GSC5101 - Global Ocean Governance Framework and Managing our Relations with the Oceans

Course Title

MQF Level

Duration and Credits

Semester 1

5 ECTS

Mode of Study

Part-Time Day

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This micro-credential is exclusively being offered as part of the IOI Malta Training Course.

This study-unit has been modelled academically by drawing on a contemporary understanding of biological patterns, processes and resources within Ocean Governance.

The first half of this unit sets out the objectives of ocean governance and the linkages to socio-economic issues, integrated and ecosystem ocean management, and resource exploitation. The focus is on the understanding of effective governance frameworks to put maritime policy into practice, including the mandate and efforts of the UN agencies and organisations The course programme details the efforts of the agencies and organisations such as the International Maritime Organisation to reduce emissions from ships, to control garbage from ships (through MARPOL Annex V), and through Annex IV on sewage which now includes the concept of Special Areas which is especially relevant to the Black and Mediterranean Seas. It also presents regional efforts like those of the EU to achieve Good Environmental Status for its Seas by 2020 through the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Ad hoc sessions on emerging thematics relevant to ocean governance practitioners and led by world-renowned exponents, are entrenched within the Programme of Studies, including Marine Spatial Planning, ABNJ's (Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) the SDG's (Sustainability Development Goals), Climate Issues and the Blue Economy. The course showcases the regional perspectives on sustainable development, eradication of poverty, enhancement of partnerships and promotion of the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind.

The same study-unit covers traditional policy, legal and institutional tools of the Blue Economy and Blue Growth, focusing on the science-management interface and bringing to light new perspectives, practices, methodologies and the use of technology for the effective and sound operationalisation of ocean governance. This study-unit covers methods of national marine coastal zone policies development; the use of marine data for informed decisions, products and services; maritime spatial planning principles; integrated coastal zone management; the role of coastal communities; vulnerability assessment; environmental risk evaluation and mitigation of marine-related natural hazards; marine pollution and related efforts.

The second half of this unit deals with the main biological features of the marine environment, including patterns and processes within marine ecosystems, the biological resources they support, and the main physical and chemical factors influencing marine life and ecosystems. The second part deals with the biological component of marine ecosystems and the natural and anthropogenic factors that influence biodiversity, and methods for assessing biodiversity. The Mediterranean Sea will be taken as an example of a marine biodiversity hotspot. The third part covers assessment of the state of the marine environment through methods and procedures for monitoring and evaluating impact and risk. The main EU directives dealing with marine environmental quality, namely the Bathing Water Directive, the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive will be briefly reviewed. Finally, the study-unit will consider two case studies concerning environmental assessment and monitoring of coastal development.

Main Reading List

Main texts and online resources

Attard, D.J. (198
.鈥楾he Exclusive Economic Zone in International Law鈥�, Clarendon Press, Oxford: 416pp.
Behnam, A. (201
. Tracing the Blue Economy. Lumen Publishing: 100pp.
Birnie, P. and Boyle, A. (200
鈥業nternational Law and the Environment鈥�, 3rd Edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford: 851pp.
Freestone David, Barnes Richard and Ong David (eds). (200
The Law of the Sea: Progress and Prospects. Oxford Publishing: 466pp.
O鈥機onnell, D.P. (198
. The International Law of the Sea. Volume I. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
O鈥機onnell, D.P. (198
. The International Law of the Sea. Volume II. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Treves, T. (200
. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law (http://untreaty. un. org/cod/avl/pdf/ha/uncls/uncls_e. pdf)

Supplementary Reading List

Denny M. (200
. How the ocean works: an introduction to oceanography. Princeton University Press: 344pp.
King M. (200
. Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. Wiley-Blackwell; 2nd Edition edition: 400pp.
Levinton J. (200
. Marine biology: function, biodiversity, ecology. [4th ed.] Oxford University Press: 476pp.
Nybakken J. W. & Bertness M. D. (200
. Marine biology: an ecological approach. [6th ed.] Benjamin Cummings: 579pp.

Study-unit Aims

To familiarize students with the early history and the evolution of rules and laws that culminated in the adoption of UNCLOS/the constitution of the oceans;
To assist students in understanding the phases of that interaction in its legal, economic social and political implications traversing "mare clausum", "mare liberum" to the principle of Common Heritage and the changing governance paradigm of the ocean post-UNCLOS;
To develop an understanding of the role of international institutions in all dimensions of the governance architecture from legislation to implementation, compliance, enforcement to jurisdiction and control and finally;
To identify the current governance deficit in light of the new and emerging challenges;
Top assist students in understanding the impact of the current governance architecture and its deficits on the health and sustainability of the ocean;
To assist students in comprehending the complexity and vulnerability to human impacts of the marine natural environment and its assets;
To identify the principles and tools to implement sustainability in ocean governance.

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

Describe the Law of the Sea and Principles of Ocean Governance; UNCLOS; the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind;
Describe the major international and regional marine instruments and structures;
Identify priority issues in the current governance scenario;
Identify trends and future challenges in the global and regional scenarios;
Define and explain the main concepts underlying marine biodiversity;
Identify the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting marine biodiversity;
Define and explain methods and procedures for evaluating the status of the marine environment through impact and risk assessments;
Define and explain scientific monitoring of the marine environment;
Define and explain the main EU Directives concerning marine environmental protection;
Critically describe over-arching ocean governance issues including the maritime areas of jurisdiction and control in preparation for further development of the themes within this unit; 1
Demonstrate a working knowledge of the of the role of international institutions in ocean governance.

Learning Outcomes: Skills

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

Outline the historical and political processes giving rise to the current governance scenarios including their legal, economic, social and political dimensions;
Identify and describe lacunae in the design and effectiveness of the current global ocean governance architecture;
Apply knowledge of methods and procedures for evaluating the status of the marine environment through impact and risk assessments;
Apply knowledge of methods and procedures to monitor the marine environment;
Apply knowledge of the main EU Directives concerning marine environmental protection to practical situations;
Put in practice the operationalisation of ocean governance principles and protocols;
Critically discuss ongoing political efforts towards achieving ocean governance.

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