President Obama has stated that the United States will promote the stewardship and sustainable use of the oceans in several ways including by cooperating and exercising leadership at the international level and pursuing U.S. accession to the Law of the Sea Convention. On March 21st, the State Department published a Fact Sheet identifying a number of compelling reasons why the United States should join the Law of the Sea Convention now.
Among the advantages noted in the Fact Sheet, joining the Law of the Sea Convention will create American jobs and bolster U.S. national security. That is one reason why U.S. companies, business groups, labor unions, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, and a host of others support joining the Convention now.
To learn more about the Law of the Sea Convention: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/lawofthesea/factsheets/186605.htm.
Jerry Miller is Deputy Director for Science and Technology in the National Ocean Council Office