Ocean Law & Policy

The global crisis in oceans resources is one of the major issues in both international law and environmental law for the 21st century. In this course, students will participate in weekly class discussion of materials relating to the history of ocean resource management and other aspects of ocean law (navigation, pollution, jurisdiction offshore, naval security, etc.), with most of the course concentrating on the UN Law of the Sea Convention and its implementation since 1982. We will analyze through study of treaties and commentaries the character and operations of various regional ocean organizations in which, under many multilateral agreements, environmental protection, fisheries and whaling, exploitation of marine genetic resources, and other issues have been addressed. One segment of the course will consider the various mechanisms and institutions of dispute settlement in ocean conflicts. Visiting speakers from practice and the international judiciary occasionally participate. Grading is based on class participation, including an oral report, and a paper.