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International legislation

International Legislation, Regulations, Policies Affecting Biodiversity and Utilization of Biological Resources that are Ratified in the Marshall Islands

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Contents:
General
Maritime Conventions
Possible Future Ratifications
References

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General
Compact of Free Association between, the United States of America and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (1986):
    Title One, Article VI - pledge between the two countries to "promote efforts to prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and to enrich understanding of the natural resources of the Marshall Islands";
    section 161 (a) (1) - the United States to continue to apply environmental controls which were in effect previous to the Compact;
    section 161 (a) (2) - the United States to continue to apply U. S. National Environmental Protection Act in the RMI;
    section 161 (a) (3) - the United States to apply environmental standards similar to those of the U.S. environmental studies when conducting activities requiring a U.S. Environmental Impact Statement;
    section 161 (a) (4) - the United States to provide technical support from appropriate U.S. environmental agencies in the development of environmental studies, with the RMI being able to comment during the development;
    section 161 (b) - the Marshall Islands has an obligation to develop and enforce comparable environmental standards and procedures;
Convention for the Protection of the Natural Resources and Environment of the South Pacific Region (SPREP Convention); related protocols (ratified 1987) - to prevent, reduce and control pollution resulting from vessels, land-based sources, sea-bed activities, discharges into the air, disposal of toxic and non-toxic wastes, testing of nuclear devises and mining, with further protections for fragile ecosystems and endangered species contemplated.

Maritime Conventions
Convention of the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, amended; related protocol 1976;
Convention of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972, amended;
International Convention of Load Lines 1966;
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention) 1973/1978, amended - (according to Harding, not yet in full practice in RMI in 1992);
Convention for the Prohibition of Fishing with Long Driftnets in the South Pacific, protocols and associated instruments - (according to Harding, adopted 1990 but not ratified as of 1992).

Possible Future Ratifications
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (C.I.T.E.S. Convention);
London Dumping Convention;
Migratory Bird Treaty;
Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (Apia Convention);
United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.

References:
local government ordinances
Elizabeth Harding 1992. Republic of the Marshall Islands, Review of Environmental Laws. South Pacific Environmental Programme, Apia, Western Samoa
National Biodiversity Team of the RMI, 2000.The Marshall Islands - Living Atols Amidst the Living Sea/ The National Biodiversity Report of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. ©RMI Biodiversity Project. ISBN 982-9045-02-1, St. Hildegard Publishing Company, Santa Clarita, CA, USA.
Crawford, Martha J., 1992. Republic of the Marshall Islands, National Environmental Management Strategy, parts A & B. South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme, Apia, Western Samoa
Republic of the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority 1997. Collected Environmental Regulations. Majuro, Marshall Islands
Republic of the Marshall Islands Nitijela 1999. Plant and Animal Quarantine Regulations, Majuro, Marshall Islands
1997. Marshall Islands Marine Resources Act, Bill No. 88. Majuro, Marshall Islands
____________ 1988. Marshall Islands Revised Code, Vol. I and II. Majuro, Marshall Islands
Smith, Andrew J. 1992. Republic of the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Profiles. FFA Report No. 92/78