https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/40879 2026-04-23T12:50:43Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41006 Title: Fishery issues and cooperation in the South China Sea : a semi-enclosed sea perspective Abstract: According to Article 122 and 123 of UNCLOS ‘82, countries bordering enclosed or semi-enclosed seas shall cooperate with each other to conserve and manage fishery resources. The South China Sea, being a semi-enclosed sea, however, is still not bound by any regional agreements which includes all the bordering states to protect the marine living resources, rather the problem of overfishing, illegal fishing and fishery disputes plague this region. All the countries from the South China Sea are developing states and the people depend heavily on fishery resources for their protein intake. The South China Sea is also contested intensely by bordering countries. This study proposes a regional fishery management mechanism to lessen the problems arising from fishery related issues which require urgent attention. This study begins by looking at the territorial claims and the fishery production and legal frameworks with regard to fisheries. It then addresses the multilateral and bilateral cooperation on these issues. Existing problems in the SCS area is also highlighted. The study analyses cases and draws experience from them. These include cooperation between China and Vietnam in Gulf of Tokin, Jan Mayen Case between Norway and Iceland and the cooperation between Mediterranean States. Finally, a detailed cooperation framework is proposed as the result of the research. The study proposes that countries bordering the South China Sea set aside disputed territorial claims and develop their fishery resources jointly by adopting a precautionary approach. The study proposes that all the territorial claims and claims of sovereign rights be acknowledged and overlapping areas managed jointly by claiming states. Such cooperation would have no interference with the delimitation in any form. Description: International Ocean Institute (IOI) in collaboration with Faculty of Laws; M.A.OCEAN GOV. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41005 Title: Assessing progress towards the seven ocean literacy principles in China and in the EU Abstract: Ocean literacy is defined as having ‘an understanding of the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean (Cava et al., 2005).’ The seven ocean literacy principles provide guidelines for the implementation of ocean literacy. This thesis focuses on assessing the progress in the process of implementing the seven ocean literacy principles through a comparative study between the EU (with special focus on Malta) and China. The first chapter introduces the importance of the ocean and seas and ocean literacy, with a general overview of international efforts in implementing ocean literacy. With regards to the deteriorating ocean health, various policies and actions have been formulated to ameliorate negative conditions of the ocean. The second chapter focuses on the development of ocean literacy and the seven ocean literacy principles and implementation status in the EU and China. Ocean literacy appeals for bottom-up approaches including ocean citizenship and ocean education, to improve the status of the ocean through the general public and daily behaviour. In 2002, due to a lack of oceanrelated curriculum from K-12, ocean scientists and educators developed a framework to promote ocean science in schools. Later, ocean literacy spread its influence on both the EU and China, amongst others. Thus, through a documentary-based and desk research approach outlined in chapter three, a comparative study between the EU and China is provided in chapter four. Due to the different geological, economic, cultural and environmental conditions found in the study locations, the implement of ocean literacy varies at both national or regional scales. Currently, all counties face challenges and opportunities in relation to ocean issues. In the future, ocean literacy implementation will need to be combined effectively with both the sustainable development goals and blue economy. Cooperation and coordination will be the key words in any successful long-term sustainable development of the ocean. The final chapter provides a summary of the key finding and recommendations for the future development especially in ocean literacy of the EU and China. An important conclusion is that it is necessary to promote all stakeholders’ engagement as a bottomup approach to advance ocean literacy and establish an ocean-literate society. Description: International Ocean Institute (IOI) in collaboration with Faculty of Laws; M.A.OCEAN GOV. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/41000 Title: Carbon trading in shipping : an exploratory analysis of economic costs and benefits Abstract: Today's Earth contains many ecological problems, such as the greenhouse effect caused by global warming. Today's environmental governance work has attracted a high degree of global attention. Both developed and developing countries have not neglected the process of economic development. With the continuous increase in international trade with recent years, the emission of greenhouse gases by shipping has also increased in proportion from the number of ships. Although the global climate governance system needs to be further improved, but improving the international shipping carbon trading mechanism has become the consensus of climate governance. Most of China's bulk commodities are transported by sea. Since maritime transport plays an important position in the international trade, any policy measures that have an impact on shipping costs may cause changes in the international trade pattern. Here, starting with theoretical research and supplemented by empirical analysis, we have studied and discussed relevant works at home and abroad and the theory of environmental finance and economics concerning carbon trading, and have synthesized various carbon trading mechanisms. The model is constructed according to the partial equilibrium theory, and the sensitivity analysis is used to study the reasons that affect the cost of carbon trading. These experiments show that after the introduction of the carbon trading policy, the trade reduction is less than the carbon emission reduction. This shows that the carbon trading market increases the cost of the ship on the one hand, but its carbon emission is much more restrained than its trade. At the same time, the study also found that under the same carbon emission price level, the lower the fuel price, the higher the proportion of trade reduction and carbon emission reduction. Finally, measures are proposed from the aspects of economy, technology, policy and education to solve the problem of China's greenhouse effect. Description: International Ocean Institute (IOI) in collaboration with Faculty of Laws; M.A.OCEAN GOV. 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z