International waters

The terms international waters or transboundary waters apply where any of the following types of bodies of water (or their drainage basins) transcend international boundaries: oceans, large marine ecosystems, enclosed or semi-enclosed regional seas and estuaries, rivers, lakes, groundwater systems (aquifers), and wetlands http://www.undp.org/gef/undp-gef_focal_areas_of_action/sub_international_water.html.

Related Topics:
Ocean - Large marine ecosystem - Sea - Estuaries - River - Lake - Groundwater - Aquifers - Wetlands

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oceans and seas, waters outside of national jurisdiction are also referred to as the High Seas or Mare liberum.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ships sailing the high seas are generally under flag state jurisdiction. In the case of piracy or slave trade, any nation can exercise jurisdiction.

Related Topics:
Flag state - Piracy - Slave trade

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marine and freshwater systems, including surface waters and groundwater, constitute the world's water resources, which provide humanity with drinking water, sustenance, income, transportation routes and other amenities. Much of the Earth's water resources is shared by two or more countries (e.g., 261 international river basins comprise 45% of the earth's total land area; 70% of the world's 50 large marine ecosystems, where 95% of the world's fish are caught).

Related Topics:
Marine - Freshwater

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Poorly managed and uncoordinated human activities across sectors are threatening these shared water resources internationally and the livelihoods of billions of people who depend on them. Major threats include sea and land-based pollution, depletion of freshwater resources, habitat loss, introduction of exotic species, and over-harvesting of living and non-living aquatic resources.

Related Topics:
Pollution - Depletion - Habitat - Exotic species - Harvest

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Disputes over shared water resources have a long history.http://freshwater.unep.net/index.cfm?issue=water_transb Water has been used as a tool and weapon of conflict, access to water has been a source of dispute and contention, and major water development projects have led to violence and civil strife. As a number of international waters agreements demonstrate, shared waters can also be a source of cooperation. This is particularly evident today with the increase in the number of initiatives related to aquifers, lakes, rivers, coasts and ocean management regimes, as well as of international waters institutions committed to bilateral and/or multilateral management of transboundary water resources.

Related Topics:
International waters agreements - International waters institutions

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

International waters are one of several focal areas for protection and restoration projects supported by the Global Environment Facility as well as bilateral and multilateral development agencies.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~