公海生物资源保护与公海自由的相对化——基于“南极捕鲸案”的分析

Conservation of Biological Resources in the High Seas and Relativization of the Freedoms of the High Seas: An Analysis Based on the "Antarctic whaling case"

在2014年"南极捕鲸案"中,国际法院在政治经济利益与海洋生物资源保护之间寻找平衡点,在既有法律资源中寻找突破口,从举证责任分配、国家颁布特别许可证的权限等方面对捕鲸行为进行了实质性限制。该案是鲸类保护及公海生物资源保护的一个范例。国际法院的判决体现出环保主义倾向,强化了公海自由相对化的趋势。相关理论和国际海洋环境立法的演进都表明,公海自由、国家主权和公海生物资源保护之间的关系正在从传统走向现代,呈现出从关注经济价值走向兼顾生态价值的趋势,这是一种艰难而必要的价值平衡。

In 2014 the " Antarctic whaling case",the International Court of Justice( " ICJ") achieved a balance between the reality of political and economic interest and the protection of marine biological resources. Finding its way among the existing legal resources,ICJ imposed substantial restrictions on whaling activities through reallocating the burden of proof,limiting the power to issue special permits. This case is a typical example for whale protection and conservation of bio-resources in the high seas. ICJ' s judgment embodies the tendency of environmentalism and strengthens the relativization of the freedoms of the high seas. The evolution of related theory and international marine environmental legislation have indicated that the relationship between the freedoms of the high seas,national sovereignty and conservation of bio-resources in the high seas is transferring from traditional to modern,reflecting the shift of focus from economic value to ecological value,which is a tough but necessary balance of values.