| Name of Legislation |
Date Adopted |
Main
Provisions |
Date of
Entry Into
Force |
Country's Date
of Entry Into
Force |
Date of Ratification |
General Remarks
Focal Point / Implementing Agency |
| United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea (UNCLOS ) |
Dec. 10 1982
|
- Provides
for the establishment of 200mls. Exclusive Zone (EEZ) and
enforcement of regulations to guarantee efficient utilization of
marine resources.
|
Nov. 16 1994 |
|
1995 |
The domestic legislation required to
enforce this Convention is proposed as the High Seas Fishing Act.
1996 |
| FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance
with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing
Vessels on the High Seas. |
Nov. 24 1993 |
- Ensures
increasing clarity in the arrangement for vessels registered and
licensed for fishing on the high seas.
|
|
|
Dec. 6 1995
|
Ministry of Natural Resources and Labor
Conservation and Fisheries Dept.
|
| Agreements on Implementation of the UN.
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Relating to the
Conservation and Arrangement of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly
Migratory Fish Stocks |
Aug. 4 1995 |
-
To conserve and manage those species of fish that inhabit seas
both within and outside national fish stocks. Highly migratory
fish stocks are species such as Tuna, Swordfish, Marlin, which
range widely across the oceans.
|
|
|
Nov. 1995 |
Ministry of Natural Resources and Labor
Conservation and Fisheries Dept.
|
| Convention for the Protection and
Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean
Region (Cartagena Convention) |
March 24 1983
|
-
Lists the sources of pollution, which require control from i.e.
pollution from ship dumping, land-based sources and seabed
activities.
-
Identifies environmental management issues, for which cooperative
effort are to be made, especially protected areas, environmental
impact assessment, liability, compensation, scientific and
technological cooperation.
-
Establishes rules and procedures for the determination of
liability and compensation foe damage resulting from pollution of
the Convention area.
|
Oct. 11 198
6
|
|
Feb. 28 1986
|
MNR&L
2 protocols shores have been adapted to date
the 3rd protocol is a control of pollutants from land based
sources.
|
|
Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas
and Wild life in the Wider Caribbean Region (SPAW Protocol of the
Cartagena Convention)
|
Jan. 18 1990 |
- It
obligates contracting parties to take necessary measures to
protect, preserve and manage in a sustainable way area that
require protection to safe guard their special value and
threatened and endangered species of flora and fauna.
|
|
|
1990 |
This could be used in this support of
mangrove plans. This is a need for putting in placed local regions
for protected areas. |
|
Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Faun
a and Flora
( CITES )
|
March 3 1973
as amended
June 22 1979
April 30 1983
|
- Provides for
regulation of international trade in wild species, in particular
prohibiting trade in species considered threatened or likely to
become so.
|
July 1 1975
April 13 1987
not yet in force
|
|
Oct. 31 1976
|
MNR&L / CFD
Report
|
|
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory
Species of Wild Animals (BONN Convention)
|
1979 |
- Provides
for appropriate management of migratory species that are
threatened, or otherwise have an unfavorable conservation status,
particularly through international agreement between range states.
|
|
|
|
|
|
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat.
|
Feb. 2 1971
|
-
Considered the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands as
regulators of water regimes and as habitats supporting
characteristics flora and fauna especially waterfowl.
Requires contracting parties to designate suitable wetlands within
its territory for conclusion in a list of Wetlands of
international importance.
Allows for the formulation and implementation of plans to promote
the conservation of the wetlands in the lists.
|
Dec. 21 1975
Date of entry force into the B.V.I
15/6/1991
|
|
Feb. 13 1991
|
MNR&L National Parks
-
Obligated to include wetland consideration in National Land use
planning.
-
Designated at least one wetland site for inclusion a list of
wetlands of international importance.
-
Promote conservation of wetlands through establishment of nature
reserves.
|
|
RAMSAR Protocol to Amend the Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat.
|
Dec. 12 1982
|
-
Provides for inclusion in the Convention of an article 10, which
defines a mechanism for amending the Convention.
|
Oct. 1 1986
|
|
April 19 1984
|
-
Any National Reports
-
Designated wetlands
-
Importance for mangroves management.
|
| World Heritage Convention (Convention
on the Protection of the World Cultural and Heritage)
|
Nov. 16 1972
|
-
Provides for parties to integrate the protection of their heritage
into comprehensive planning programs involving scientific,
technical, legal, administrative and financial steps.
-
Provides for the establishment of a World Heritage Committee and a
World Heritage Fund
|
Dec. 17 1975
* Aug. 29 1984
|
|
1993 |
MNR&L
National Parks Trust
Parks and protected areas systems plan for
the B.V.I - few have been declared - promote the declaration and
management of those identified areas.
|
| Convention on Biological Diversity
|
June 1992
|
-
Provides for the development of plans or programs for the
conservation of biological diversity, and sustainable use of its
components.
|
|
|
|
|
|
United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change
|
June 1992 |
- Provides
measures for the reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases to
a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference
with climate change.
|
March 21 1994
|
|
|
|
| International Convention to Combat
Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought
and/ or Desertification particularly in Africa
|
Oct. 15 1994
|
-
Provides for an integrated approach to addressing the physical,
biological, and semi-economic aspects of the process of
desertification and drought.
-
Provides for the integration of strategies for poverty eradication
into efforts to combat desertification.
|
Not yet force
|
|
Not yet ratifie
d |
MNR&L /CFD /DOA
|
|
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the
Ozone Layer
|
March 22 1985
|
-
Requires Parties to cooperate in research concerning substances
and processes that modify the ozone layer.
-
Allows for cooperation in formulation and implementation of
measures to control activities that result in the modification of
the ozone layer.
-
Provides for exchange of scientific, socio- economic, commercial
and technical information.
|
Sept. 22 1988
|
|
|
|
| Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer
|
Sept. 16 1987
|
- Prohibits the
manufacture of, and control importation and exportation of Ozone
depleting substances such as CFC’s and Halons, and of products
containing or made with those substances.
|
Jan. 1 1989
*Sept. 16 1978
|
|
Dec. 16 1988
|
National draft legislation.
Drafted Ozone Layer project legislation is
still to be enacted
|
| Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal
|
March 22 198
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| International Convention on Civil
Liability for Oil Pollution damage
|
Nov. 29 1969
( as amended )
Nov. 19 1976
May 25 1984
|
-
States that the owner of a ship at the time of an incident causing
oil pollution damage shall be liable for any damage caused.
-
Allows for establishment of contributory liability on part of the
plaintiff.
-
Requests ships carrying over 2,000 tons of oil as cargo to
maintain insurance.
|
June 19 1975
April 8 1981
*April 1 1976
|
|
|
|
| International Convention Relating to
Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties
|
Nov. 29 1969 |
- Provides for
Parties to take such measures on the High seas as maybe necessary
to prevent, mitigate or eliminate danger to their coastline or
related interests form pollution or threat of pollution of the sea
by o
il.
|
May 6 1975
*Sept. 8 1982
|
|
|
|
|
Protocol Concerning Cooperation in Combating
Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean
( Protocol related to the Cartagena
Convention )
|
March 24 1983
|
-
Requires contracting parties to cooperate to take preventable and
remedial measures for the protection of the marine and coastal
environment of the wider Caribbean region, particular, coastal
areas of the Islands of the region from oil spill incidents and to
cooperate in maintaining and promoting contingency plans.
-
Established, maintain or ensure the establishment maintenance of
the means to respond to oil spill incidents by
(1)enactment of relevant legislation
|
Oct. 11 1986
Already in force
Oct. 22 1987
B.V.I extended
|
|
|
National Oil Spill Contingency Plan has
been prepared for the B.V.I.
|
| Protocol Relating to Intervention on
the High Seas in Cases of Marine Pollution by Substances Other
than Oil |
Nov. 11 1973
|
-
Enables Parties to take measures as are necessary on the high seas
to prevent, mitigate or eliminate grave and imminent danger to
their coastline or related interests from pollution or the threat
of pollution by substances other than oil following a maritime
casualty.
-
Allows for the establishment of a list of substances.
|
March 30 1983
* March 30 1983B.V.I.
|
|
|
MNR&L / CFD
|
| International Convention on the
Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil
Pollution Damage
|
Dec. 18 1971
( as amended )
Nov. 19 1976
May 25 1984
|
-
Provides for the establishment of and international oil pollution
compensation fund.
-
Allows compensation to be paid by the to any person suffering
pollution damage.
|
Oct. 16 1978
*Oct. 16 1978
|
|
|
|
| International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
|
Dec. 18 1971
( as amended)
Nov. 19 1976
May 25 1984
|
-
Enforces and administers the detailed provisions in the attached
annexes I-V, the Protocol on Intervention on the High Seas in
Cases of Marine Pollution by substances other than Oil, and
protocols I and II,
a.
Protocol I contains provisions concerning reports on incidents
involving harmful substances.
b.
Annex I contains regulation for the prevention of pollution by
oil.
c.
Annex II contains regulations for the control of pollution by
noxious liquid substances in bulk.
d.
Annex III contains regulations for the prevention of pollution by
harmful substances carried by sea in packaged forms.
e.
Annex IV contains regulations for the prevention of pollution by
sewage from ships.
f.
Annex V contains regulations for the prevention of pollution by
garbage from ships.
|
|
|
May 22 1980
|
|
| Protocol of 1978 Relating to the
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from
Ships
|
Feb. 2 1978
( as amended )
March 15 1985
|
-
Modifies various provisions of the 1973 London Convention and n
particular its annex
-
Postpones the entry into force of annex II of the Convention for a
period of three years.
|
Oct. 2 1983
|
|
Oct. 2 1983 |
|
| Convention on the Prevention of Marine
Pollution by Dumping of wastes and Other Matter
|
Dec 18 1972
( as amended )
Oct. 12 1978
Sept. 24 1980
|
- Covers all areas and all deliberate
disposal of wastes other than that incidental to the normal
operation of ships and aircraft.
- Parties are encouraged to establish
authorities to issue permits, keep records and monitor the
conditions of the seas.
|
Aug. 30 1975
|
|
Dec. 17 1975
|
BVI not included in UK ratification,
however local legislation exists as Environment Protection
( Overseas Territories ) Order 1988
|
| Treaty on the Prohibition of the
Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed
and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil thereof |
Nov. 11 1971
|
- Compels
Parties to undertake not to place on the seabed, on the ocean
floor or in the subsoil, nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass
destruction, storing, testing or using such weapons.
|
May 18 1972
|
|
May 18 1972
|
|
The