Dear list-members

As most of you will know, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement (finally) entered
into force today. As the sharing of news and other information is one of the
major purposes of this list, it therefore occurred to me that this would be
a good day to activate the OceanLaw discussion list.

First of all - may I introduce myself. I am Chris Hedley and I run this list
together with Professor Robin Churchill of Cardiff Law School (UK). I also
edit the website from which this list is run (www.oceanlaw.net). When not
pursuing these activities, I am studying for a PhD on European Union
fisheries agreements and training to become a barrister in the UK. Next year
I will complete this training with the UK Government's Department of
Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Many of you will be familiar with email discussion lists, but for those of
you who are not I urge you to read the information about this list contained
on the OceanLaw website (www.oceanlaw.net/lists). In this message I have
jotted down a few ideas of what the list should be used for and what its
objectives are. My suggestions are not exhaustive, however, and ultimately
the list will develop its own "personality". I have also added a few extra
comments at the bottom of the message on how to use the list, but full
details are provided on the website.

Basically, I envisage the list being used for (among other things):

 - exchange of information relating to matters such as:

        1. negotiations for and adoptions of new treaties, plans of action, etc.
        2. signatures, ratifications, entries into force of treaties
        3. meetings of international organizations and States parties
        4. actions taken by States and international organizations
        4. international conferences
        5. new paper and online resources

 - requests for research assistance

        1. asking for lost bibliographical references
        2. asking for references on a particular subject
        3. asking for help on difficult research questions

 - advertising employment opportunities [but please no "looking for a job"
messages]

 - discussion of current issues [please see next message]

The important thing is to use the list as often as you can. The more use
that is made of the list, the more benefit everyone derives. In this regard,
I would also urge you to promote the list wherever you can to encourage more
people to join.

One last thing, please remember that the scope of the list is not limited to
fisheries but extends to any marine environmental matter and also to other
relevant areas of the law of the sea (e.g. navigation, maritime
delimitation).

Looking forward to many fruitful communications


Chris Hedley



INFORMATION ON USING THE OCEANLAW DISCUSSION LIST


Scope:

The scope of the list is not limited to fisheries, but is designed also to
cover general marine environmental issues and other relevant law of the sea
issues. (For more information, see www.oceanlaw.net/lists/detailed.htm).


Using the list

Please make sure that you use the correct email addresses when contacting
the list:

to send a message to all list members: [log in to unmask]
to unsubscribe or send a command to the list: [log in to unmask]

Please also note that if you are away from your office and have set your
email to provide an automatic response you must instruct the list not to
send messages to this email address. Otherwise you will send an automated
list to every list member every time a message is sent (which can be VERY
ANNOYING!!). For information on how to do this, please see Question 11 of
the Frequently Asked Questions page (www.oceanlaw.net/lists/faqs.htm).


Etiquette:

The list "etiquette" is generally a matter of common sense. However, if this
is the first time you have used a discussion list, I encourage you to look
up the Acceptable Use Policy page (www.oceanlaw.net/lists/policy.htm) and
also the Frequently Asked Questions page (www.oceanlaw.net/lists/faqs.htm)
especially questions 19-26.


More information:

You are strongly encouraged to look up the information on the OceanLaw
website which gives full details on what the list is for and how to use it.
All this information is in the "Lists" section of the website
(www.oceanlaw.net/lists). The most useful pages are the first four links in
the "Useful links" section.


Any problems:

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries or problems relating
to this list: [log in to unmask]



____________________________________________

Chris Hedley LLB    E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Editor, OceanLaw    Tel: +44 707 432 3000
www.oceanlaw.net    Fax: +44 870 705 2343

Resources on OceanLaw:

Int-Fish Bulletin: new monthly current affairs journal on fisheries, marine
mammals and other marine life conservation

Internet Guide to International Fisheries Law: the web's leading resource
for marine living resource law, policy and management - more than 1000 pages
of information

OceanLaw Mailing List: a discussion list open to anyone with an interest in
marine living resource law and management and related law of the sea issues