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GCIL HOME   HIGHLIGHTS AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE MONUMENT R.M.S. TITANIC SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS SUBJECT AREAS Antarctic Arctic Biological Diversity Climate Change Environment and Trade Extraterritorial Appl. of Laws Fisheries Heritage Marine Debris Marine Mammals Marine Pollution Marine Protected Areas Marine Turtles Marine Scientific Research Seabed Management Seabirds Ships, Regulation of Survey and Charting Treaties Underwater Sound Zones and Boundaries ACRONYMS REFERENCES

SURVEY AND CHARTING The Office of General Counsel for International Law As a maritime nation, the United States depends on the oceans and its coastal zones for trade, commerce, recreation and national security. As such, one of the earliest government scientific projects was to survey, map and chart the seabed and waters off of our coast. Today, NOAA's survey work is particularly important for determining the seaward limits of the U.S. maritime zones including the territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that have become recognized under customary international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC). NOAA surveys are conducted consistent with international standards and practice. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)) facilitates cooperation among nations in the development of international survey standards through the implementation of the IHO Convention and its Protocol of Amendments. The survey and mapping of the seabed are essential to delineating the outer limit of that portion of the continental shelf that extends beyond the outer limit of the U.S. 200 nm Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) consistent with Article 76 of the LOSC. Accurate charts and maps of our offshore maritime zones are indispensable tools to assuring safe navigation, exploring, developing, managing, and preserving our resources, establishing a baseline for understanding how climate change is affecting our world, and protecting the marine environment and our national security. Additional reference information: US Ratification of Protocol of Amendments to IHO Convention History of NOAA Coast Survey NOAA Historical Maps and Charts