The Russian Federation and the Arctic Sunrise Case: Hot Pursuit and Other Issues under the LOSC

The Arctic Sunrise case was brought unilaterally by the Netherlands against the Russian Federation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on October 4, 2013 after the Russian Federation had boarded the vessel and arrested it and its crew. The article discusses the subsequent arbitral proceedings and in particular assesses the reasoning of the arbitral tribunal on the issue of hot pursuit. It concludes that the tribunal’s findings are controversial in several respects. Although the Russian Federation did not participate in the arbitration, it did issue a number of official statements and documents. The article provides a legal assessment of these statements and documents, concluding that they are difficult to square with the applicable law on a number of points

The Russian Federation and the Arctic Sunrise Case: Hot Pursuit and Other Issues under the LOSC

The Arctic Sunrise case was brought unilaterally by the Netherlands against the Russian Federation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on October 4, 2013 after the Russian Federation had boarded the vessel and arrested it and its crew. The article discusses the subsequent arbitral proceedings and in particular assesses the reasoning of the arbitral tribunal on the issue of hot pursuit. It concludes that the tribunal’s findings are controversial in several respects. Although the Russian Federation did not participate in the arbitration, it did issue a number of official statements and documents. The article provides a legal assessment of these statements and documents, concluding that they are difficult to square with the applicable law on a number of points

Whose Ocean? Exploring multidisciplinary perspectives towards ocean sustainability and implications for the un(der)represented

The ocean's significance encompasses crucial ecosystem services including climate regulation, oxygen production and food supply. The ocean is also a major player in the global economy. However, human activities continue to harm the ocean, jeopardising these vital functions. In July 2022, the United Nations Ocean Conference adopted a political declaration entitled "Our ocean, our future, our responsibility," emphasising the need for sustainable ocean management and protection. However, an important initial question arises: who are the “Our”? or, rephrased “Whose ocean” is it? This study presents first answers to this question, based on interviews with ocean professionals from diverse backgrounds. Their responses showcased the complexity of the issue, with differing opinions on ocean “ownership” and “control”. Despite the diversity of perspectives, a shared emphasis emerged: shifting from profit-driven decision-making to prioritising marine ecosystem health. Proposed approaches to build a sustainable relationship between people and the ocean include promoting ocean literacy and marine research and ensuring global accountability. These voices offered valuable insights towards ocean sustainability, guiding future academic, educational and policy-making efforts

The Indian Ocean and the Law of the Sea: A Work in Progress

This chapter assesses the implementation of the law of the sea in the Indian Ocean. It begins by providing a definition and general description of the Indian Ocean. It then discusses maritime zones and boundaries and regional and subregional cooperation. The practice of Indian Ocean coastal States generally shows a large measure of consistency with the UN Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) as regards the extent of maritime zones. A considerable divergence from the LOSC exists in the case of straight baselines, whereas in the case of archipelagic baselines there is conformity to the Convention, suggesting that the numerical controls contained in Article 47 have been more effective