U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

Table 29.1 (continued) U.S. Participation in International Ocean AgreementsAgreement NameDescriptionBiodiversity and WildlifeInternational Conventionfor the Regulation ofWhaling (ICRW)Convention on Wetlandsof InternationalImportance, Especiallyas Waterfowl Habitat(Ramsar Convention)Convention onInternational Trade inEndangered Species(CITES)Convention Concerningthe Protection of theWorld Cultural andNatural HeritageThe ICRW establishes the International Whaling<strong>Commission</strong>, which regulates commercial andaboriginal subsistence whaling.The Ramsar Convention provides the frameworkfor national action and international cooperationfor the conservation and wise use of wetlands. Thesystem currently includes 1368 wetland sites, totaling120 million hectares (about 296 million acres).The goal of CITES is to ensure that internationaltrade in wild animals and plants does notthreaten their survival. Trade in listed species isregulated through a permit system.The World Heritage Convention defines the kindof natural or cultural sites which are eligible forinscription on the World Heritage List, and setsout the duties of State Parties in identifyingpotential sites and their role in protecting andpreserving them.Date ofAgreementDateEnteredInto ForceHas theU.S.Signed?Has theU.S.Ratified?12/02/46 11/10/48 Yes Yes02/02/71 12/21/75 Yes Yes03/03/73 07/01/75 Yes Yes11/23/72 12/17/75 Not YesapplicableChange, and Agenda 21—a comprehensive set of international guidelines for achievingsustainable development in all areas, including the oceans and coasts.Another product of the Earth Summit was the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD), which aims to conserve biological diversity worldwide while providing guidancefor the sustainable use of its components and the equitable sharing of any benefits derivedfrom the use of genetic resources. In 1995, the parties to the CBD issued the Jakarta Mandate,which initiated a marine and coastal resource work program focused on five topics: integratedocean and coastal area management; ocean and coastal protected areas; sustainableuse of ocean and coastal living resources; marine aquaculture; and non-native species.Most nations have ratified the CBD, but the United States has not, largely because ofdivergent views regarding the ownership of genetic resources. Many coastal nations regulateaccess by foreign scientists and explorers to genetic resources in waters under theirjurisdiction. These nations often seek royalties from the commercialization of theseresources, including pharmaceutical products resulting from bioprospecting. The UnitedStates has expressed concerns about balancing legal protections for private biotechnologyinvestors with the rights of sovereign nations to their resources.Because the United States is not a party to the CBD, the nation cannot directlyparticipate in the development of the CBD regime or in negotiations on its protocols.For example, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which provides a framework for the safetransfer, handling, and use of living modified organisms, has important implications for U.S.economic sectors. Other CBD areas of interest to the United States include efforts to combatinvasive non-native species, creation of compilations of marine scientific data, and facilitationof member nation negotiations concerning access and collection agreements for scientists.Recommendation 29–2The National Ocean Council should coordinate an expedited review and analysis of theocean-related components of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity andrecommend to the U.S. Department of State whether, from an ocean perspective, ratificationof this treaty would be beneficial to U.S. interests.448 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY