根据《联合国海洋法公约》的规定,沿海国在其专属经济区内的管辖权包括三个方面:海洋科学研究、海洋环境的保护和保全、人工岛屿、设施和结构的建造、管理和使用。沿海国对上述事项的管辖权事实上包括立法管辖权和执法管辖权两个方面,而涉及海洋环境保护和保全的沿海国的执法管辖权的行使又要受到公约中其他条款的严格限制,其目的是达到沿海国利益和他国的航行等利益之间的平衡。但是,近年来,不少国家以保护海洋生物资源、特殊的航行条件或脆弱的海洋生态自然环境等理由,在本国的专属经济区内设立海洋保护区、特别敏感海域、海洋自然公园等保护目的、名称各异的海洋保护区域,并在这些区域内适用限制船舶航行和其他人类活动的保护措施和执法管辖权。这些措施对于建立在《联合国海洋法公约》相关条款之上的沿海国和他国间的权利义务的微妙平衡产生影响,另一方面也存在针对外国船舶的执法管辖执权以及这些保护措施本身的国际法依据问题。为此,有必要对特别区域、冰封区域和特别敏感海域的形成背景、国际法依据、设定的要件和程序、沿海国的立法和执行权的范畴进行比较研究,并探讨我国在该领域的立法现状和存在的问题。
With the increasing trend of costal state jurisdiction in the field of maritime environmental protection, it is not uncommon to see a great deal of states establish Maritime Protection Areas. Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) and so forth with the excuses of zoology protection. Besides, the compulsory legislations set up by the states as well as some relevant measures exert great influence on littoral situations. This article will look into the Particular Areas System , the Ice-covered Zones System and the PSSA System through the comparison of the background, international law, the criteria and procedures, together with the power of legislation and enforcement. As mentioned above, the jurisdiction, especially the enforcement power, is expanding; meanwhile, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is putting strict limitations on the execution power of littoral states in the aspect of maritime environmental protection. As the unique authorized international organization-International Maritime Organization (IMO) is playing an important role on the prevention, control and reduction of pollution. However, the debate is on whether or not coastal states should execute their domestic legislations in the PSSA within Chapter 12 of the Convention. Moreover, the IMO has not provided a clear answer to what the international legal foundation of the PSSA is. Under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the claim on building maritime protection zones beyond the limits of national jurisdiction is on the top of agenda. No matter what the result is, a new trade-off which affects the oceanic usage and protection will attract more and more concern. Having witnessed the great progress in recent years, in global maritime development and as a great responsible power, China will participate more in the IMO with the view to have a decisive effect.