1

"#$%&'( ()(*%+,%-./ 0+(1/&+/( .%$ +, 2#.#3-+%4

./((#,( 0&#3 5)(*&%.+% %,' 21+./

!"##$ &$'()*)$ +,('-. /012$

!"#$%&'(#)%"

The puipose of this ieseaich is to contiibute the theoiy of sustainable
uevelopment anu to analyse how it can best be implementeu in the law of
Colombia anu countiies in South Ameiica with similai uevelopment featuies,
thiough a case stuuy on fisheiies management. Sustainable uevelopment is a
uiscouise that piomotes the commitment of nations to piotect the enviionment
without compiomising economic uevelopment anu social welfaie anu to
pieseive natuial iesouices foi futuie geneiations
1
. The piinciples unueipinning
the sustainable uevelopment uiscouise have been accepteu anu agieeu on by the
0niteu Nations. It pioviues a lens though which to evaluate enviionmental law
fiamewoiks because it can ieflect the piioiities of both uevelopeu anu
ueveloping countiies. As a ueveloping countiy, Colombia is focuseu on its
economic giowth. Bowevei, as with eveiy nation, it is facing the consequences of
a histoiy of limiteu enviionmental piotection.

This papei is oiganiseu in foui paits. The fiist pait outlines the concept of
sustainable uevelopment in teims of its oiigins, founuations, anu its implications
foi national goveinance of enviionmental piotection in the context of a
ueveloping countiy. The seconu pait outlines the elements of a legal fiamewoik
that aie iequiieu to opeiationalize sustainable uevelopment at the national level.
Pait thiee intiouuces the issues facing the nation of Colombia, which is the focus
of this ieseaich. It pioviues an oveiview of Colombia's cuiient enviionmental
pioblems, its iegime of enviionmental piotection, anu the appioaches to
implementing sustainable uevelopment, with paiticulai focus on fisheiies

1
As it will be mentioneu latei in this papei, theie is no consensual uefinition of sustainable
uevelopment, although the theoiy is unueipinneu by the piinciples anu guiuelines auopteu in the
inteinational aiena

2
management. Builuing on these intiouuctoiy uiscussions, pait foui outlines the
pioject's bioauei ieseaich objectives.
67 "1/ '+(8#)&(/ #0 ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,*
676 ;/9/.#:3/,* #0 *1/ 8#,8/:* #0 ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,* +, +,*/&,%*+#,%.
.%$

Sustainable uevelopment is the main uiscouise to emeige fiom concein about
human inteiaction with the enviionment
2
. It mouifieu the existing inteinational
appioach to uevelopment by intiouucing enviionmental piotection as an issue
that neeueu to be auuiesseu
S
. The concept of sustainable uevelopment is
ieflecteu in a set of tools anu actions foi auoption at iegional, national anu
inteinational levels aimeu at achieving balance between uevelopment anu the
enviionment
4
.

Sustainable uevelopment as a uiscouise has taken shape in a seiies of
uiscussions helu within the 0niteu Nations conceining the pievention of
enviionmental uegiauation in a globalizeu context. At its inception, concein foi
the enviionment anu how uevelopment influenceu it aiose in the eaily 197us
S
.

Buiing the "#$%&' ()%$*#+ ,*#-&.&#/& *# %0& 123)# 4#5$.*#3&#% helu in
Stockholm in 1972, attention was focusseu on the enviionment anu its ielevance
in teims of human neeus
6
. The puipose of the confeience was to uiscuss the

2
Foi a uesciiption of theoiies on how appioach the ielationship between humans anu the
enviionment see: }ohn Biyzek, 60& 7*8$%$/+ *- %0& &).%09 &#5$.*#3&#%)8 '$+/*2.+&+ (0xfoiu
0niveisity Piess, 2nu Euition eu, 2uuS)
S
}ohn C. Beinbach, 'Sustainable Bevelopment as a Fiamewoik foi National uoveinance' (1998)
49(1) ,)+& :&+%&.# ;&+&.5& <)= ;&5$&=, 9
4
Naiy Pat Williams Silveiia, 'Inteinational Legal Instiuments anu Sustainable Bevelopment:
piinciples, iequiiements, anu iestiuctuiing' (199S) S1 :$88)3&%%& <)= ;&5$&=, 2S9
S
0niteu Nations Enviionment Piogiam 0NEP, 'Integiating Enviionment anu Bevelopment: 1972
- 2uu2' in 0niteu Nations Enviionment Piogiam 0NEP (eu), >8*?)8 4#5$.*#3&#% @2%8**A B (2uu2)
2
6
Naiie-Claie Coiuoniei Seggei, 'Sustainable Bevelopment in Inteinational Law' in Bans
Chiistian Bugge anu Chiistina voigt (eus), C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% $# E#%&.#)%$*#)8 )#' ()%$*#)8
<)= (2uu8), 98

S
necessity foi enviionmental piotection on a global scale
7
. Since then it has been
acknowleugeu that the planet is unuei thieat anu that actions to pievent ciises
aie iequiieu on a global level
8
. As a iesult, many countiies began implementing
enviionmental laws
9
anu a numbei of tieaties uealing with the enviionment
staiteu to appeai
1u
.

Although the Stockholm Beclaiation highlighteu the neeu to auopt a
uevelopment path that uiu not haim the enviionment
11
, it uiu not establish how
these conflicting concepts coulu be ieconcileu in piactice
12
. This was the mission
entiusteu to the Woilu Commission on Enviionment anu Bevelopment (WCEB)
establisheu by the 0N in 198S: "to combine anu stiike a balance between what at
the outset seemeu to be conflicting goals - enviionmental piotection anu
economic uevelopment"
1S
.

The outcome of the Commissions woik was piesenteu in @2. ,*33*# F2%2.&
14

in 1987G a iepoit biinging global attention to the link between poveity anu
enviionmental ciises, anu pioviuing a fiamewoik foi the integiation of social
economic anu enviionmental aspects of uevelopment
1S
. This was achieveu by
intiouucing the concept of sustainable uevelopment, uefineu as "uevelopment

7
Ibiu
8
Ibiu, 94
9
Colombia, foi example, was the fiist countiy in South Ameiica to enact a coue on Natuial
Resouices anu Natuial Piotection in 1974
1u
Beinbach, above n S ,17
11
Piinciple 1S of the Stockholm Beclaiation states that "In oiuei to achieve a moie iational
management of iesouices anu thus to impiove the enviionment, States shoulu auopt an
integiateu anu cooiuinateu appioach to theii uevelopment planning so as to ensuie that
uevelopment is compatible with the neeu to piotect anu impiove enviionment foi the benefit of
theii population": 0niteu Nations Confeience on the Buman Enviionment, D&/8).)%$*# *- %0&
"#$%&' ()%$*#+ ,*#-&.&#/& *# %0& 123)# 4#5$.*#3&#% (1972) 0niteu Nations Enviionment
Piogiamme
12
Beinbach, above n S ,18
1S
Bans Chiistian Bugge, '1987-2uu7: 0ui Common Futuie Revisiteu' in Bans Chiistian Bugge anu
Chiistina voigt (eus), C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% $# E#%&.#)%$*#)8 )#' ()%$*#)8 <)= (Euiopa Law
Publishing, 2uu8), 6
14
Also known as the Biunutlanu Repoit, honoiing uio Bailem Biunutlanu, Piime Ninistei of
Noiway anu uesignateu chaii of the WCEB
1S
Bugge, above n 1S , S

4
that meets the neeus of the piesent without compiomising the ability of futuie
geneiations to meet theii own neeus"
16
H

The puipose of the iepoit was to call foi actions at the inteinational anu national
levels while acknowleuging that since all nations contiibute to the pioblem of
unsustainability, all may contiibute, to a gieatei oi lessei uegiee, to the
solution
17
. In the inteinational aiena, sustainability iequiies ieoiientation of
inteinational economic ielations to guaiantee the sustainability of ecosystems
on which the global economy ielies is pieseiveu, simultaneously achieving
equitable ielationships between the economic paitneis
18
Foi this puipose, the
iepoit intiouuceu iecommenuations in the fielus of financial suppoit, tiaue,
inteinational investment anu tiansfei of technology
19
It also intiouuceu
stiategies to manage common ecosystems
2u
, incluuing seven "stiategic
impeiatives" that must be consiueieu by nations in theii policy foimulation
towaiu a moie sustainable uevelopment path
21
. Impeiatives incluue changing
the quality of giowth, ensuiing the population is able to meet theii basic neeus,
conseiving natuial iesouices anu meiging of the enviionment anu economics in
uecision-making
22
to achieve "haimony among human being anu between
human being anu natuie"
2S
.

The global iesponse to @2. ,*33*# F2%2.& was the "#$%&' ()%$*#+ ,*#-&.&#/& *#
4#5$.*#3&#% )#' D&5&8*73&#% (0NCEB) in 1992
24
. Baseu on the
iecommenuations of the Biunutlanu Repoit, the puipose of this summit was to
uiscuss futuie actions foi enviionmental piotection anu the ieuiiection of
economic uevelopment
2S
. The outcome is containeu in five agieements: the Rio

16
0niteu Nations Woilu Commission on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, '0ui Common Futuie '
(1987), Chaptei 2.1
17
Naiie-Claie Coiuoniei Seggei anu Ashfaq Khalfan, C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% <)=9 I.$#/$78&+G
I.)/%$/&+G )#' I.*+7&/%+ (0xfoiu 0niveisity Piess, 2uu4), 19
18
0niteu Nations Woilu Commission on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 16 , Pait I
Chaptei S.I.2
19
Ibiu, Chaptei S
2u
Ibiu, Pait III Chaptei 1u
21
Ibiu, Chaptei 2
22
Ibiu, Pait I Chaptei 2.28
2S
Ibiu, Pait I Chaptei 2, Iv.81
24
Beinbach, above n S , 21
2S
Coiuoniei Seggei, above n 6 , 98

S
Beclaiation on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, Agenua 21, the Fiamewoik
Convention on Climate Change (FCCC), the Convention on Biological Biveisity
(CBB) anu the statement of Piinciples foi the Sustainable Nanagement of
Foiests
26
. The Rio Beclaiation is a statement of piinciples that foim the basis foi
sustainable uevelopment
27
anu Agenua 21 is the action plan that sets objectives,
taigets, anu actions foi its effective implementation in the thiee categoiies of
uevelopment, i.e. enviionmental, social anu economic. Although these two
uocuments aie non-binuing agieements, nations aie expecteu to comply with the
commitments because they aie the iesult of inteinational consent
28
. Also of a
non-binuing natuie is the Statement of Foiest Piinciples, which emphasises that
nations have the soveieign iight to exploit foiestiy iesouices but aie also
constiaineu by the obligations of piotection anu conseivation
29
. By contiast, the
FCCC
Su
anu CBB
S1
aie legally binuing conventions incoipoiating the guiuing
piinciples of sustainable uevelopment in the inteinational commitment to
combat conceins such as global waiming anu the piotection of species anu
ecosystems. Finally, anothei majoi achievement of the summit was the
establishment of a Commission on Sustainable Bevelopment; an inteinational
bouy
S2
to suppoit nations in the implementation of sustainable uevelopment
stiategies at inteinational, iegional anu national levels anu to ieview piogiess
towaiu this
SS
.


26
A summaiy of each agieement can be founu in: Nichael uiubb et al, 60& J4).%0 C233$%J
KL.&&3&#%+9 K >2$'& )#' K++&++3&#% (Eneigy anu Enviionmental Piogiamme, The Royal Institute
of Inteinational Affaiis, 199S), xv
27
Beinbach, above n S , 21
28
Ibiu, 86. While sustainable uevelopment is iegaiueu by some as an emeiging piinciple of
customaiy law, otheis consiuei it as a policy objective iathei than a noim. These views affect the
ways in which states unueistanu anu assume theii commitments to the non-binuing agieements:
Coiuoniei Seggei, above n 6 , 117
29
uiubb et al, above n 26 , 18
Su
The FCCC pioviues a legal fiamewoik to auuiess the pioblem of global waiming causeu by
human activities. It auopts the piecautionaiy appioach towaiu pievention, even in the absence of
scientific ceitainty: ibiu, 1S
S1
The CBB pioviues the legal basis foi the conseivation of the uiveisity of the planet anu the uses
of biological iesouices anu technology: ibiu, 14. CBB embeus the piinciple of intei- anu intia-
geneiational equity by acknowleuging that biouiveisity exists beyonu the fiontieis of a paiticulai
countiy anu that it must be pieseiveu foi piesent anu futuie geneiations: Ben Boei,
'Institutionalising Ecologically Sustainable Bevelopment: the Roles of National, State, anu Local
uoveinments in Tianslating uianu Stiategy into Action' (199S) S1 :$88)3&%%& <)= ;&5$&=, S2u
S2
The CSB is composeu of iepiesentatives fiom SS states, electeu foi teims of thiee yeais
SS
0NEP, above n S ,19

6
The 0NCEB of 1992 was followeu by a seiies of inteinational confeiences on
aieas ielateu to sustainable uevelopment
S4
, until the "( >&#&.)8 K++&3?8M C7&/$)8
C&++$*# *# C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% N(&= O*.AP was helu in 1997. Beie the main
puiposes weie evaluating the implementation of the commitments containeu in
Agenua 21 anu iuentifying piioiities foi futuie action
SS
.

The :*.8' C233$% -*. C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% was subsequently helu in
}ohannesbuig in 2uu2, the objective being to ieview the piogiess achieveu since
the 1992 Confeience anu ieinfoice the impoitance of nations' commitment to
sustainable uevelopment
S6
. Two non-binuing uocuments weie tableu: the
}ohannesbuig Beclaiation on Sustainable Bevelopment (}BSB) anu the
}ohannesbuig Plan of Implementation (}P0I). The }BSB ieinfoices the
commitments establisheu in the 0NCEB, highlights the challenges imposeu by
globalisation anu incieasing global enviionmental ciises, anu emphasises the
impoitance of multilateialism to auuiessing global pioblems
S7
H The }P0I builus
on Agenua 21 by incluuing stiategies to auuiess poveity eiauication,
consumption anu piouuction, health anu specific iegional pioblems
S8
, among
othei challenges
S9
.

In 2u12, the 0N helu the Rio + 2u Eaith Summit to uiscuss the piogiess achieveu
towaius sustainable uevelopment, with a specific focus on gieen economy,
poveity eiauication anu the institutional fiamewoik
4u
. In the futuie we want,
nations ieaffiimeu the commitments establisheu in the Rio Beclaiation anu
}BSB
41
. It was concluueu that moie effoit was neeueu to combat global pioblems

S4
Such as the 199S vienna Woilu Confeience on Buman Rights, the 1994 Caiio Inteinational
Confeience on Population anu Bevelopment, oi the 199S Beijing Woilu Confeience on Women:
ibiu, 12
SS
Coiuoniei Seggei anu Khalfan, above n 17 , 24
S6
Coiuoniei Seggei, above n 6 ,1u7
S7
Ibiu, 1u8
S8
Chaptei vIII auuiesses initiatives foi sustainable uevelopment in Afiica anu Chaptei IX
auuiesses those foi Latin Ameiica anu the Caiibbean, Asia anu the Pacific, West Asia anu
Economic Commission foi Euiope iegion
S9
Naiia uel Pilai uaicia Pachon, 'Evolucion uel concepto ue Besaiiollo Sostenible a tiavs uel
anlisis ue las iesoluciones ue la Asamblea ueneial ue las Naciones 0niuas' in 0niveisiuau
Exteinauo ue Colombia (eu), <&/%2.)+ +*?.& D&.&/0* '&8 Q&'$* K3?$&#%& (2u12) 1Su, 192
4u
Ibiu, 194
41
0niteu Nations Confeience on Sustainable Bevelopment, 60& F2%2.& :& :)#% (2u12) 0niteu
Nations, 2

7
impeuing sustainable uevelopment such as poveity, unemployment anu climate
change
42
. A iemaikable achievement was the involvement of civil society in the
foim of piivate oiganisations, Nu0s anu othei inteiest gioups. Biscussions helu
in vaiious venues aiounu topics such as coipoiate goveinance, clean eneigy anu
social anu enviionmental iesponsibility showeu piivate sectoi commitment to
the concept of sustainable uevelopment
4S
.

In summaiy, sustainable uevelopment is a theoiy that emeigeu anu has since
been ieinfoiceu in the statements of inteinational meetings foi ovei foui
uecaues. It is iegaiueu as the touchstone of inteinational enviionmental law
44

anu has ieoiienteu most national enviionmental law fiamewoiks
4S
. None of the
uocuments tableu in the conventions aiounu sustainable uevelopment have
pioviueu a uefinition agieeu upon by all states
46
. Bowevei, the implications of
auopting sustainable uevelopment can be ueiiveu by examining the
unueipinning piinciples, which is auuiesseu in the following section.

67< "1/ :&+,8+:./( #0 ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,*

It was mentioneu in the pieceuing section that sustainable uevelopment has
emeigeu as an inteinational initiative to auopt a uevelopment path that allows
the integiation of economic, social anu enviionmental aspects. The guiuelines foi
the opeiationalization of sustainable uevelopment can be uiawn fiom the
piinciples that unueipin the theoiy, auopteu in the Rio Beclaiation anu
ieiteiateu in the uocuments conceiveu in subsequent confeiences
47
. It is beyonu
the scope of this papei to exploie the meaning anu opeiation of each piinciple in
uetail. Insteau, this section intiouuces the main piinciples that fiame the
auoption of sustainable uevelopment in a national legal fiamewoik foi the
management of natuial iesouices. These piinciples aie equity, enviionmental

42
uaicia Pachon, above n S9 ,19S
4S
Ann Poweis, 'The Rio +2u Piocess: Foiwaiu Novement foi the Enviionment.' (2u12) 1(2)
6.)#+#)%$*#)8 4#5$.*#3&#%)8 <)= 4uS, 411
44
Beinbach, above n S , S
4S
Ibiu
46
Coiuoniei Seggei, above n 6 ,11S
47
Williams Silveiia, above n 4 ,24S

8
piotection, a piecautionaiy appioach, pollutei-pays (incluuing the piopei
piicing of enviionmental iesouices), public paiticipation anu common-but-
uiffeientiateu iesponsibilities.

The piinciple of equity encompasses the iight of piesent anu futuie geneiations
to meet theii neeus anu to live in haimony with the enviionment
48
. This
piovision entails that uecision-making auuiess enviionmental, economic anu
social concein, not just foi the piesent but also foi futuie geneiations
49
.
Application of this piinciple has iesulteu in measuies foi the piotection of the
enviionment anu biouiveisity, such as the establishment of iestiicteu anu
piotecteu aieas anu the imposition of limits on the exploitation of iesouices so
as to pieseive the enviionment foi futuie geneiations. At the inteinational level,
this piinciple entails suppoit fiom uevelopeu to ueveloping nations,
acknowleuging that while the lattei aie entitleu to achieve uevelopment, they
have limiteu iesouices
Su
.

Enviionmental piotection is an integial pait of the uevelopment piocess
S1
anu
must be suppoiteu by "effective legislation"
S2
; that is, by stanuaius, management
objectives anu piioiities that ieflect the context to which such legislation it
applies
SS
. To facilitate this integiation, an enviionmental impact assessment
(EIA) must be unueitaken on piojects likely to have a negative impact on the
enviionment
S4
. An EIA must incluue the auoption of planning anu contiol
measuies necessaiy to piotect biological uiveisity that may be affecteu
SS
.


48
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, ;$* D&/8).)%$*# *# 4#5$.*#3&#%
)#' D&5&8*73&#% (1992) 0niteu Nations, Piinciple S
49
}ohn C. Beinbach, 'Achieving Sustainable Bevelopment: the Centiality anu Nultiple Facets of
Integiateu Becisionmanking' (2uuS) 1u E#'$)#) R*2.#)8 *- >8*?)8 <&L)8 C%2'$&+, 2SS
Su
Boei, above n S1 ,S22
S1
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 4
S2
Ibiu, Piinciple 11
SS
This piinciple is paiticulaily ielevant to ueveloping countiies that tenu to copy stanuaius fiom
uevelopeu countiies that coulu be inappiopiiate to theii economic oi social conuitions, William
L. Anuieen, 'Enviionmental Law anu Inteinational Assistance: The Challenge of Stiengthening
Enviionmental Law in the Beveloping Woilu' (2uuu) 2S(1) ,*823?$) R*2.#)8 *- 4#5$.*#3&#%)8
<)=, SS
S4
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 17
SS
Boei, above n S1 ,S22

9
In the piotection of the enviionment, nations shall auopt a piecautionaiy
appioach
S6
, which entails that lack of full scientific ceitainty cannot be useu as an
excuse to avoiu taking measuies to pievent seiious enviionmental uamage. This
piinciple piesumes that ecosystems aie vulneiable to exploitation anu human
activity; thus measuies aie neeueu to pievent uamage, iathei than
iemeuiation
S7
. This piinciple has hau abioau application in the law. It is
paiticulaily impoitant in the case of extiactive inuustiies to set the limits of
allowable exploitation such as to avoiu iiiepaiable uamage to the enviionment
S8
.
By this piinciple, the enviionment is the cential consiueiation in uecision-
making conceining social anu economic issues
S9
. It can be opeiationalizeu in a
way that uecision- makeis auopt pieventive measuies to avoiu potential
uamage
6u
, oi it can also have a bioauei application such that auopteu in Austialia
to giant the Ninistei of the Enviionment with the authoiity to oveiiiue uecisions
of othei authoiities when thieats of seiious of enviionmental uamage exist
61
.

The pollutei-pays piinciple is intenueu to ensuie that social, economic anu
enviionmental goals aie iealiseu in haimony
62
so that the cost of pollution is not
boine by the community oi the enviionment. Insteau, piessuie placeu on the
enviionment must be integial to eveiy uevelopment uecision, with the pollutei
beaiing the cost of pollution
6S
. This can be achieveu thiough measuies such as
iegulation in teims of piohibition oi contiol of ceitain activities, pollution
chaiges oi taxes, licence fees oi even euucational mechanisms to influence
behavioui in communities
64
.


S6
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 1S
S7
Beinbach, above n S , 61
S8
Ibiu, 62
S9
Ibiu
6u
In Colombia, foi example, application of the piinciple is limiteu. Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle 1.6
establishes that scientific unceitainty cannot be useu by enviionmental authoiities as an excuse
not to auopt measuies to pievent enviionmental uamange
61
EPBCA s.S91
62
Beinbach, above n S , S8
6S
Baviu R. Bouas, 'The Role of Law in Befining Sustainable Bevelopment: NEPA ieconsiueieu'
(1998) S(S) :$'&#&. <)= CM37+$23 R*2.#)8, 6
64
Boei, above n S1 , S2S

1u
The piinciple of common but uiffeientiateu iesponsibilities is paiticulaily
ielevant foi ueveloping countiies
6S
. It acknowleuges that ueveloping countiies'
specific situations anu neeus iequiie special consiueiation when inteinational
actions aie ueciueu
66
. Thus, while all states have a shaieu iesponsibility foi
enviionmental piotection, the level of paiticipation in any given solution
uepenus on the paiticulai ciicumstances of the countiy, its uegiee of
contiibution to global enviionmental pioblems, anu its ability to pievent, ieuuce
oi contiol them
67
. Bowevei, it is not suggesteu that uevelopeu states have
auuitional obligations noi that such uiffeientiation will iemain peimanently.
Beveloping countiies aie expecteu to inciease theii level of iesponsibility anu
contiibutions to the global solution pioviueu long as they meet theii
uevelopment expectations
68
. ulobal coopeiation also entails the tiansfei of
technologies anu knowleuge to stiengthen capacity builuing foi the sustainable
uevelopment of ueveloping countiies
69
.

The uemociatic unueipinning of sustainable uevelopment is pioviueu by the
piinciple of public paiticipation in uecision-making
7u
. This is a means of
establishing iealistic stiategies towaius sustainable uevelopment by consiueiing
the opinion of the community affecteu by uecisions, who can pioviue
backgiounu infoimation on the cuiient conuitions anu uemanus foi
uevelopment stiategies
71
. 0n a bioauei scale, paiticipation also incluues the

6S
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 7. This
piinciple is fosteieu by the piinciple of equity, which piomotes an equitable iight to achieve
sustainable uevelopment, oi the pollutei pays piinciple which acknowleuges that the pollutei
must beai the cost of its pollution: Beinbach, above n S , 6u
66
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 6
67
Coiuoniei Seggei anu Khalfan, above n 17 ,1S9
68
Tuula Kolaii, 'The Piinciple of Common but Biffeientiateu Responsibilities as Contiibuting to
Sustainable Bevelopment thiough Nultilateial Enviionmental Agieements' in Bans Chiistian
Bugge anu Chiistina voigt (eus), C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% $# E#%&.#)%$*#)8 )#' ()%$*#)8 <)=
(2uu8), 262
69
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 9
7u
}eiemy Caiew-Reiu et al, C%.)%&L$&+ -*. ()%$*#)8 C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#%
K 1)#'?**A -*. %0&$. I8)##$#L )#' E378&3&#%)%$*# (IIEB anu I0CN, 1994), xv
71
Ibiu. Nations shoulu auopt inclusive mechanisms that allow the involvement of women, youth
anu inuigenous communities in the piocess of uecision-making on issues that affect theii
livelihoous: 0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 ,
Piinciples 2u, 21 anu 22

11
piovision of legal actions to enfoice enviionmental legislation when
enviionmental iights aie violateu
72
.

The piinciples of sustainable uevelopment pioviue the founuation foi the
auoption of legal fiamewoiks that facilitate integiation between economic, social
anu enviionmental aspects. Those ievieweu in this section aie of paiticulai
ielevance to the legal fiamewoik foi the management of natuial iesouices.
Bowevei, application uepenus on the context of specific nations, anu in the
paiticulai case of ueveloping countiies it is facing ceitain constiaints, which will
be uesciibeu next.

67= >3:./3/,*%*+#, #0 ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,* +, % '/9/.#:+,? 8#),*&@
8#,*/A*

Implementation of sustainable uevelopment in ueveloping countiies is
constiaineu by a seiies of factois that impeue the integiation of social, economic
anu enviionmental conceins into the uecision-making piocess
7S
. Thiee issues in
paiticulai can be auuiesseu with impiovements to the existing iegime: limiteu
iesouices, weakness of the enviionmental sectoi, anu lack of enfoicement
mechanisms.

Beveloping countiies have social uemanus to meet anu limiteu iesouices
available. Implementation of legal anu institutional aiiangements foi sustainable
uevelopment may impose a buiuen on such countiies, as this iequiies auuitional
human anu institutional capacity to suppoit anu monitoi the piocesses
involveu
74
. While ueveloping countiies ieceive foieign aiu in the foim of
financial assistance anu auvice, these iesouices neeu to be useu in such a way as
to be ieflecteu in effective legal iefoim
7S
.


72
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 48 , Piinciple 1u
7S
uaiy B. Neyeis, 'The Context, Contouis anu Constiaints of Inteinational Enviionmental Law' in
Nicole Rogeis (eu), >.&&# I).)'$L3+ )#' %0& <)= (Southein Cioss 0niveisity Piess, 1998), 9u
74
Williams Silveiia, above n 4 , 2Su
7S
Anuieen, above n SS , 6S

12
In ueveloping countiies, enviionmental piotection is geneially a lessei piioiity,
constiaineu by economic policies
76
. Becisions geneially favoui piivate economic
inteiests anu incentives aie gianteu to piomote enviionmentally unsustainable
activities
77
. The uepaitment iesponsible foi enviionmental piotection is usually
sepaiate fiom the agency uealing with extiactive exploitation of natuial
iesouices, such as agiicultuie anu mining. 0veilapping anu sectoial conflicts aie
geneially iesolveu to the uetiiment of enviionmental piotection
78
.

Lack of institutional capacity to enfoice iegulations is a common pioblem foi
ueveloping countiies
79
. It can be explaineu by a lack of auministiative
iesouices
8u
, anu can also be the consequence of a lack of will to apply laws that
coulu be contiaiy to piivate inteiests
81
. In auuition, complex oveilapping
functions iesulting fiom a tenuency to copy foieign piovisions in conflict with
local conuitions anu necessities can also hampei application of the law
82
.

Nost ueveloping countiies, paiticulaily Latin Ameiican, have implementeu
stiong bouies of legislation that in vaiious ways ieflect the piinciples of
sustainable uevelopment
8S
. Bowevei, conuitions mentioneu above hinuei
obtaining the intenueu iesults. Although some of these conuitions aie beyonu
the spheie of the law, a ieview of the existing mechanisms can contiibute to the
constiucting a moie iealistic fiamewoik towaius achieving sustainable
uevelopment.


76
Eniique Leff, 'Sustainable Bevelopment in Beveloping Countiies' in Lee Keekok (eu), >8*?)8
C2+%)$#)?8& D&5&8*73&#% $# %0& ST+% ,&#%2.M (Euinbuigh 0niveisity Piess, 2uuu), 6S
77
Neyeis, above n 7S , 6S
78
ueimn Snchez Piez, 'Besaiiollo y Neuio Ambiente: 0na Niiaua a Colombia' (2uu2) 1(2)
4/*#*3U) M D&+)..*88* 79
79
Anuieen, above n SS , 29
8u
Ibiu
81
Nanuel Rouiiguez Beceiia, 'La iefoima ue la institucionaliuau ambiental ue Colombia uoce
aos uespus' (2uuS) 297(}ulio-Agosto) 4/*#*3U) ,*8*3?$)#)G ;&5$+%) '& 8) ,*#%.)8*.U) >&#&.)8
'& 8) ;&7V?8$/), 8S
82
Naic }. Bouiojeanni, 'Cieating the Institutional Setting foi Sustainability in Latin Ameiica' in
Robeit Constanza, 0lman Seguia anu }uan Naitinez-Aliei (eus), >&%%$#L D*=# %* 4).%0
(Inteinational Society foi Ecological Economics, 1996), SSS
8S
Ral Biaes, 'Infoime sobie el Besaiiollo uel Beiecho Ambiental Latinoameiicano' (2uu1)
114, 1uS

1S
<7 B/?%. :&/&/C)+(+*/( 0#& *1/ +3:./3/,*%*+#, #0 ()(*%+,%-./
'/9/.#:3/,*

The iole of law in sustainable uevelopment is to pioviue the mechanisms that
allow the integiation of enviionmental anu social consiueiations into economic
policy, planning anu iesouice exploitation.
84
This takes a bioauei peispective
than tiauitional enviionmental law, which focuses on contiolling pollution anu
piotecting specific natuial iesouices in isolation
8S
. The auoption of a bioauei
scope uemanus that each nation examine the existing legal fiamewoik to iuentify
limits anu constiaints of this theoiy within its teiiitoiy, as suggesteu by the
Biunutlanu Repoit, in stating that W@#8M goveinments themselves can foimulate
the changes they shoulu makeX
86
.

While the piinciples of sustainable uevelopment pioviue the contouis foi
auopting the national legal fiamewoik, they uo not pioviue uetaileu guiuance.
The meaning anu content of the fiamewoik aie ueteimineu by each nation,
wheie in uecision-makeis must ueteimine how integiation of enviionmental,
social anu economic factois, baseu on theii natuial iesouices anu accounting foi
piesent anu futuie geneiations will occui
87
.

In this sense, the nations aie expecteu to ieview theii cuiient fiamewoik in
oiuei to mouify oi iepeal laws that uo not piomote sustainable uevelopment anu
to intiouuce new iegulations that piomote this goal
88
. Rathei than ielying on
commanu-anu-contiol piovisions, iegulatoiy tools may incluue mechanisms
such as economic anu maiket instiuments baseu on the social, enviionmental
anu economic piinciples to be piomoteu
89
. Becision-makeis neeu to be iealistic,
auopting laws that can be implementeu in piactice, baseu on theii paiticulai

84
Bouas, above n 6S , 1S
8S
Beinbach, above n 49 , 279
86
0niteu Nations Woilu Commission on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 16 , Pait III,
Chaptei 12, at 6
87
Beinbach, above n S , 84
88
Ibiu, 6S
89
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, KL&#') ST (1992) 0niteu
Nations Enviionment Piogiamme, chaptei 8

14
legal anu institutional context
9u
. Since ciicumstances aie vaiiable, fiequent
ieview of the existing iegime is iequiieu to continuously monitoi measuies
towaiu sustainable uevelopment anu to enact futuie iefoims
91
. Effective
implementation ielies on auequate auministiative anu enfoicement mechanisms
within an institutional setting, anu juuicial anu auministiative pioceuuies foi
enacting legal iemeuies when the law is infiingeu
92
.

The iole of the law in the uiscouise of sustainable uevelopment is to tianslate
enviionmental anu uevelopment plans, policies anu stiategies into action. The
national legal fiamewoik anu institutional setting iequiiements uepenu on the
paiticulai context of a countiy; a national fiamewoik allowing uevelopeu
countiies with iesouices, capacity anu technology to piioiitise sustainable
uevelopment implementation. This is moie uifficult foi ueveloping countiies to
achieve, given ciicumstances such as low goveinment funuing anu legal
tiauitions which pievent auuiessing enviionmental, social anu economic issues
in an integiateu mannei.
=7 "1/ 8)&&/,* (*%*)( #0 ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,* +, 2#.#3-+%

This ieseaich pioject will be focuseu in Colombia as iepiesentative of the
countiies of South Ameiica, a iegion veiy iich in natuial iesouices anu
biouiveisity. Among many othei similaiities, these countiies shaie a
uevelopment path baseu on the exploitation of natuial iesouices which has
exeiteu piessuie on the enviionment
9S
. As a iesult, South Ameiican countiies
neeu to auuiess the contiauictions between economic giowth, social uemanus
anu enviionmental thieats.

Colombia iepiesents an inteiesting case stuuy conceining the implementation of
laws associateu with sustainable uevelopment in a ueveloping countiy. It is

9u
Beinbach, above n S , 84
91
0niteu Nations Confeience on Enviionment anu Bevelopment, above n 89
92
Ibiu
9S
0niteu Nations Enviionment Piogiamme 0NEP, 'Latin Ameiica anu the Caiibbean:
Enviionment 0utlook uE0 LAC S' (0niteu Nations, 2u1u), 21

1S
situateu in the noith-westein siue of South Ameiican, boiueieu by the Atlantic
anu Pacific oceans. With a population of appioximately 47 million
94
, Colombia is
the seconu countiy with the laigest population in South Ameiica aftei Biazil.
With substantial oil anu mining ieseives,
9S
it is a majoi expoitei of petioleum,
coffee, coal, golu anu bananas, among othei local piouucts
96
. Its location
between two oceans pioviues the countiy with access to an immense vaiiety of
maiine iesouices.

Following Biazil anu Inuonesia, Colombia is the thiiu iichest countiy globally in
teims of biouiveisity
97
. With a total aiea of 1.147.748 km2, while it occupies only
u, 77% of the lanu suiface of the planet, appioximately 1S% of teiiestiial
biouiveisity exists heie
98
. Fieshwatei anu maiine uiveisity is also high, given its
piivilegeu location between the Caiibbean Sea anu Pacific 0cean. This
chaiacteiistic of being a megauiveise countiy inuicates a iesponsibility to
conseive the biouiveisity. 0n the one hanu, it has auopteu a complex iegulatoiy
anu institutional fiamewoik piomoting the piinciples espouseu in the global
uiscouise. 0n the othei hanu pooi implementation anu cuiient enviionmental
pioblems that will be uesciibeu in the following section uemonstiate that
conseivation is not being achieveu, necessitating evaluation of the fiamewoiks.

=76 2)&&/,* /,9+&#,3/,*%. 8#,*/A*

Colombia faces numeious enviionmental pioblems. A 2uu2 stuuy foi the
Economic Commission foi Latin Ameiican anu the Caiibbean iuentifieu the most
significant pioblems (oi synuiomes as teimeu) thieatening sustainable

94
Bepaitamento Auministiativo Nacional ue Estauisticas, I*?8)/$Y# '& ,*8*3?$) 0*M (2u1S)
Bepaitamento Auministiativo Nacional ue Estauisticas,
9S
Such as golu, silvei, emeialus anu coal
96
Bepaitamento Auministiativo Nacional ue Estauisticas, 4+%)'U+%$/)+ '& 4Z7*.%)/$*#&+ (2u1S)
97
Russel A. Nitteimeiei, Ciistina uoettsch Nitteimeiei anu Patiicio Robles uil, Q&L)'$5&.+$%M9
4).%0J+ ?$*8*L$/)88M =&)8%0$&+% #)%$*#+ (CENEX, Fiist English Euition eu, 1997), 1S
98
Russel A. Nitteimeiei, Noiman Nyeis anu Ciistina uoettsch Nitteimeiei, 1*%+7*%+9 4).%0J+
[$*8*L$/)88M ;$/0&+% )#' Q*+% 4#')#L&.&' 6&..&+%.$)8 4/*.&L$*#+ (Cemex S.A., Fiist English Euition
eu, 1999), 1u9

16
uevelopment in Colombia
99
. 0veiexploitation of natuial iesouices, in paiticulai
fishing iesouices, was stateu as the main thieat
1uu
. The majoiity of fishing
iesouices aie oveiexploiteu anu consequently piouuction has been uecieasing
anu populations along the coasts aie being affecteu
1u1
. Thus, oveifishing is
having seiious enviionmental, economic anu social impacts
1u2
. Concentiation of
populations in uiban aieas, waste uisposal, the intiouuction of alien species anu
uiug caitels weie also iuentifieu as thieats to uevelopment in Colombia.

Similai conclusions weie iecently ieacheu by the 2u12 Colombian State of the
Enviionment Repoit (S0ER)
1uS
. This iepoit focuses on the management of
enviionmental anu health uamage causeu by oil anu mining inuustiies as well as
implementation of a piogiam foi sustainable use, management anu conseivation
of mangiove ecosystems anu actions peitaining to watei pollution. The iepoit
states that uevelopment policies in Colombia aie biaseu towaius extiactive
inuustiies, with a weak institutional setting foi the piotection of natuial
iesouices anu the enviionment
1u4
. It concluues that Colombia is fai fiom
achieving sustainable uevelopment
1uS
.

Cuiient enviionmental conuitions in Colombia aie similai to those in othei Latin
Ameiican countiies. Repoits fiom the 0NEP on the Status of the Enviionment in
Latin Ameiica anu the Caiibbean iuentify that pioblems such as loss of
biouiveisity, uefoiestation, ueseitification anu ueteiioiation of maiine
ecosystems aie seiiously affecting the enviionment in the iegion
1u6
. In
paiticulai, Chile anu Peiu as two majoi expoiteis of fishing iesouices in the

99
}ose }aiio Escobai Ramiiez, 'Sinuiomes ue sostenibiliuau ambiental uel uesaiiollo en
Colombia' (2uu2) C&3$#).$*+ M /*#-&.&#/$)+ <www.cepal.oig>
1uu
Ibiu, 8
1u1
Ibiu, SS
1u2
Ibiu
1uS
Contialoiia ueneial ue la Repblica, 'Estauo ue los Recuisos Natuiales y uel Ambiente 2u11 -
2u12' (Contialoiia ueneial ue la Repblica, 2u12)
1u4
Ibiu, 14
1uS
Ibiu
1u6
PN0NA, 'uE0 Amiica Latina y el Caiibe, Peispectivas uel meuio ambiente' (0niteu Nations,
2uuu) anu 0NEP, above n 9S

17
iegion aie seiiously affecteu by the uecline in maiine iesouices causeu by
oveiexploitation anu pollution of maiine ecosystems
1u7
.

=7< B/?%. %,' +,(*+*)*+#,%. (/**+,? 0#& ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,* +, 2#.#3-+%
=7<76 D/,/&%. 0&%3/$#&E 0#& /,9+&#,3/,*%. :&#*/8*+#,

Colombia was the fiist countiy in Latin Ameiica to intiouuce a iegulatoiy bouy
anu law in 1974 foi the management of natuial iesouices
1u8
- the Coue of
Natuial Resouices anu the Piotection of the Enviionment. The Coue was a
iesponse to agieements ieacheu in the Stockholm Confeience
1u9
, anu as such it
piomoteu human uevelopment within the limits of a iational anu sustainable
exploitation of natuial iesouices
11u
. The main unueipinnings of the legal
piovisions auopteu weie i) the conseivation of ienewable iesouices foi futuie
availability as a uevelopment of the piinciple of inteigeneiational equity, anu ii)
the establishment of piotecteu aieas in oiuei to maintain biouiveisity
111
.

Aftei neaily 2u yeais unuei the guiuelines of the Coue of 1974, Colombia
intiouuceu a majoi iefoim to its national Constitution in 1991, to embiace the
piinciple of sustainable uevelopment launcheu in the Biuntlanu Repoit which
was then unuei uiscussion in the piepaiatoiy meetings foi the 1992 WCEB
112
.
The 1991 Constitution stipulates that the State has a uuty to plan the
management anu exploitation of natuial iesouices anu to guaiantee theii
sustainable uevelopment, conseivation, iestoiation oi substitution
11S
. This
Constitution has been iecognizeu as the "Ecological Constitution" foi its many

1u7
PN0NA, above n 1u6 , S9
1u8
Biaes, above n 8S , 1S
1u9
Nanuel Rouiiguez Beceiia, 'El Couigo ue los Recuisos Natuiales Renovables y uel Neuio
Ambiente: el conseivacionismo utilitaiista y el ambientalismo ' in 0niveisiuau Exteinauo ue
Colombia (eu), 45)82)/$Y# M I&.+7&/%$5)+ '&8 ,Y'$L* ()/$*#)8 '& ;&/2.+*+ ()%2.)8&+ '& ,*8*3?$)
&# +2+ B\ )]*+ '& 5$L&#/$) (2uu4) 1SS, 1S6
11u
Anuis Nauiicio Biiceo Chaves, 'Apuntes aceica uel uesaiiollo sostenible uesue la
peispectiva uel Beiecho Ambiental' in 0niveisiuau Exteinauo ue Colombia (eu), <&/%2.)+ +*?.&
D&.&/0* '&8 Q&'$* K3?$&#%& (0niveisiuau Exteinauo ue Colombia, 2u12) 2uS, 226
111
Rouiiguez Beceiia, above n 1u9 , 1S6
112
Biaes, above n 8S , 12
11S
Colombian Political Constitution, aiticle 8u.

18
iefeiences to the piotection of the enviionment anu the uesignation of
enviionmental piinciples as constitutional iights
114
. In fact, the Constitution
pioviues foi aspects of sustainable uevelopment policy such as the uuty of the
State to piotect the uiveisity anu integiity of the enviionment
11S
, to pieseive
aieas of high ecologic value anu to contiol anu pievent enviionmental pollution
anu ueteiioiation
116
. It also contains mechanisms foi public involvement such as
the open paiticipation of communities in uecision-making affecting the
enviionment anu in euucation iegaiuing enviionmental issues
117
. The
goveinment is obligeu to intiouuce the stiategies anu uiiveis in teims of
enviionmental policy in the Bevelopment Plan, issueu eveiy foui yeais
118
with
each change of Piesiuential peiiou.

Subsequently, a 199S legal iefoim auopteu a new institutional setting foi
sustainable uevelopment aligneu with the constitutional piinciples. This Law
cieateu the Ninistiy of the Enviionment as the authoiity chaigeu with natuial
iesouices management anu enviionmental the piotection within the scope of
sustainable uevelopment
119
. Nanagement of the enviionment at the iegional
level is iesponsibility of the Regional Autonomous Coipoiations, the
enviionmental authoiities in geogiaphical aieas with similai chaiacteiistics
12u
.
These entities auministei the natuial iesouices anu apply the enviionmental
policy anu piogiams anu piojects in theii aieas
121
.

In auuition, the above legislation cieateu the National Enviionmental Council to
facilitate policy integiation anu cooiuination among all sectois uealing with
issues ielateu to the enviionment anu natuial iesouices
122
, anu to piomote

114
Isabel Naitinez, 'El acceso a la }usticia Ambiental en Amiica Latina uuiante la Bcaua ue los
Noventa:Refoimas y Besaiiollos ' in I0CN Enviionmental Law Piogiamme (eu), 4#5$.*#3&#%)8
<)= $# D&5&8*7$#L ,*2#%.$&+ ^ C&8&/%&' E++2&+, I0CN Enviionmental Policy anu Law Papeis (I0CN -
The Woilu Conseivation 0nion, 2uu1), Su
11S
Political Constitution of Colombia, aiticle 8
116
Ibiu, Aiticle 8u
117
Ibiu, Aiticles 289 anu Aiticle SSu
118
Ibiu, Aiticle SS9
119
Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle 2
12u
Ibiu, Aiticle 2S
121
Ibiu
122
The Council is compiiseu of the Ninistiies, the Planning Bepaitment, the Comptiollei ueneial,
the Buman Rights Commissionei, anu iepiesentatives fiom the iegional anu local goveinments,

19
public paiticipation in uecisions affecting the enviionment
12S
. It also cieateu five
Reseaich Institutes: Neteoiology, Naiine anu Coastal Resouices, Resouices of
the Amazon, Enviionmental Stuuies on the Pacific Coast anu Biological
Resouices
124
. These aie non-piofit oiganizations linkeu to the Ninistiy of the
Enviionment, peifoiming ieseaich on the status of the enviionment to pioviue
technical opinions anu piomote iegulation of the conceineu aieas
12S
.

Sustainable uevelopment is uefineu in the legislation "as uevelopment that leaus
to economic giowth anu inciease in the quality of life anu social welfaie, without
exhausting the base of ienewable natuial iesouices in which it lies, anu without
ueteiioiating the enviionment oi the iight of futuie geneiations to use it foi the
satisfaction of theii own neeus"
126
. This uefinition highlights the integiation of
the thiee pillais of sustainable uevelopment, unueipinneu by the piinciple of
equity. Sustainable uevelopment is thus then the coie piinciple of the
enviionmental policy that must auuiess the piotection of the iight to a healthy
enviionment anu the piotection of the natuial capital of the nation
127
.

While the initial tenuency was to iegulate the use anu conuitions foi use of the
enviionment (licences, concessions, authoiizations)
128
anu to impose penalties
foi the infiingement of enviionmental piotection containeu in the Coue of
1974
129
, in 199S the system evolveu to intiouuce the piinciples of sustainable
uevelopment such as the piecautionaiy piinciple
1Su
anu the-pollutei pays
piinciple
1S1
, to auopt economic instiuments foi enviionmental management
1S2


the inuigenous anu black communities, the agiicultuial, inuustiial, oil, foiestiy anu mining
inuustiies, expoiteis, Nu0S anu univeisities: Ibiu, Aiticle 1S
12S
Ibiu
124
Ibiu, Aiticle 16
12S
Ibiu, Aiticles 17 to 22
126
Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle S
127
Ibiu, Aiticle 2
128
Still iequiieu unuei the piovisions of Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle Su
129
Nanuel Rouiiguez Beceiia anu uuilleimo Espinoza, 'uestion ambiental en Amiica Latina y
el Caiibe: evolucion, tenuencias y piincipales picticas ' (2uu2) 28S
<http:www.iaub.oigsusenv>, 47
1Su
Law 99 of 199S , Aiticles 1. 6
1S1
Funus fiom these iates aie investeu in cleaning anu monitoiing the aiea anu iesouices
affecteu by the coiiesponuing activity: Political Constitution of Colombia, Aiticle SS8 anu Law 99
of 199S, Aiticle 42

2u
anu to iegulate othei aspects such as lanu-use planning in accoiuance with
national enviionmental legislation
1SS
. Evaluation of the enviionmental impact of
uevelopment pioposals was intiouuceu as a mechanism to pievent
enviionmental uamage causeu by haimful activities
1S4
. Aiticles 69 to 76 of the
legislation iegulate the pioceuuies foi public paiticipation in enviionmental
uecision-making, which incluues the iight to inteivene in the uecisions ielateu to
licenses oi the imposition of sanctions. The law also containeu constitutional
actions as well as civil, auministiative anu ciiminal liability foi enviionmental
uamage anu infiingement of enviionmental law, in auuition to the imposition of
sanctions anu fines.

This oveiview allows to see that Colombia has intiouuceu the piinciples of
sustainable uevelopment into its legal fiamewoik foi enviionmental
piotection
1SS
. Bowevei, a stiong bouy of legislation cannot auuiess
enviionmental pioblems without commitment fiom the goveinment to apply
them, anu without stiong enfoicement mechanisms
1S6
. 0ne element of this
ieseaich pioject is to investigate in moie uetail the gap between legal
instiuments anu theii implementation, in oiuei to unueistanu how to oveicome
baiiieis pieventing cuiient laws fiom fully iealizing the iueals of sustainable
uevelopment. This will be uone thiough an analysis of fisheiies management,
guiueu by the oveiview pioviueu below.



1S2
Such as the compensatoiy iates foi pollution of the enviionment oi the fees foi the use of
natuial iesouices, Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle 42
1SS
Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle 1u7
1S4
Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle S7
1SS
Nanuel Rouiiguez Beceiia, 'The Enviionmental Piotection Regime' in Feinanuo Cepeua 0lloa
(eu), C%.&#L%0+ *- ,*8*3?$) (Intei-Ameiican Bevelopment Bank, 2uu6), Su
1S6
Nanuel Rouiiguez Beceiia, D&/8$5& '& 8)+ E#+%$%2/$*#&+ M 8) I*8U%$/) K3?$&#%)8 &# K3_.$/)
<)%$#) M &8 ,).$?&G uobeinabiliuau, instituciones y meuio ambiente en Colombia (2uu8), 8S

21
=7<7<7 F+(1/&+/( 3%,%?/3/,* %,' ()(*%+,%-./ '/9/.#:3/,*

Fishing pioviues economic suppoit to both inuustiies anu communities whose
subsistence uepenus on the availability of iesouices. At the same time, the health
of maiine ecosystems will be seiiously affecteu if exploitation occuis in an
unsustainable mannei. Fisheiies management is theiefoie a valuable lens
thiough which to evaluate the implementation of sustainable uevelopment, since
ecological, economic anu social expectations aie inteiielateu
1S7
.

It was noteu in the pieceuing section that oveifishing anu inauequate
management of mangiove ecosystems have been iuentifieu as two of the most
seiious thieats to sustainable uevelopment in Colombia. Fiom an enviionmental
peispective, the vast majoiity of fishing iesouices in Colombia's inlanu anu
coastal wateis aie oveiexploiteu oi heauing towaius ovei-exploitation
1S8
. This
situation affects both the biouiveisity of maiine ecosystems anu the economic
anu social conuitions of the fisheis
1S9
.

0ne of the main ieasons foi oveiexploitation is lack of unueistanuing of factois
that affect the maiine ecosystems, such as biological cycles of the species,
iesouice availability, fishing geai anu impacts of the intiouuction of exotic
species
14u
. This knowleuge is obtaineu by monitoiing, but funuing anu buugetaiy
iestiictions aie impeuing the woik peifoimeu by scientific institutions
141
. In
auuition, a lack of qualifieu piofessionals hinueis the enfoicement of
management measuies anu legal iestiictions
142
.


1S7
Robeit Aithui et al, 'Towaius fisheiies management: inteinational examples of innovation'
(NRAu Ltu, 2u1u), 14
1S8
Escobai Ramiiez, above n 99 , SS
1S9
Ibiu
14u
Contialoiia ueneial ue la Repblica, 'Agenua Situacion actual ue la pesca y acuicultuia en el
Bepaitamento uel Nagualena ' (Contialoiia Belegaua Sectoi Agiopecuaiio, 2uu9), 11
141
Ibiu, 12
142
Ibiu

22
Fiom an economic peispective, inuustiies anu fisheis complain that cuiient
commeicial fishing conuitions aie unfavouiable
14S
. Inuustiies aigue that they
cannot opeiate unuei competitive conuitions. Issues such as the high cost of fuel
anu utilities anu limiteu capacity of the poits affect theii piouuctivity anu make
impoiteu piouucts moie attiactive
144
. Similaily, aitisanal fisheis uemanu moie
suppoit fiom the goveinment in aieas such as tiaining in fishing techniques anu
infoimation about availability of iesouices in theii zones
14S
. They also allege that
the cost of mateiials anu equipment is high anu obtaining goou quality supplies
in not economically viable
146
. Such contentions aie manifest in low local
piouuction
147
, uespite Colombia's geogiaphical position pioviuing access to a
vaiiety of maiine iesouices that coulu be exploiteu in a sustainable mannei
148
.

Fuitheimoie, social expectations aie not being met, anu the quality of life foi
families in coastal aieas who uepenu on subsistence fishing is pooi. They ieceive
scant goveinmental suppoit, with limiteu access to social secuiity anu
euucation
149
. The giowing scaicity of iesouices incieases theii haiuship, foiming
a vicious cycle, since they aie foiceu to use piohibiteu techniques, which aie
uetiimental to the enviionment, coupleu with inauequate monitoiing by the
authoiities
1Su
.

,2..&#% )77.*)/0&+ %* -$+0&.$&+ .&L28)%$*#

Fishing in Colombia is goveineu by Law 1S of 199u anu Beciee 22S6 of 1991.
The puipose of the law is to pioviue foi a sustainable exploitation of fishing

14S
Weilulei uueiia Cuivelo, 'Pesca en Colombia a la ueiiva', ;&5$+%) C&3)#) (Bogot), 2uu9
<http:www.semana.comopinionaiticulopesca-colombia-ueiiva11u476-S>
144
Ibiu anu IICA Instituto Inteiameiicano ue Coopeiacion paia la Agiicultuia, 'Agenua Nacional
ue Investigacion en Pesca y Acuicultuia ' (Ninisteiio ue Agiicultuia y Besaiiollo Ruial, 2u12), 4S
14S
Instituto Inteiameiicano ue Coopeiacion paia la Agiicultuia, above n 144 , 48
146
Ibiu,
147
At 2u1u, Fishing iepiesenteu only u.22% of the uioss Bomestic Piouuct. In auuition, the tiaue
balance of the inuustiy is negative, meaning that impoits aie highei than expoits: Contialoiia
ueneial ue la Repblica, above n 14u , 27
148
Theie aie some species that aie exploiteu unuei theii available potential: Contialoiia ueneial
ue la Repblica, above n 14u , 12
149
Instituto Inteiameiicano ue Coopeiacion paia la Agiicultuia, above n 144 , Su
1Su
Contialoiia ueneial ue la Repblica, above n 14u , 12

2S
iesouices.
1S1
To uo so, the Law iegulates the conuitions unuei which fishing can
be exeiciseu anu those foi gianting fishing licences togethei with measuies foi
management by the fishing authoiities. The Ninistiy of Agiicultuie is
iesponsible foi policy-making foi the economic piomotion of the sectoi anu foi
the piotection anu use of the maiine iesouices in cooiuination with the Ninistiy
of the Enviionment
1S2
. Nanagement anu auministiation functions have been
passeu to the National Authoiity foi Fishing anu Aquicultuie (Autoiiuau
Nacional ue Acuicultuia y Pesca - A0NAP) in 2u12
1SS
. The Ninistiy of the
Enviionment also has a iole in setting the volume of catches anu appiove
minimum size, baseu on scientific eviuence anu statistics. This infoimation is
pioviueu to A0NAP foi the puipose of contiolling the gianting of peimits
1S4
.

Fishing is a iestiicteu activity that iequiies a peimit gianteu by A0NAP
1SS
in
exchange foi a fee that is ueteimineu baseu on the aiea, species, fishing quota,
vessel anu uestination of the piouuce
1S6
. Fishing quotas uepenu on the
availability of fishing iesouices in the conceineu aiea
1S7
anu can be ieuuceu
uuiing the teim of the licence
1S8
if the biological conuitions change
1S9
. A peimit
is iequiieu foi the use of vessels with a net iegisteieu tonnage of moie than S
tonnes, anu is subject to an auuitional fee
16u
. The holuei of this peimit must
piesent a quaiteily iepoit on captuies, beithing anu uepaituie uuiing the one-
yeai teim of the license
161
. A0NAP can impose iestiictions oi piohibitions to
fishing in ceitain peiious oi aieas when, baseu on scientific eviuence, a iisk of

1S1
Law 1S of 199u, Aiticle 1
1S2
This joint iesponsibility has leau to uiffuse policy-making anu oveilapping of functions among
the two ministiies: Contialoiia ueneial ue la Repblica, above n 14u , 12
1SS
Befoie the cieation of A0NAP in 2u12, foui uiffeient entities weie in chaige of fishing
management. Pioblems in the sectoi aie mainly attiibuteu to lack of continuity in the
auministiative piocess: ibiu
1S4
Law 99 of 199S, Aiticle S
1SS
Excepting fishing foi subsistence that uoes not iequiie authoiization, pioviueu it is exeiciseu
to supply feeuing the fisheimen anu theii families: Beciee 22S6 of 1991, aiticle 12
1S6
That is, inteinal consumption oi expoits. A0NAP also establishes the quota of piouuce that
must be solu within the local maiket. Beciee 22S6 of 1991, Aiticle 48
1S7
Beciee 22S6 of 1991, Aiticle S8
1S8
Fishing Peimits aie gianteu foi a maximum of five yeais. Beciee 22S6 of 1991, Aiticle 6S
1S9
Ibiu, Aiticle S8
16u
Ibiu, Aiticle 99
161
Ibiu, Aiticle 98

24
oveiexploitation is uetecteu
162
. It can also foibiu the use of fishing geai unsuiteu
to the chaiacteiistics of the species anu zones
16S
in oiuei to avoiu auveisely
affecting the ecosystem.

Fishing is an activity that has the potential to pioviue economic benefits anu
social welfaie to communities in the iegion anu to the countiy as a whole
164
.
Bowevei, theie aie social, economic anu enviionmental issues which must be
auuiesseu in oiuei to achieve sustainability. The iole of the law is to pioviue
mechanisms to auuiess these pioblems anu to piomote the piinciples of
sustainable uevelopment in fisheiies management.
G7 H/(/%&81 :&#I/8*4 #-I/8*+9/( %,' 3/*1#'#.#?@

The oveiview of sustainable uevelopment piinciples, the Colombian fiamewoik
foi geneial enviionmental iegulation anu fisheiies management piesenteu in
paits 2 anu S above pioviue the context foi this ieseaich pioject. This ieseaich
will unueitake a socio-legal stuuy of the iegulation of fisheiies in Colombia, in
oiuei to unueistanu the ieasons foi the uisciepancy between the foimal legal
fiamewoik anu its actual implementation anu application. Nechanisms foi
impioving fisheiies management will also be pioposeu.

The iegime auopteu in Colombia will be compaieu with those existing in Chile
anu Austialia. These countiies will offei two uiffeient peispectives on mouels foi
fisheiies management: one fiom a ueveloping countiy with compaiable socio-
economic conuitions to Colombia; the othei fiom a uevelopeu countiy with a
well-establisheu fisheiies management law anu auministiation. Chile is the
seconu laigest piouucei of fish in South Ameiica, aftei Peiu
16S
. Its status of
ueveloping countiy with similai political conuitions anu the fact that they shaie
the Pacific 0cean coast makes Chile compaiable to Colombia. As with Colombia,

162
Ibiu, Aiticle 111
16S
Ibiu, Aiticle 119
164
Instituto Inteiameiicano ue Coopeiacion paia la Agiicultuia, above n 144 , 7
16S
Bepaitamento ue Pesca y Acuicultuia, 'Estauo Nunuial ue la Pesca y la Acuicultuia'
(0iganizacion ue las Naciones 0niuas paia la Alimentacion y la Agiicultuia, 2u12)

2S
Chile is facing pioblems of unsustainable levels of exploitation of maiine
iesouices
166
. In an attempt to impiove its fisheiies management, Chile has
intiouuceu a legal iefoim which has been in foice since }anuaiy 2u1S
167
.
Accoiuing to the goveinment, this law aims to intiouuce new measuies anu
piocesses that will piomote sustainable fishing
168
. This ieseaich will exploie
how these iefoims aie being implementeu anu whethei they embiace the
piinciples of sustainable uevelopment in piactice.

Austialia intiouuceu measuies anu iestiictions foi the piotection of maiine
ecosystems in both its enviionmental legislation
169
. These measuies have
iesulteu in piohibitions anu legislative piocesses that coexist with the
management iegulations within fisheiies legislation
17u
. The success of the
Austialian appioach to sustainable fisheiies management will be evaluateu, in
oiuei to iuentify lessons that aie tiansfeiable to the Colombian contest.

The fiist stage in the ieseaich will consist of a uocumentaiy analysis of piimaiy
legal mateiials, specifically the enviionmental anu fisheiies laws of Colombia,
Chile anu the Commonwealth of Austialia, as well as the scholaily ciitiques
containeu in seconuaiy mateiials. The puipose at this stage is to iuentify the
main ciitiques of the existing iegimes.

The infoimation ueiiveu fiom the piimaiy anu seconuaiy souices will paint a
pictuie of the foimal legal aichitectuie foi sustainable fisheiies management, but
this uoes not ieveal the actual implementation of these laws. Accoiuingly, this
legal analysis will be complementeu by a seiies of inteiviews with stakeholueis
fiom each countiy, likely to incluue iepiesentatives fiom fisheiies management,

166
NInisteiio uel Neuio Ambiente, 'Infoime uel Estauo uel Neuio Ambiente' (uobieino ue Chile,
2u11) 279
167
The new law auopts the concept of maximum sustainable yielu, stiengthens of the iole of
scientists in fisheiies management, extenus the fishing licence peiiou, anu manuates the use of
satellites positioneu on aitisanal boats, among othei measuies. News ielease by the Ninistiy of
the Economy, citeu in: Revista Pesca, ,0$8&9 ,*#L.&+* ()/$*#)8 )7.*?Y 8) #2&5) 8&M '& 7&+/)
(2u12) Revista Pesca
168
Ibiu
169
These measuies incluue enviionmental assessments of fisheiies anu measuies foi
iuentification anu piotection of thieateneu species, among otheis: Waiwick uullet, F$+0&.$&+ <)=
$# K2+%.)8$) (Lexis Nexis, 2uu8), 141
17u
Ibiu

26
goveinment officials anu conseivation oiganisations. The puipose will be to
obtain peiceptions on stiengths anu limitations of iegimes togethei with how
they think theii appioach coulu be applieu in Colombia, anu whethei these
issues coulu have bioauei iesonance foi implementing sustainable uevelopment
in the context of othei inuustiies engageu in exploiting natuial iesouices.

The conclusions of this investigation on peiceptions of fishing management anu
auministiation will be employeu to piopose a mouel foi iefoiming fisheiies
management, baseu on iuentifieu best piactice. It will then seek to contiibute to
the bioauei theoiy of sustainable uevelopment anu to establish how it coulu be
opeiationalizeu in the law in South Ameiican countiies. Economic, social anu
uevelopment conuitions in this iegion aie similai, as aie thieats that
enviionmental pioblems pose to theii uevelopment. Theiefoie, knowleuge of the
constiaints anu limitations of the theoiy of sustainable uevelopment in Colombia
ueiiveu fiom the case stuuies will be uiawn on to piopose iecommenuations foi
optimal implementation in the othei countiies in the iegion as well.