The Law of the Sea: Perceptions of national interest

Abstract

On December 10th 1982 the Law of the Sea Treaty was signed by 119 countries at the final UN Conference on the Law of the Sea, in Kingston Jamaica.

The law has been called “a monumental achievment of the international community, second only to the United Nations charter.” But will it live up to these high expectations? In the following articles Frederick F Clairmonte and John Cavanagh examine the conflicting national and corporate interests that emerged during 15 years of preparatory negotiations, and try to assess how the treaty will influence current and future disputes over the use of the seas.