In the Same Boat? A Comparative Analysis of the Approaches of Russia and Canada in the Negotiation of the IMO’s Mandatory Polar Code

Abstract

In the field of Arctic shipping, Canada and the Russian Federation have enacted extensive unilateral national regulations cognizant of Article 234, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. On the global level, both states have been important actors in negotiating the International Maritime Organization’s mandatory Polar Code, a legal instrument with implications for regulations at the national level. This article compares and contrasts the approaches, positions, and arguments of Canada and Russia especially regarding national systems to control navigation and vessel-source pollution. The results suggest different emphases stemming from the two states’ political and economic realities and capacities.     

Effects of size and sex on the social organization of reef-associated hogfishes,Bodianus spp.

Synopsis Three species of wrasses (Labridae) were examined in the field to determine the relative importance of size and sex in structuring social organization. The Spanish hogfish, Bodianus rufus, was characterized by stable dominance hierarchies that were linearly organized according to sex and relative size. Males were the largest and most-dominant individuals within discrete social groups of females (harems) whose dominance increased with body size. Dominance rank also increased with body size among both males and females of the Mexican hogfish, B. diplotaenia. Most encounters occurred between the sexes and males were clearly dominant over females. The vieja, B. eclancheri, differed from the other congeners since social interactions were not strongly patterned by either relative body size or sex. Hogfish dominance relationships appear to develop according to the manner in which males compete for females, including the formation of harems in permanent territories with single-male pairspawns (B. rufus), defense of temporary reproductive territories with single-male pairspawns (B. diplotaenia) or maximizing sperm production in multi-male group spawns (B. eclancheri).     

The use of non-metrical variations of the cranium in the study of Scandinavian population movements

The incidences of 30 non-metrical skull variants have been determined in 21 samples of crania from Scandinavia, Iceland and the British Isles. The samples have been compared to give Estimates of Divergence which are assumed to represent degrees of genetical affinity between them. In general these estimates are in accordance with known population movements in the area and also with genetical affinities determined from other systems. One bizarre result emphasizes the importance of caution in interpreting genetical distances found by this or similar methods. It is concluded that this method is a useful aid in human population studies.     

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Maritime Delimitation: The Bangladesh v. Myanmar Case

This article uses the Northwest Passage as a case for study of one issue relating to the regime of international straits: whether a strait formed geographically and functionally by means of artificial aids for navigation may be regarded as an artificial waterway to which the regime of international straits does not apply. The article suggests that the Northwest Passage could be subject to a bilateral treaty regime between Canada and the United States, largely akin to that which applies to artificial waterways such as the Panama Canal. This solution would guarantee both Canadian sovereignty over the Passage and the interests of international shipping in having a route open and secure.