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The marine environment—including the oceans and all seas and adjacent coastal areas—forms an integrated whole that is an essential component of the global life-support system and a positive asset that presents opportunities for sustainable development.’ As shown in the statement of Agenda 21, it would be no exaggeration to say that the sound marine environment provides a foundation for the all life. The proper management of the oceans necessitates rules governing various marine activities. A body of international rules that bind states in their activities concerning marine affairs is called as international law of the sea.
In light of the increasing use of the oceans, the elaboration of law of the sea is particularly important. For instance, currently there is a great need to pursue conservation policies in order to prevent depletion of marine living resources because these resources are an important source of protein in a situation of food shortage at the global level. As contaminations in coastal waters may pose serious risks to marine ecosystems and human health, arguably the protection of the marine environment is of central importance for the survival of coastal populations. Further to this, law of the sea is an inseparable part of public international law in general. Hence, law of the sea will provide useful insights into the study of various fields of international law, including sources of the law, state jurisdiction, environmental protection and peaceful settlement of international disputes, etc.
Against that background, this course aims to provide a broad knowledge of the international law of the sea focusing on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Read the full course description.