Year
2021
Units
4.5
Contact
1 x 6.5-hour on-line exercises weekly
Prerequisites
1 Admission into MLAWILIR-Master of Laws (International Law and International Relations)
1a Admission into MLAWILIRA-Master of Laws (International Law and International Relations) [1.5 years]
1b Admission into JD-Juris Doctor
1c Admission into MIR-Master of International Relations
1d Admission into MLAWILIRP-Master of Laws (International Law and International Relations) [1 year]
2 Admission into BLAWSH-Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
2a Admission into BLAWLPRH-Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Honours)
2b Admission into BLAWLPRGH-Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice (Graduate Entry) (Honours)
2c Admission into BLLAWH-Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
2d Admission into BLLAWHFP-Bachelor of Laws (Honours) - City Campus
3 72 units of LLAW topics
Must Satisfy: (((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c or 1d)) or ((2 or 2a or 2b or 2c or 2d) and 3))
Assessment
Assignment(s), Online assessment
Topic description

Law of the sea is an important area of international law. International law of the sea regulates competing interests arising from different uses of the sea, such as navigation, fishing, exploration and exploitation of living and non-living marine resources.

The topic will discuss the legal status of different maritime zones, such as territorial sea, straits, the continental shelf, the exclusive economic zone, the high seas and the international sea-bed area.

Students will be introduced to international law principles relating to navigation, international law of fisheries, marine scientific research, military use of the sea, and exploration for and exploitation of offshore energy resources, including deep-sea mining.

The topic examines the prevention of marine pollution and the protection of the marine environment, including the implications of potential carbon sequestration, and maritime boundaries disputes.

The topic also examines the implementation of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention in Australia, and federal-state issues relating to the use of the sea and its resources.

Educational aims

This topic aims to teach students to:

  • Recognise the legal status of different maritime zones under provisions of the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention
  • Discuss the implementation of the Law of the Sea Convention in Australian law
  • Explain in their own words the international legal principles relating to exploration for, and exploitation of offshore energy resources, including deep-sea mining
  • Examine the protection of marine environment under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, and other international instruments
  • Describe the conflict between different uses of the sea, particularly navigation and fishing
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:

  1. Recognise the concepts of different maritime zones and the rights and interests of the coastal states in those areas
  2. Identify international legal principles relating to navigation and fishing in different maritime zones
  3. Demonstrate a general knowledge of international offshore energy law
  4. Describe international law relating to the protection of the marine environment
  5. Interpret Australia’s rights and interests in different marine areas and historical federal-state legal issues