Regular inspection of subsea pipelines is crucial for assessing their integrity and for maintenance. These inspections usually are very expensive without employing Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Most of the research focus in this area has been directed in automating the process to reduce operational costs and is done by using multiple perceptive sensors. This paper investigates the problem of pipeline detection using optical sensors in highly turbid subsea scenarios. A deep neural network is designed to segment pipes from optical images. Since a common issue with underwater optical sensing is dynamic changes in scenes and the difficulty of labelling large dataset, a novel self-supervision method based on multibeam echosounder is proposed to fine-tune a pre-trained network on the fly. Extensive experiments are conducted in real-world challenging scenarios, showing the effectiveness of the proposed method. The proposed method can run real-time on an Nvidia Jetson AGX embedded PC, supporting AUV field operation.

The ongoing plastic treaty negotiation hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) marks an ambitious international effort to address plastic pollution, particularly in the marine environment. The application of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR) is one of the most controversial issues raised during negotiations. This article examines the origin, development, and basic components of the CBDR principle. Then current debates are illustrated by presenting statements from delegates and the negotiating materials. The emphasis on historical responsibility is used to justify the application of the principle as a mechanism for equity and fairness in international law. In conclusion, this article offers some reflections concerning the incorporation of the CBDR principle into the future plastic treaty.

In June 2020, China unilaterally announced two seasonal closures on squid fishing in certain areas of the high seas that apply to the Chinese distant water fishing fleets. Such closure refers to the withdrawal of the Chinese distant water fishing fleet from part of the high seas where they regularly operate. It is an innovative conservation measure initiated by a nation-state with the significance for global ocean governance and meeting the requirements from the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This paper is designed to seek the possibility, through a qualitative study and interpretive analysis, of whether such an innovative conservation measure can be introduced into the fishery management in the Southern Ocean, currently mainly under the framework of CCAMLR. This paper attempts to answer some questions with this new introduction. First, whether this kind of seasonal closure is applicable or feasible within the framework of CCAMLR. Second, whether this kind of seasonal closure would infringe upon or disrupt existing regimes, such as marine protected areas (MPAs) created by CCAMLR. Third, how and to what extent such a measure is supported by best scientific evidence so as to reach optimal effectiveness. In this regard, firm support from contracting parties is necessary to enforce the seasonal closure within the coverage of CCAMLR. The paper concludes that the seasonal closure feasible under the CCAMLR legal framework, which, like the measures of MPAs, will facilitate the fulfillment of best scientific evidence and eventually contribute to the SDG-14 progressively in the Southern Ocean.