NOAA Office of the General Counsel
Home  |  About us  |   The General Counsel   Offices  |   Links   |   Documents  |  Contacts

GC Quick Links:

noaa logo with sample foreign flags in background GCIL HOME

HOT TOPICS

PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA
MONUMENT

R.M.S. TITANIC


SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
AND DEVELOPMENTS

REFERENCES

SUBJECT AREAS:

ACRONYMS

EXTERNSHIPS

ATTORNEY BIOGRAPHIES

noaa logo with sample foreign flags in background

PRIMARY LEGAL SUBJECT AREAS

The Office of General Counsel
for International Law

GCIL staff have developed expertise related to many legal subject areas, including:

Antarctic Issues

Antarctic Treaty

Environmental Protocol

Liability Annex

Arctic Issues

Arctic Council/Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME)

Biological Diversity and Related Issues

Convention on Biological Diversity and Related Issues

  • Access and Benefit Sharing
  • Bioprospecting
  • Marine Genetic Resources
  • High Seas Biodiversity
  • Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems

Climate Change

Coastal Zone Management – International Activities

Integrated Ocean and Coastal Zone Management

Small Island Issues

Deep Seabed Mining

ISBA and DSHMRA

Extraterritorial Application of Domestic Laws

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Application of NEPA and other U.S. Laws Beyond the U.S. Territorial Sea

Fisheries

International Fisheries Issues (Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), Aquaculture, Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs))

Heritage: Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources – International Activities

Underwater Cultural Heritage and Shipwreck Issues

United Nations Environmental, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH)

World Heritage Convention

Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements and their Implementation (e.g., Titanic, Japanese Midget Sub, German U-Boats) (links to GCIL subpages)

Jurisdictional Issues involving the Right of Coastal States to Regulate UCH in the Various Maritime Zones

Treatment of Sunken Military Craft

Hydrography/Survey

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) (link to GCIL subpage)

International Hydrographic Organization Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (ABLOS)

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)

IOC Advisory Body of Experts on the Law of the Sea (ABE-LOS)

Marine Debris

International Marine Debris Issues

Derelict Fishing Gear

MARPOL Annex V

Marine Mammals

Right Whales and Ship Strikes

Underwater Sound

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

MPAs on the High Seas

International Issues Associated with National Marine Sanctuaries (link to GCIL subpage)

Protection of Particular Areas and Resources from Damage

Marine Pollution

Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution (link to GCIL subpage)

Vessel Sources of Marine Pollution

Marine Scientific Research

Marine Scientific Research

Maritime Zones and Boundaries

Baseline — Territorial Sea and Other Maritime Zones

Contiguous Zone (24 nautical miles (nm))

Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm)

Continental Shelf including Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) Beyond 200 nm

Maritime Boundaries with Other Nations

Ocean Dumping

1972 London Convention and the 1996 Protocol

Artificial Reefs (Guidelines for Construction and Placement)

Seabirds

Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

Ships, Regulation of

Aquatic Nuisance Species and Ballast Water Management Treaty Issues

International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention). IMO news release (Convention enters into force on 17 September 2008).

Marine Protected Areas and Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas

Marine Scientific Research

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

Ship Routing and Reporting Requirements

Trade and Investment

WTO, NAFTA, Bilateral/Multilateral Free Trade Agreements

International Fisheries Agreements with Trade Provisions (e.g., ICCAT)

Pelly Amendment and other U.S. Fisheries Laws with Trade Provisions

Treaty Interpretation

Treaty Interpretation


Care has been taken in the compilation of this web page. The page has links to other governmental and non-governmental organizations. The appearance of these links does not constitute an endorsement by NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce of the web sites accessible through these links or of the information they contain. As we cannot control the information on these external web sites, we cannot take responsibility for them and we shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from any inaccuracies.