Survival and the Sea
229
out to sea. Another sh commonly caught in these territorial waters,
the bluen tuna, does not even spawn in the eastern Pacic but
comes from as far away as ocean areas south of Japan. Marine
mammals are just as ckle: the nearest breeding grounds for the fur
seals found‘feeding in the sea off California are the Pribilof Islands
in the Bering Sea whilst the grey whales which breed in the lagoons
of northern Mexico eventually migrate back across the Pacic to
Kamchatka and the western Bering Sea. In spite of such problems
some countries can protect important local stocks of sh by extend—
ing the national shing limit, but clearly a different, as yet’un—
decided, régime is needed to protect Sh stocks in thehigh seas from
being exploited to the point of exhaustion.
:
,
«
»
Exhaustion of the resource will not be the main worry where
deep—sea minerals are concerned. On the contrary, as explained in
Chapter 6, the problem is more likely to become one of preventig
over—production which could cause a glùt ofs…the more—Common
minerals. With the greater part of the oceans to choose from, the
questiOn of territorial rights seems:far less signicant than nding
some means of allowing all nations, both rich and poor, to benet
from these remote mineral stores. Unfortunately, these deliberations
are made
urgentand difcult because of the military role ofthe
oceans. Neither East nor West will be over—keen to see the other
rmly'ënScoŒed in a territorymarked off for mineral exploitation
which, like some ‘shing’ activities, might come to be thecover— for
military operations.
_
Î
_
…
Some*hopeful people suggest that the sensible solution to the
_
military *‘ques’tion’ is simply toremove
:theoc6ans,
ratherflike Antarctica and Outer Space, sOlely*for;peaceful epurpoSes.
is a very tempting proposition “but "it seems to »neglect
the current political
‘The oceanS pr0vide:a;rr_1ane of
Secrecy for deep silent—running:Submarines Which
strike force of nuclear—head6d' missile”ë. In other words, no matter
h0w much an aggressor might gain the initiative by a surprise
attack.with land—based missiles, he could expect to suffer drastic
retaliation
an ocean eet Of submaries. Remove this force
and an important restraint goes with it: far “better to preserve the
deterrent, at least Until a more general disarmament becomes
poSsible.
The presence of larg<änavies and nuclear submarines in the high
seas is regarded by some as a block to effective agreements on the
229
out to sea. Another sh commonly caught in these territorial waters,
the bluen tuna, does not even spawn in the eastern Pacic but
comes from as far away as ocean areas south of Japan. Marine
mammals are just as ckle: the nearest breeding grounds for the fur
seals found‘feeding in the sea off California are the Pribilof Islands
in the Bering Sea whilst the grey whales which breed in the lagoons
of northern Mexico eventually migrate back across the Pacic to
Kamchatka and the western Bering Sea. In spite of such problems
some countries can protect important local stocks of sh by extend—
ing the national shing limit, but clearly a different, as yet’un—
decided, régime is needed to protect Sh stocks in thehigh seas from
being exploited to the point of exhaustion.
:
,
«
»
Exhaustion of the resource will not be the main worry where
deep—sea minerals are concerned. On the contrary, as explained in
Chapter 6, the problem is more likely to become one of preventig
over—production which could cause a glùt ofs…the more—Common
minerals. With the greater part of the oceans to choose from, the
questiOn of territorial rights seems:far less signicant than nding
some means of allowing all nations, both rich and poor, to benet
from these remote mineral stores. Unfortunately, these deliberations
are made
urgentand difcult because of the military role ofthe
oceans. Neither East nor West will be over—keen to see the other
rmly'ënScoŒed in a territorymarked off for mineral exploitation
which, like some ‘shing’ activities, might come to be thecover— for
military operations.
_
Î
_
…
Some*hopeful people suggest that the sensible solution to the
_
military *‘ques’tion’ is simply toremove
:theoc6ans,
ratherflike Antarctica and Outer Space, sOlely*for;peaceful epurpoSes.
is a very tempting proposition “but "it seems to »neglect
the current political
‘The oceanS pr0vide:a;rr_1ane of
Secrecy for deep silent—running:Submarines Which
strike force of nuclear—head6d' missile”ë. In other words, no matter
h0w much an aggressor might gain the initiative by a surprise
attack.with land—based missiles, he could expect to suffer drastic
retaliation
an ocean eet Of submaries. Remove this force
and an important restraint goes with it: far “better to preserve the
deterrent, at least Until a more general disarmament becomes
poSsible.
The presence of larg<änavies and nuclear submarines in the high
seas is regarded by some as a block to effective agreements on the