Marine Policy & Law List

Fundaci�n Terram, one of Chile�s oldest environmental organizations, works on urban and rural environmental issues, including marine conservation. They contribute to the creation of a country development model, based on democracy, transparency, respect for rights, environmental justice, protection of nature and care for the environment. Their current work is focused on the theme of the use of nature and natural resources, including Climate Change, Water, Biodiversity, Pollution, Territorial Planning, Mining, Energy and Fishing and Salmon Farming.

The Global Ocean Health Program is a project of the National Fisheries Conservation Center, which focuses on adapting to, mitigating, and combating the effects of ocean acidification, warming, hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and sea level rise. The aim is to protect seafood at the source while the oceans become "hot, sour, and breathless." This includes developing strategies for strengthening and conserving fisheries, ecosystems, and opportunities for ocean user groups, scientists, policy makers and conservation advocates to engage each other constructively.

Green Fins comes with the subtitle 'Protecting Coral Reefs Through Sustainable Tourism'. The initiative by The Reef-World Foundation-UNEP aims to: 'educate and empower people to reduce pressures on coral reefs by adopting sustainable tourism measures'. They focus on marine tourism activities operating in South East Asia, Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, working with business operators, communities and governments, helping to implement environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry through a code of conduct. See their website for details of approved operators.

Greenovation Hub(GHub) is an independent environmental think tank with a global outlook, registered with the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. They work to promote sound climate and environmentally friendly policies through research, advocacy, negotiations, education and dialogue. One of their projects is focused on Ocean Conservation, which has as its aim that China leads the conservation of high seas biodiversity and plays a leading role in global ocean governance and collaboration. To achieve this, GHub works in China to advance sustainable fishery and catalyze the building and effective management of science-based and representative marine protected areas (MPAs) by engaging experts in science, policy, law, business, academia and communications.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is the regional office of the global environmental organisation Greenpeace. Greenpeace Australia Pacific is one of Australia's largest environmental organisations.

The Green Peace organization works on several issues in the marine environment, amongst their many various interests. With its vast networks across the world, the organisation urges big corporations to act to reduce their plastic footprint to end the flow of plastic into our oceans. In addition, Green Peace is engaged in addressing unsustainable industrial fishing practices, climate change and ocean acidification. Greenpeace's oceans campaign focusing on three major threats to the world's oceans: overfishing, pirate fishing, whaling, and intensive shrimp aquaculture.

HSA members work together 'to inspire, inform and engage the public, decision-makers and experts to support and strengthen high seas governance and conservation, as well as cooperating towards the establishment of high seas protected areas.' Their current priority is 'to ensure that an intergovernmental conference taking place at the United Nations from 2018-2021 for the development of a new legally binding treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea results in robust protection for marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.' The Alliance is currently made up of 40+ NGOs plus the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

HKDCS is the only conservation society dedicated to whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) of Hong Kong. Their work focuses around the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (known as Chinese white dolphin and pink dolphin) and Indo-Pacific finless porpoise. The numbers of these species are dropping rapidly, especially the humpback dolphins, from 250 in the 1990's, to 100 in 2009 to 32 in 2018. HKDCS promotes public awareness, preservation of habitats, raising standards of Hong Kong's whale watching activities and conducts research. They are involved in opposing reclamation projects such as for the airport third runway, bridges and large-scale artificial islands which destroy the habitat of dolphins and porpoises.

The IGFA is a non-profit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices, through science, education, rule making, record keeping and recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the field of angling.

Since 1982, the International Marine Mammal Project (IMMP) has been a global leader in protecting whales and dolphins and their ocean habitats. IMMP pioneered the Dolphin Safe tuna fishing standard, stopping the intentional chasing and netting of dolphins by many tuna companies and preventing tens of thousands of dolphin deaths annually. They continue to monitor more than 800 tuna companies to ensure they are following Dolphin Safe fishing practices that protect dolphins and other marine life. The organization campaigns to stop all trade in live dolphins and whales, to end the capture and captivity of whales and dolphins for circus performances; and to fight pollution and plastics in the ocean, particularly the entanglement of marine life in fishing gear. IMMP is an Earth Institute project.

IMO is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships. IMO's Intervention Convention affirms the right of a coastal State to take measures on the high seas to prevent, mitigate or eliminate danger to its coastline from a maritime casualty. The International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), 1990 provides a global framework for international co-operation in combating major incidents or threats of marine pollution. A protocol to this convention (HNS Protocol) covers marine pollution by hazardous and noxious substances.

IOI trains young and mid-career practitioners in contemporary approaches to coastal and ocean management, with an emphasis on the moral, ethical and legal values in Ocean Governance (equity and peaceful uses of the ocean). Since its foundation in 1972, IOI has trained hundreds of young practitioners, particularly from developing countries and countries in transition, and contributes towards a growing global network of trained and empowered leaders fully conversant with the latest developments in ocean governance. IOI has centres in several places internationally, including Canada, China, South Africa, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nigeria and Thailand.