Part I Marine Living Resources and Marine Biodiversity, 3 The Work of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Respect of Global Ocean Governance

This chapter focuses on the work of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in respect to global ocean governance. ICAO, which was created to replace the International Commission for Air Navigation (ICAN), has three main goals: encourage international civil aviation and promotion of its benefits; preserve the safety of flights and relevant equipment and installations; and eliminate obstacles and ease tensions related to civil aviation. The chapter first provides a background on ICAO before discussing its role in global ocean governance. It also considers the three pillars of interaction that fall under ICAO’s mandate and are deeply related to ocean affairs and the mandate of marine organizations: aviation, safety/security, and environment. Finally, it assesses future prospects for ICAO with regard to its mandate by highlighting three areas: knowledge building for environmental protection and management, civil–military cooperation in air and sea, and preparedness for emerging/upcoming technological challenges.