Broad consensus of groups with maritime interests support ratification of UNCLOS

The debate over whether to ratify has been characterized as one between “interests with varying degrees of political and eco- nomic power.”²²¹ Historically, the competing interests have been domestic private industries, such as petroleum, fishing, and hard minerals, government arms, such as the military and defense department, and also scientific communities.²²²

Today, the Convention enjoys widespread support from virtually all groups that have an interest on the seas, including American business groups, various military defense officials and groups, environmental and public interest organizations, high level administration officials, and legal and research bodies, satisfying rationalist observers that the right influences are in favor of the Convention.²²³