VI. UNILATERAL, BILATERAL, AND MULTILATERAL 
ACTIVITIES FOR CONTROLLING OCEAN POLLUTION 
Prior to the formation of the United Nations, intergovernmental 
agreements on marine pollution had been discussed. Bilateral and 
multilateral activities continued after the United Nations became the 
organizational head and international forum for such activities. 
Intergovernmental marine pollution agreements concluded outside 
the United Nations generally relate to specific areas of interest to a 
limited group of nations such as pollution in the North Sea. 
Washington Conference of 1926 
The first international conference on marine pollution, prior to the 
formation of the United Nations, was convened in Washington, D.C., 
in 1926 on the initiative of the United States. Recognizing the dangers 
of oil pollution from shipping, the United States pressed for strong 
regulations prohibiting all oil discharge from vessels. Although hope- 
lessly ahead of its time, the conference did produce a draft resolution 
granting states permission to establish coastal zones within which oil 
discharge would not be permitted. 
Bonn Agreement of 1969 
On June 9, 1969, eight North Sea countries signed an agreement in 
Bonn, Germany, requiring member states to inform, without delay, 
other member states when they became ‘‘aware of a casualty or the 
presence of oil slicks in the North Sea area likely to pose a serious 
threat to the coast or related interests of any other Contracting 
Party” to inform that state without delay and to ‘‘use their best 
endeavors” to provide aid ‘‘to dispose of oil floating on the sea or 
polluting its coast.’ 3 The Agreement Concerning Pollution of the 
North Sea by Oil is a strengthening of the previous Agreement Con- 
cerning Co-operation to Ensure Compliance with Regulations for 
Preventing the Pollution of the Sea by Oil, signed by four countries 
at Copenhagen on December 8, 1967. 
Arctie Waters Pollution Prevention Act of 1970 
On June 26, 1970, Canada passed the Arctic Waters Pollution 
Prevention Act which established pervasive controls over the deposit- 
ing of waste into the zone of arctic waters that extends 100 nautical 
miles north of Canada’s shore. Waste is defined as any substance or 
water containing any substance which, if added to any waters, would 
be detrimental to their use by man or any animal, fish, or plant that is 
useful to man. The Canadians have not claimed sovereignty over 
this area, but only the right to prevent pollution. The Act places 
an ‘“‘absolute”’ liability, in no way dependent on ‘“‘fault or negligence” 
on any person for damages resulting from the deposit of waste caused 
33 Agreement For Co-operation in Dealing With Pollution of the North Sea by Oil, signed at Bonn on 
June 9, 1969. art. 5 and 7. 
(31) 
