For many years now, the United Nations has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure the use of our seas and oceans, allowing it to be legally defined and peaceful and cooperative for the individual and humanity's benefit. (United Nations).
It should be noted that despite the efforts of the United Nations; marine diversity is attacked every day by different uncontrolled fishing practices; where the consequences to biodiversity are not measured as important but every day in danger.
Trying to establish a new international agreement, in charge of regulating both conservation; how the sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas outside national jurisdictions is the challenge that many countries faced in what was the first session of the United Nations Preparatory Committee. (Morales, L, 2016)
Costa Rica has recently shown remarkable progress with respect to this initiative, which is pursued like other countries, through an agreement that establishes that all ecosystems must be conserved and used in an appropriate manner; without leaving aside, that at the time this happens all those resources obtained must be shared, not with a nation; but with all the nations in the world.
In order to understand the work of the United Nations and Public International Law, to guarantee the proper use of our seas, it is necessary to understand why we must work effectively with nations to achieve the objective. It is important to explain (even in a summarized way) the unfortunate and irreparable consequences that the world faces every day.
Did you know that trawling is considered an example of a perfect to unsustainable practice? In response to this, perhaps it would be better to affirm that trawling is a destructive practice of marine ecosystems. The way in which these networks are designed is what implies how dangerous they turn out to be, since it manages to remain open in the depths, through its two large steel plates “known as doors”; In addition to how heavy it can be, it keeps this underwater. When this happens, not only is the target captured; but also seabirds, sharks, turtles; it could be said that even animals without any commercial value, these species are returned to the waters, wounded and in most cases dead.Trawling represents a danger to coral ecosystems that have existed for many years, they can be destroyed in so little, habitats and breeding areas are lost.
Shouldn't this worry us? For many people, events like this are often irrelevant to their priorities; But I consider it important that we, as the future of tomorrow, must create awareness and make an impact in the world. It is for this reason that the efforts of Public International Law and the United Nations Organization are applauded for their constant struggle, in order to prevent further destruction and loss of our marine flora and fauna.
The United Nations has been analyzing the issue since 2003; However, it was not until 2011 that progress was made in the framework of the preliminary discussions that determined 4 elements that would be the basis of any eventual agreement. These elements are: management tools by area, environmental impact studies, generic marine resources; as well as capacity building and transfer of marine technology. (Morales, L, 2016).
A new debate will be held, in the month of August of the current year, in order to be able to negotiate this agreement, so that all nations commit to achieving improvement; in addition to an incredible development in their fishing techniques; with the sole purpose of being able to safeguard the life of marine species, avoid their exploitation and the illegal sales of which many take advantage.
We must not forget that fishing is the only way of income for many families; so to call it prohibited from "everything" cannot be possible; In addition to strengthening the trade of nations, our country especially has many fishing families in the rural areas of our territory.
The Costa Rican government seeks to guarantee a balance of ecosystems and responsible fishing activity, both nationally and internationally, while seeking a state of conservation for the species considered to achieve an available use and further study of the different species.
It concludes, hoping that the work so pronounced by the United Nations and the countries involved will culminate successfully and we can soon appreciate a new reality in our oceans and an advanced index in the rates of endangered animals, We strongly believe in the work on the part of International Law as well and their efforts are applauded without a doubt.
Maria Alvarez
Public International Law
Latin University of Costa Rica
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