The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea created a new framework for the conduct of maritime affairs. The Convention remains a shining example of international cooperation, diplomacy and the role of international law in the regulation of international affairs and oceans management. The institutions established under the Convention, which entered into force in 1994, are now all operating and the way they are fulfilling their tasks under the Convention is taking shape. Chapters throughout this book assess the roles and impact upon oceans management of the International Tribunal...

The adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982 has led to a period of relative stability in the law of the sea. However, especially in recent times there have also been calls to amend the Convention because of supposed shortcomings. Renegotiation of the Convention in all probability would be a time consuming process, the outcome of which is highly uncertain. Such a process would almost certainly negatively impact upon international cooperation in the management of ocean space as it is bound to lead to uncertainty and conflict over the applicable legal regime. This...

The climate and other characteristics of the polar regions have been major factors in shaping the legal regime applicable to the polar oceans. In Antarctica, states have had to grapple with the question of how to account for developments in the law of the sea, while preserving the compromise over sovereignty contained in the Antarctic Treaty. The Arctic also has presented challenges for the law of the sea, as illustrated by the continued attention given to special rules for polar shipping. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has led to substantial agreement on the legal...

This volume presents an analysis of the maritime boundary delimitations of the Russian Federation. The focus of this analysis is the relationship between state practice and the rules of public international law applicable to the delimitation of maritime zones between neighboring states. A first part establishes the contents of the law in this field. The main part of the work concerns an analysis of the position of the Russian Federation on the rules of maritime delimitation law and the practice of this state in relation to the delimitation of specific maritime boundaries with neighboring...