I'm mack to NZ after finishing the unique experience of participating in the 25th Edition of the Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy in Greece.
a fisherman and scholar :-)
I have not done anything like this ever before… the only thing close to it was in 2005 when I did a 2-week training at the World Bank Institute in Paris on Environmental Economics for Development Policy
But yeah, as I wrote before, this is very well regarded training on UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law oil the Sea), something I have been working under in one way or another for almost 40 years… one could say I been having an affair with UNCLOS, so I thought it sourly be good to formalise our relationship
These two components to it, a social with alumni from Iceland to Sierra Leone, and from Ukraine to Sri Lanka and lecturers that are the top of the top in that nerdiest of worlds… including former and present presidents and judges from ITLOS (International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea)
Some of the lectures taught the lessons in 1st person since they were the negotiators, and that was invaluable, while others were top academics or experts in science subjects (i.e. geomorphologists and oceanographer's - which I enjoyed)… but as well we had practising case lawyers, and that lawyers heavy presence (is law of the sea after all) was perhaps the biggest challenge for someone with my background, lawyers and scientists think different
My feeling on my deep dive on UNCLOS is both re-vindicating and frustrating… is all there! The obligations of conduct and result by flag states and coastal states are blatantly clear, yet even so, and after 40 years, we are still trying to get them to comply.
Overall was excellent as I’ve got to understand how everything “fits” in the bigger picture of UNCLOS as the anchor of many vital organisations and agreements that refer to it
As expected, the fisheries side was relatively light as it must fit among many other components. Personally, I thought they were a bit too academic and Eurocentric, (I guess is understandable since most lecturers are European) and a bit “doomy”….Not to say is all good, because is not true… but we have examples of fisheries that doing well and organisations/areas that are doing well thanks to the rights provided by UNCLOS, WCPFC / FFA is the 1st one to come to mind, but also Iceland and or Faroes are great candidates too), it would have been great t have a relative “success” story presentation
The other area I would like to have heard from a UNCLOS perspective was the basis for labour/human rights at sea.
In any case, I enjoyed it and learned a lot.
A cherry on the cake was to be asked to deliver a valedictory, which I accepted to do under the condition of having colleagues of different gender, race and age with me.
Perhaps the easiest way to explain what this training meant is to paste below what I said at the end of the graduation ceremony at the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. (amazing place)
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings, Greetings, Greetings to you all in Māori the language of the country that has been my home for over 30 years.
I acknowledge you and the many more that have called this magnificent place home over thousands of years.
Where I live, no gathering of people starts without a few solemn words of traditional wisdom, and for this occasion, I would like to quote a whakatauki, a Māori proverb that is more than fitting for this moment
He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata!
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!
This whakatauki talks about the importance of human connection and relationships. This is what creates community and enables people to flourish. It values the human being in all of us and reminds us of what is most important – not money, not a success, not a job or a thing – it is people.
In these 3 weeks we learned much more than the content of the blue book of UNCLOS. We learned from the peoples and times that created those words, the fears and triumphs, the reservations and aspirations of the many that contributed for decades to what is known as the constitutions of the oceans.
But what I consider a real privilege is that we learned much of that from those that can tell that story in 1st person, those whose life and wisdom have been devoted to its interpretation and as any law, its ultimate use for that most difficult of human creations: Justice
We also learned ourselves from how the Law of the Sea influences each of our professional and personal lives, independently of whether we are involved in navigation, science, dispute settlements, underwater cables, deep seabed regimes, climate change, pollution, fisheries (as in my case), and many other aspects that it will take actually 3 weeks to enumerate and be fair.
Yet besides being a profound collective experience as the people we are, it has I’m sure been a deeply personal one as well. Each of us got here through a different journey (literally and metaphorically) originating in different parts of the world.
Personally, not in my wildest dream when I started piling fish in a fishing boat in the south atlantic and later on in the pacific I would have ever thought that I’ll be here learning about the ultimate law that has ruled my life as a man of the sea and meeting all of you, a group of amazing people, full of experience, dedication, enthusiasm, willingness and originality. You fill me with the hope that the many challenges we face as people have a chance and I’m deeply thankful and honoured for the privilege of having shared your time, knowledge and company.
We are here because of the ocean, not one that separates us but one that brought ALL of us together as one.
