Emerging UN Law of the Sea Issues

Abstract

The author attempts to identify some of the emerging Law of the Sea issues and trends at the United Nations and simultaneously gives a brief overview of the various UN fora dealing with oceans and the Law of the Sea. The General Assembly decided in 1999 to establish the United Nations open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the Law of the Sea (UNICPOLOS). UN Fish Stocks Agreement strengthens the framework for conservation and management of those stocks by regional fisheries management organizations. Secretariat´s Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) provide advice, studies, assistance and research on the implementation of the Law of the Sea Convention, on issues of a general nature, and on specific developments relating to the legal regime for the oceans, provide service to all the fora and support to the organizations of the UN system and provide training and fellowships. Keywords: DOALOS; oceans; sea issues; UN fish stocks agreement; UN Law; UNICPOLOS