MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, NATIONAL JURISDICTION AND ARGO IN WEST AFRICA

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• MARINE ECOSYSTEMS, NATIONAL JURISDICTION AND ARGO
  IN WEST AFRICA
• BY
• LARRY AWOSIKA PhD
• Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine
  Research
• Lagos

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DISCLAIMER

• The views expressed in this presentation do not
  represent the opinion of the United Nations, the
  Commission on the Limits of the Continental
  Shelf, State parties to UNCLOS, any other UN
  Agency or private organisations.

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• MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
• Marine ecosystems are a part of the largest
  aquatic system on the planet, covering over 70
  of the Earth's surface. The habitats that make up
  this vast system range from the productive
  nearshore regions to the barren ocean floor. Some
  examples of important marine ecosystems are
• Oceans
• Estuaries and salt marshes
• Lagoons
• Tropical Communities (Mangrove Forests and Coral
  Reefs)
• Rocky subtidal (Kelp Beds and Seagrass Beds)
• Intertidal (Rocky, sandy, and muddy shores)

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• CHARACTERISTICS
• Relatively large regions on the order of
  200,000 km2 or greater,
• distinct bathymetry,
• hydrography,
• productivity, and
• tropically dependent populations.

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• Marine ecosystems are home to a host of different
  species ranging from tiny planktonic organisms
  that comprise the base of the marine food web
  (i.e., phytoplankton and zooplankton) to large
  marine mammals like the whales, manatees, and
  seals. Many fish species reside in marine
  ecosystems including flounder, scup, sea bass,
  monkfish, squid, mackerel, butterfish, and spiny
  dogfish. Birds are also plentiful including
  shorebirds, gulls, wading birds, and terns.

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According to the World Resources Center, coastal
habitats alone account for approximately 1/3 of
all marine biological productivity, and estuarine
ecosystems (i.e., salt marshes, seagrasses,
mangrove forests) are among the most productive
regions on the planet. In addition, other marine
ecosystems such as coral reefs, provide food and
shelter to the highest levels of marine diversity
in the world.
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The Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem is
characterized by its tropical climate. It owes
its unity to the Guinea Current, an eastward flow
that is fed by the North Equatorial Counter
Current (NECC) off the Liberian coast.
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Benguela LME borders the Atlantic Ocean is
defined by the Benguela Current. It is
characterized by its temperate climate. It is a
western boundary ecosystem, and the strongest
wind-driven coastal upwelling system known.
Climate is the primary force driving the LME,
with intensive fishing as the secondary driving
force
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The Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem is
bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and is
characterized by its temperate climate. This LME,
situated off the coast of Northwest Africa, shows
major upwelling and other seasonal nutrient
enrichments. Climate is the primary force driving
the LME, with intensive fishing as the secondary
driving force.
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MANAGEMENT OF MARINE ECOSYSTEM TOOLS

1. International conventions
2. Regional conventions, protocols and activities
3. National legislation and activities
4. Institutional infrastructure and human resources
5. Cooperation

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A TOOL FOR PRESERVING THE OCEAN AND THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENT

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the
  Sea (UNCLOS) adopted in 1982 consists of a set of
  comprehensive legal framework dealing with all
  aspects of mans activities and interaction with
  the oceans and seas. The Convention sets out the
  legal framework within which all maritime
  activities should be consistent

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• THE MAJOR AREAS ADDRESSED BY UNCLOS
• Limits of marine zones. (Territorial sea,
  contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone, and
  continental shelf)
• Rights of navigation, including through straights
  used for international navigation.
• Peace and security on the oceans and seas.
• Conservation and management of living marine
  resources
• Protection and preservation of the marine
  environment
• Scientific research
• Activities on the Sea bed beyond national
  jurisdictions
• Procedures for settling disputes between
  States.

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MARITIME ZONES

• Territorial sea (TS) ART. 4 12 NM LIMIT
• Contiguous zone (CZ) ART. 33 24M LIMIT
• Exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ART. 57 200M
  LIMIT
• Extended continental shelf (ECZ) Art 76 350M
  limit
• UNCLOS requires States to deposit all
  coordinates of THE ABOVE claims with the United
  Nations.

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Some West African State Parties to International
Law of the Sea Convention
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Summary of claims to maritime spaces under
regional national jurisdiction of some States in
West Africa
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LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTIONPART XIIIMARINE
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Article 238 RIGHT TO CONDUCT MARINE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH 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 this Convention. Article 239 PROMOTION OF
MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH States and competent
international organizations shall promote and
facilitate the development and conduct of marine
scientific research in accordance with this
Convention.
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UNCLOS Article 240GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE
CONDUCT OF MARINE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

• In the conduct of marine scientific research the
  following principles shall apply
• (a) marine scientific research shall be conducted
  exclusively for peaceful purposes
• (b) marine scientific research shall be conducted
  with appropriate scientific methods and means
  compatible with this Convention
• (c) marine scientific research shall not
  unjustifiably interfere with other legitimate
  uses of the sea compatible with this Convention
  and shall be duly respected in the course of such
  uses
• (d) marine scientific research shall be conducted
  in compliance with all relevant regulations
  adopted in conformity with this Convention
  including those for the protection and
  preservation of the marine environment

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• IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK IN WEST AFRICA

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UN GA RESOLUTION 2004

• Marine science
• PARA 81. Calls upon States, individually, or in
  collaboration with each other or with relevant
  international organizations and bodies, to
  improve understanding and knowledge of the deep
  sea, including, in particular, the extent and
  vulnerability of deep sea biodiversity and
  ecosystems, by increasing their marine scientific
  research activities in accordance with the
  Convention

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ARGO IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK IN WEST AFRICA

• WEST AFRICAN STATES can assert the right of
  jurisdiction over marine scientific research
  within its EEZ. While international law, of
  course, provides for this right.
• West African states should encourage such
  research because there are many benefits to be
  derived from marine scientific research.

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REGIONAL FRAMEWORK

• IOC IOCEA REGIONAL ACTIVITIES AND NETWORK
• UNEP ABDIJAN CONVENTION NETWORK
• UNIDO LMES
• International and bilateral NOAA, IFERMER, ETC

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REGIONAL PROGRAMMES

• ODINAFRICA
• IODE
• GOOS AFRICA
• GCLME
• BCLME
• EXISTING IMPLEMETATION FRAMEWORK OF ALL THESE
  PROGRAMMES COULD BE HANDY FOR ARGO IN WEST AFRICA

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NATIONAL FRAMEWORK

• NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC CENTERS
• UNIVERSITIES
• FISHERIES RESEARCH CENTERS

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ARGO IN WEST AFRICA

• COLLABORATION IS THE KEY
• ARGO UTILISING UN agencies should utilize
  regional and national settings and framework to
  ensure that country needs are understood, to
  assure coordination to meet both country and
  regionally-defined needs.

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CONCLUSION

• Effective management of marine resources
  particularly offshore requires an understanding
  of the general morphology of the ocean.
• The research community will benefit from the data
  from ARGO floats.
• Results of which can be used for industrial,
  scientific and management purposes.

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T H A N K S F O R L I S T E R N I N G