OCNG 355 Lecture 6: Law of the Sea, Ocean Governance, and Sustainable Fisheries

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on Law of the Sea, ocean governance, and sustainable fisheries.

Extended Continental Shelf (ECS)

The portion of a country’s continental shelf that extends beyond 200 nautical miles from its baseline; rights to non-living resources in the seabed and subsoil and to sedentary species, defined by UNCLOS Article 76; excludes living resources in the water column (e.g., fish).

UNCLOS Article 76

The UNCLOS provision that defines the criteria and process for delineating an Extended Continental Shelf and the associated rights.

Sedentary species

Organisms immobile on or under the seabed (e.g., clams, crabs) whose resources are claimed under ECS rights.

Non-living resources

Minerals, oil, and gas found in the seabed and subsoil within the ECS.

Water-column fish

Fish living in the water column; not included in ECS rights.

Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ)

Ocean areas outside a country's national jurisdiction, governed under UNCLOS and related instruments.

BBNJ Agreement

Agreement under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction; adopted June 2023.

Ocean governance

Global framework for managing ocean activities; UNCLOS is a foundational global agreement addressing ocean governance and development of coastal states.

Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA)

Essential fatty acids primarily from cold-water fish (e.g., salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines) with health benefits.

Fish enzymes

Cold-adapted enzymes from fish (e.g., cod) used in food processing and dermatology due to activity at low temperatures.

Fish collagen

Collagen derived from fish byproducts used in wound care, tissue engineering, cosmetics, and supplements.

Pelagic fisheries

Fisheries conducted in open-water, away from the shore or seabed.

Coastal fisheries

Fisheries conducted in nearshore, coastal waters.

CalCOFI

California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations; program monitoring sardine stock fluctuations to inform management.

Climate-driven northward shift

Movement of sardines (and other species) toward higher latitudes due to warming, reducing landings in southern ports.

Overfishing

Harvesting at a rate that stresses a stock, often leaving most individuals immature and unable to reproduce.

Standing stock

Total quantity of a fish stock present in an ecosystem at a given time.

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY)

The maximum amount of fish that can be removed annually without reducing the stock’s long-term productivity.

Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

The annual catch limit set for a stock based on scientific assessments.

Catch Shares

Fisheries management that allocates a portion of TAC to individuals, cooperatives, or communities; ITQs are a common form.

ITQ (Individual Transferable Quota)

A tradable quota representing a share of TAC assigned to a fisher or entity.

Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)

Grid devices in trawl nets that allow turtles to escape and reduce bycatch.

Barless Circle Hooks

Circle hooks with reduced or no barb to minimize bycatch and seabird/other bycatch impacts.

Acoustic Pingers

Devices on nets that emit sounds to deter marine mammals and reduce bycatch.

Tori Lines (Bird-Scaring Lines)

Lines attached to nets that deter seabirds from interacting with gear, reducing bycatch.

Bottom trawling

Dragging heavy nets along the seabed to catch bottom-dwelling species; destroys deep-sea habitats and ecosystems.

Deep-sea fishing

Fishing at depths of 200 meters and below targeting high-value, slow-growing species; high vulnerability to overfishing.

Orange Roughy

A deep-sea fish with slow growth and late maturity; highly vulnerable to overfishing and long recovery times.

Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM)

Holistic approach that manages the entire ecosystem and species interactions, not just a single stock.

Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs)

Community-led areas where coastal communities set rules, such as temporary closures, leveraging local knowledge.

Full Retention Policy

Policy requiring retention of all catch to reduce discards and improve data quality.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Global nonprofit that certifies sustainable wild-capture fisheries with a blue label and chain-of-custody.

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Required transponders on vessels that report location and activity of fishing boats.

Satellite Surveillance

Use of satellites to track and expose illegal fishing activities.

National Marine Sanctuary

NOAA-designated U.S. protected area focused on conservation and education within the marine environment.

Flower Garden Banks

Gulf of Mexico coral reef system providing habitat and nurseries for marine life.