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2 INTRODUCTION Oceans are a Common Resource 1982 Law of the Sea Convention Provides Fair and Equal Access

3 HISTORIC OVERVIEW Community Property- Roman Empire Closed Seas Spain/Portugal Open Seas Hugo Grotius – High Seas Freedom of Navigation –Territorial Sea (3 miles) 1703 Subject to Right of Innocent Passage

4 POST-WW II EXPANSION OF TERRITORIAL SEA CLAIMS Fisheries Oil & Other Non-Living Resources 200 nautical mile territorial sea claims

5 CODIFICATION OF THE LAW OF THE SEA UNCLOS I (1958) –1958 GENEVA CONVENTIONS UNCLOS II (1960) UNCLOS III ( ) –1982 UN CONVENTION ON LAW OF THE SEA

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS III) Major Topics: Coastal State Rights Navigation & Overflight Rights Environment Protection Settlement of Disputes Sea-Bed Mining Provisions

7 U.S. POSITION ON LAW OF THE SEA 1983: Ocean Policy Statement 1983: 200 nm Exclusive Economic Zone 1988: 12 nm Territorial Sea 1999: 24 nm Contiguous Zone

8 UNCLOS III DEVELOPMENTS 1990: UNSG Initiated Informal Discussions to Modify Part XI July, 1994: UNGA Resolution Proposes Agreement Amending Part XI November, 1994: UNCLOS III Enters Into Force October, 1994: U.S. President Forwards to Senate –U.S. accession still pending Senate advice & consent

9 INTERPRETATION No reservations Declarations Dispute Resolution –Mandatory –Optional Role of IMO

10 CURRENT STATUS As of January 2012: 161 Nations were parties U.S. Ratification Has Not Yet Occurred Widespread International Adherence

11 CONCLUSION Equal Distribution of Commonwealth of the Oceans National Security Economic Interests Freedom of Navigation

12 USEFUL WEB SITES UN Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea –UNCLOS III Parties, treaty texts, national claims, UNGA Resolutions, UNSG Reports U.S. Department of Defense – Maritime Claims Reference Manual

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