The Ministry of Transport of China has published (9 July 2018) an opinion letter on the draft “Ship Emission Control Area Adjustment Plan”. The draft plan proposes the extension of China’s domestic emission control areas (ECA) to the entire coastline. Accordingly, the “Implementation Plan on Domestic Emission Control Areas in Waters of the Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta and Bohai Rim (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei)” could be made applicable to any areas within 12 nautical miles of the coast, as well as to Hainan waters. The draft plan aims at “accelerating the construction of an ecological civilization” and could become effective as from 2019. Under this draft plan, ships sailing and docking in the ECA should use fuels with a SOX content of 0.5% or less; from January 1, 2020, ships berthing in the ECA should use fuel of 0.1% or less. For Hainan waters, the draft plan mentions stricter standards to be applied from January 1, 2020, stating that fuels used in navigation and berthing should both be at or under the 0.1% threshold. In addition, the draft plan also aims at limiting NOX emissions, strenghtening the applicable 2016 standard (see Limits and measurement methods for exhaust pollutants from marine engines (China I, II)). The opinion letter may be found here (in Chinese). More information is available here (in Chinese) and here (in Chinese).
Monthly Archives: July 2018
Moot Court: Chinese Society of the Law of the Sea, 2018
The Chinese Society of the Law of the Sea (CSLOS) is organizing its first International Law of the Sea Moot Court Competition. The event will be hosted by the China University of Political Science and Law and it will take place on October 27 – 28, 2018 in Beijing, China. The “Case Concerning the Interpretation of UNCLOS and Delimitation of Maritime Boundaries”, opposing the “Republic of Tranquilita” to the “Republic of Independent Marinnes”, has already been made available here. Teams that are interested in participating in the competition of this year must register before August 15, 2018. More information can be found here.
Filed under Competitions
EU-China Blue Partnership for the Oceans
During the 20th EU-China Summit, 16 July 2018 (Beijing, China) the European Union and China have signed an ocean partnership agreement, entitled, Blue Partnership for the Oceans: towards better ocean governance, sustainable fisheries and a thriving maritime economy. China had expressed its interest in such a partnership at previous high-level dialogues on oceans affairs (2017).
See further, the EU press release and Joint Statement (para. 33).
Filed under State Practice
FAO: Public Release of Global Record Information System
Following its launch in April 2017, The Information System of the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels, was released to the general public on 9 July 2018. Data is provided by the official state authorities (reportedly 48 to-date) who remain responsible.
For more information see the Information System and press releases (2), (3).
Filed under International Organizations
EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement renewal concluded
The fifth negotiating session between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco for the renewal of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement and its Protocol concluded 20 July 2018. Both parties will now proceed with their respective legislative processes to ratify the agreement. The Moroccan fishing zone includes waters in the Sahara region (art. 1). Following the previously reported CJEU Decision on this issue, the European Commission states the text that is negotiated provides for strict provisions on the geographical and social distribution of benefits. The Sahrawi delegate minister for Europe responded “neither Western Sahara nor the waters adjacent to it are part of Morocco or its exclusive economic zone”.
For more information see the press releases of the EU (2), Morocco and Sahara Press Service.
Filed under State Practice
FAO: The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018
The FAO published its The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018, 9 July 2018. SOFIA reports provide a “comprehensive, objective and global view of capture fisheries and aquaculture, including associated policy issues” (FAO). Notably, in 2015 fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels decreased to 66.9%, whilst stocks fished at biologically unsustainable levels increased to 33.1%. Among the FAO’s statistical areas, the Mediterranean and Black Sea had the highest percentage of unsustainable stocks, at 62.2%.
For further information, see the full report, or SOFIA 2018: in brief. Other languages are available here.
Filed under International Organizations
Call for papers: The EU as a Global Actor in Maritime Security
Leiden Law School is hosting a conference on The EU as a Global Actor in Maritime Security: Competences – Obligations – Accountability. This event is co-organised by four Interest Groups of the European Society of International Law and takes place on 25 and 26 October 2018 in Leiden, the Netherlands. The aim is to explore what competences the EU has to act in the maritime domain, what obligations it is bound by when doing so, and how judicial oversight can be ensured. Abstracts should not be longer than 500 words and submitted no later than 30 June 2018. Registration to attend the event is open until 15 September 2018. The call for papers may be found here. More information about the event is available here.
De Maribus 