Strengthening ZOPACAS: the Maritime Safety Roadmap for the South Atlantic

Population growth poses one of the greatest challenges

for human survival in the 21st

Century and, increasingly,

man is turning to the sea for food and energy. As the

ocean has no physical boundaries, it is inevitable that

some of these activities will affect the seashore and

jurisdictional waters of coastal States, negatively affecting

those nations’ territorial waters, with all the economic and

social ramifications that entails. Recent case studies point

to most threats to maritime jurisdictions coming from

undetected acts perpetrated beyond national jurisdiction,

on the high seas. Therefore, this article looks at potential

threats in this domain and measures to mitigate those

threats, in full compliance with the provisions of the

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The occurrence area, and the limitations imposed by

international law, make it impossible for any one country

to address these issues alone. Increasingly States need the

support of international alliances and intergovernmental

forums such as the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the

South Atlantic (ZOPACAS). Leveraging those alliances

to reinforce maritime safety and achieve comprehensive

peace is the surest way to foster cooperation among

developing nations, including those with coasts along

the South Atlantic, and to prevent maritime threats from

undermining their future.

Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval