78008 Law of the Sea¹

The Law of the Sea (LOS) is one of the most diverse and interesting areas of international law. In this course we will be examining in detail not only the status of the LOS today, but also its history and development which can be traced back to around 1650 and which has traditionally reflected shipping and navigation interests. The LOS has today been codified and is contained in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a treaty that clearly represents one of the greatest achievements of international law making. The UNCLOS now contains many additional and dynamic areas of international law such as delineation of various maritime boundaries, including those for archipelagic States; pollution from various sources of marine pollution including land-based sources; exploitation of valuable resources such as high seas fisheries, the minerals of the continental shelf beyond national jurisdiction and of the deep seabed; marine scientific research; as well as dispute resolution.

Footnote(s)

1. LLB students require a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65 per cent to undertake this subject, calculated as SUM (credit points x mark)/total credit points. This requirement may be reviewed in future. If a student enrols with a WAM of less than 65 per cent they will be withdrawn from the subject after the last date to add subjects and consequently will not be able to enrol in an alternative subject in that semester.