Many uncertainties can be found in the delineation of the external limit of the continental shelf under Art. 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), insofar as it refers to the geological notion of the continental margin (so-called extended continental shelf). In any case, today this definition is reflected …More
Climate change has forced governments to take actions in order to preserve, among other things, marine biodiversity, whose survival is threatened by pollution and human activities. The so-called blue economy – which represents a peculiar form of green economy – covers a broad group of activities related to oceans and seas which must be carried …More
Competition for maritime zones is growing. International regulations are crucial to finding a balance between different activities in seas and oceans. While offshore renewable energy activities are increasing, most bottom-fixed or floating renewable energy installations are located close to the shoreline and nearby shipping lanes. This paper discusses the possible conflicts between the navigation of …More
The significance of the ocean in terms of its economic potential is well established, however, it is plagued with many threats and challenges which call for a proper examination of its management and governance. This paper examines the legal and institutional frameworks at the global, regional, sub-regional, and national levels for governance of the oceans …More
The Adoption of the New Legally Binding Instrument on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Pascale RICARD and Samira BEN ALI On 4 March 2023, an agreement was reached on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdictions, marking the end of over 15 years of discussions. …More
Spaceports located on coastal areas can have adverse consequences for the marine environment including acoustic disturbance (e.g. underwater noise) from launch, as well as flight paths passing over these areas affecting marine biodiversity, toxic contaminants and thermal effects from any discharges arising from these activities. Spaceport activities can also affect the displacement of animals and …More
Maritime safety and thus ISM (International Safety Management Code) audits are directly or indirectly regulated by a host of regulatory instruments. These regulations set the standards for verification, certification, and auditing mechanisms. Intrinsically, these legal regulations influence, or at least should influence, the quality and effectiveness of this auditing mechanism. The legal regulatory framework of …More
The aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2022 has rewritten the EU-Russia partnership that had developed over the last thirty years. In those thirty years, both the EU and the Russian Federation became maritime powers. This paper offers an analysis of the main dynamics that have brought about the developments of the EU-Russia …More
The Turkish Straits are one of the most congested and dangerous natural waterways in the world and recent developments have placed additional strain on safety of navigation. Previously, it has been argued that certain steps would improve transit safety and that the expenditure involved in realizing these measures could be financed through a proportional increase …More
In this paper, we analyse the phenomenon of designing a litigation strategy. To do this, we study the case of search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. In particular, we observe how teams of lawyers (supported by foundations and private donations) are trying to challenge EU immigration policies by developing different litigation strategies before the …More
After years of great uncertainty on the viability of deep-sea mining activities, the International Seabed Authority is currently negotiating the draft regulations on exploitation of mineral resources in the Area. In this context, the EU has recently come up with a Commission proposal for an EU Council decision on the position to be taken on …More
