Oceans and the law of the sea
A/RES/70/235
other stakeholders and encouraged their active participation, as appropriate, in
processes that contribute to decision-making, planning and implementation of
policies and programmes for sustainable development at all levels,
Conscious that the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need
to be considered as a whole through an integrated, interdisciplinary and intersectoral
approach, and reaffirming the need to improve cooperation and coordination at the
national, regional and global levels, in accordance with the Convention, to support
and supplement the efforts of each State in promoting the implementation and
observance of the Convention and the integrated management and sustainable
development of the oceans and seas,
Reiterating the essential need for cooperation, including through capacitybuilding and transfer of marine technology, to ensure that all States, especially
developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island
developing States, as well as coastal African States, are able both to im plement the
Convention and to benefit from the sustainable development of the oceans and seas,
as well as to participate fully in global and regional forums and processes dealing
with oceans and law of the sea issues,
Emphasizing the need to strengthen the ability of competent international
organizations to contribute, at the global, regional, subregional and bilateral levels,
through cooperation programmes with Governments, to the development of national
capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of the oceans and their
resources,
Recalling that marine science is important for eradicating poverty, contributing
to food security, conserving the world’s marine environment and resources, helping
to understand, predict and respond to natural events and promoting the sustainable
development of the oceans and seas, by improving knowledge, through sustained
research efforts and the evaluation of monitoring results, and applying such
knowledge to management and decision-making,
Reiterating its deep concern at the serious adverse impacts on the marine
environment and biodiversity, in particular on vulnerable marine ecosystems and
their physical and biogenic structure, including coral reefs, cold water habitats,
hydrothermal vents and seamounts, of certain human activities,
Emphasizing the need for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of
ships,
Expressing deep concern at the adverse economic, social and environmental
impacts of the physical alteration and destruction of marine habitats that may result
from land-based and coastal development activities, in particular those land
reclamation activities that are carried out in a manner that has a detrimental impact
on the marine environment,
Reiterating its serious concern at the current and projected adverse effects of
climate change and ocean acidification on the marine environment and marine
biodiversity, and emphasizing the urgency of addressing these issues,
Expressing concern that climate change continues to increase the severity and
incidence of coral bleaching throughout tropical seas and weakens the ability of
reefs to withstand ocean acidification, which could have serious and irreversible
negative effects on marine organisms, particularly corals, as well as to withstand
other pressures, including overfishing and pollution,
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