The Impact of UNCLOS III on Marine Scientific Research

UNCLOS III is attempting to reach international agreement on a broad range of ocean issues, one of which is marine scientific research. If an LOS treaty is produced, it will provide the basic governance for marine scientific research. The existence of UNCLOS III itself has had and will continue to have an impact on the conduct of marine scientific research, whether or not there is an LOS treaty. The negotiations have brought marine scientific research squarely to the limelight. This has made national officials conscious of the political, economic, and security implications of marine scientific research. Coupling the suspicions of the developing countries over the real motives of the developed world with such things as the new international economic order has produced a climate which is at best suspicious of and in many respects hostile to marine science. Nations are already turning this into claims to national jurisdiction, and the number will continue to grow. Accordingly, even if there is no LOS treaty, our scientists will be confronted by national claims over marine science in a very significant area, making research much more difficult. Costs will be increased. In the long run science may still benefit. But it may be a long time before we see this.