United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
United Nations
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Timeline
1967
1970
1982
1990s
NOW
The process within the United Nations General Assembly started in 1967 with the well known speech of the Maltese Ambassador Arvid Pardo. It focused on the mineral resources of the seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction
The UN Convention General Assembly passed resolution 2749 (XXV) on December 1970 according which wrote that the seabed and ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area), as well as its resources “are the common heritage of mankind”. They declared that individual nation’s cannot declare sovereignty over seabed material and explore or exploit these resources in the name of “international cooperation”.
The most important proceeding was the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea that took place between 1973 and 1982 with a final convention taking place on 10 December 1982 in Jamaica. It established sovereignty of countries over certain distances from their land and spelled out what rights individual countries had.
The Law of the Sea worked on its negotiations concerning seabed mining and ownership in an area called International Seabed Area regime. Other areas of discussion include the 1995 United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement, which adopted the dispute-settlement provisions of the Law of the Sea Convention for the settlement of disputes concerning their application and interpretation.
The Convention presupposes a highly institutionalized world. Not only does it provide for the establishment of four institutions, the International Seabed Authority, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission on the limits of the continental shelf and the Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention.
What can I do?
The UNCLOS establishes the rights that different nations have over the seas and oceans. Those working in commercial, local, or government positions work under the rules of UNCLOS.
However, keep in mind the Law of the Sea is always changing. Look for updates in future conferences to stay up to date on the overall oversight of our oceans.