. (a),   
[6] Art. 1, Subpara. 1(1-3),  
[7]
Art. 149,   
[8] Art. 137, Para . 2, , 
[9] Art. 156,  
[10] Art. 137, Para . 2; Art. 153, Para.1

[11] Art. 140, Para . 1,   
[12] Art. 140, Para . 2,   
[13] Art. 141,   
[14] Art. 138; Art. 301,    
[15] Art. 150, Subpara. (g),   
[16] Art. 140, 143-144, 148,  
[17]
Art. 157, Para . 2; Annex III, Art.17; (145-147),  
[18]
Art. 143, Para . 2; 256,   
[19]
Art. 144; 274; Annex III, Art. 5

[20] Art. 145-146,   
[21] Art. 147,  
[22]
Art. 138,   
[23] Art. 143, Para . 3,  
[24]
Art. 139, Para . 1,  
[25] Art. 1, Para., 2; Annex IX, Art. 6,    [26] Art. 139, Para . 2; Art. 304, Annex III, Art. 4, Para . 4

 The Authority is responsible for promoting and encouraging the conduct of marine scientific research in the Area[18] and the acquisition and transfer to developing countries of technology and scientific knowledge[19]. Furthermore, the Authority must with respect to activities in the Area adopt rules for the protection of the marine environment and human life[20] and the use of installations[21].States Parties may, in accordance with their obligation to act according to the Convention and international law[22], conduct marine scientific research in the Area, and are in any case obligated to promote international co-operation in such research[23] States are responsible for ensuring that any activities in the Area, whether they themselves or natural or juridical person of their nationality carry them out, are effectively controlled and that any such undertakings are carried out in conformity with Part XI[24]. States Parties and entities of the same status[25] are liable for damages caused by their failure to carry out their responsibilities under the Convention[26].

[1] Art. 1 Subpara. 1(1) ,   [2] Art. 57, 76, 134, 142,   [3] Art. 135, 86,   [4] Art. 136, Preamble,   [5] Art. 133, Subpara. (a),   [6] Art. 1, Subpara. 1(1-3),   [7] Art. 149,   [8] Art. 137, Para . 2, , [9] Art. 156,   [10] Art. 137, Para . 2; Art. 153, Para.1,   [11] Art. 140, Para . 1,   [12] Art. 140, Para . 2,   [13] Art. 141,   [14] Art. 138; Art. 301,    [15] Art. 150, Subpara. (g),   [16] Art. 140, 143-144, 148,   [17] Art. 157, Para . 2; Annex III, Art.17; (145-147),   [18] Art. 143, Para . 2; 256,    [19] Art. 144; 274; Annex III, Art. 5,   [20] Art. 145-146,    [21] Art. 147,   [22] Art. 138,   [23] Art. 143, Para . 3,   [24] Art. 139, Para . 1,   [25] Art. 1, Para., 2; Annex IX, Art. 6,    [26] Art. 139, Para . 2; Art. 304, Annex III, Art. 4, Para . 4,    _________________________________________

Further Readings :  - Sea-Bed- Common Heritage of Mankind”. (Introduction),      - New Economic Order? (Introduction);   - The Area-The Deep Sea-Bed. (Commentary)

Next page 56-57

Book published:
1988 Fairplay/UK,
2005 (reprint) by

Trafford Publishing,
1663 Liberty Drive Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403, Canada.

 
329 pages, ISBN 1-4120-7665-x;


Available via online-contributer 


 
 

            

 


 
Online – Edition
1988/2006

 
Bernaerts' Guide to the 
1982 United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea

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Bernaerts Guide -UNCLOS 1982

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Preface of the reprint in 2005

More than 15 years ago FAIRPLAY PUBLICATIONS Ltd, Coulsdon, Surrey, England, published the book "Bernaerts' Guide to the Law of the Sea - The 1982 United Nations Convention". The guiding potential of the book to find access to the Law of the Sea Convention is still given. Internet technology and publishing on demand invite to provide the interested reader and researcher with this tool again. Only the Status of the Convention (ratification etc) has been updated and instead of the Final Act, the book edition includes the "Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea" of 1994. The corresponding web site neither includes the text of the 1982 Convention, nor the Agreement of 1994. The thorough Index of the 1988 edition is reproduced without changes.
Arnd Bernaerts, October 2005,
Comments 1988-1990
___"an invaluable guide to the understanding and implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea"
Satya N. Nandan, U.N. Undersecretay, in: Book Foreword, 1988
__"clearly presented" R.R. Churchill, in: Maritime Policy & Management 1989, p. 340
__"the (book's) concept, which is so wonderful simple, is exactly the factor which makes the book so useful for both the novice as well as the person with extensive experience"
M. Bonefeld, in: Verfassung und Recht, 1989, pp. 83-85
__"the work contains much useful background information…." R.W. Bentham, in: Journal of Energy & Natural Resource Law, 1989, p. 336
__"Bernaerts has saved us a struggle" JG, in: Fairplay Shipping Weekly Magazin, 13th October 1988, p. 33
__"this is probably the best edition on the Convention to put into the hands of students"
A.V. Lowe, in: Int'l and Comparative Law Quarterly 1990, p. 16
__"it will be an invaluable reference tool and should sit on the book shelves of policy makers and all others who are involved in maritime matters"
Vivian I. Forbes, in: The Indian Ocean Review, May 1990, p.10

Bernaerts’s Guide to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

FOREWORD of the 1988 edition
by Satya N. Nandan
 
Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Law of the Sea Office for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

Revolutionary changes have taken place in the International Law of the Sea since 1945. The process of change was accelerated in the last two decades by the convening in 1973 of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea. The protracted negotiations, spanning over a decade, culminated in the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982. By 9 December 1984, the closing date for signature, 159 signatures were appended to the Convention, the largest number for any such multilateral instrument in the history of international relations.

The Convention, which was adopted as a comprehensive package, introduced a new equity in the relationship among states with respect to the uses of the ocean and the allocation of its resources. It deals, inter alia, with sovereignty and jurisdiction of states, navigation and marine transport, over flight of aircraft, marine pollution, marine scientific research, marine technology, conservation and exploitation of marine living resources, the development and-exploitation of marine non-living resources in national and international areas, and unique provisions dealing with the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the new regime.

There is no doubt that as we approach the 21st century, more and more attention will be paid to the uses of the oceans and the development of their resources. It is important, therefore, that these developments should take place within a widely accepted legal framework so that there is certainty as to the rights and obligations of all states. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides that framework. It establishes a standard for the conduct of states in maritime matters. It is thus a major instrument for preventing conflicts among states.

The convention and its annexes contain over 400 articles. For many it may be a formidable undertaking to grasp the substance and structure of it without making a considerable investment in time and energy. Mr Bernaerts' guide, therefore, is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on the convention. It provides a most useful reference tool which will benefit administrators and policy makers, as well as scholars. It makes the convention accessible to the uninitiated and refreshes, at a glance, the memories of the initiated. With meticulous references and graphic presentations of the provisions of the convention, Mr Bernaerts has given to the international community an invaluable guide to the understanding and implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
April 1988


PREFACE (extract) of the 1988 edition

 
The reader will be aware that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the first constitution of the oceans, a ground-breaking document in many respects. He or she might also have made the discovery that the full text of the Convention is immediately accessible only to experts. If the Convention were only a treaty consisting of straightforward technical regulatory provisions, it could be left to them with a clear conscience. But the Convention is to a large extent a political document and, as such, is expected to influence significantly the development of relations among the states in the world community; for this reason, a wide-spread knowledge of the scope, goals, and regulatory framework of the Convention can only serve to further the aims of the document and would surely follow the intentions of the many men and women who made this Convention their life-work, such as Arvid Pardo (Malta), Hamilton Shirtey Amerasinghe (Sri Lanka), Tommy T. B. Koh (Singapore), and Satya N. Nandan (Fiji), to name only a few of the hundreds who worked on the preparation of this Convention.
 
As the reader uses the Guide (Part II), he will find that many provisions of the Convention are much easier to understand if one knows the basic framework within which a particular regulation is placed. The Guide aims to provide this framework, with reference to the text of the Convention and, in addition, t& the supporting Commentary of Part III, which describes the overall context of the major terms arid concepts. The Introduction of Part I sketches the historical background of the Convention and some of the general effects. A detailed index at the end of the book will be of assistance in finding specific subjects.

 

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