The Archipelagic and Island States Forum shall host a webinar, entitled, The Role of ISA and State Practices in Regulating Seabed Mining, 15 October 2020 from 14:30 (SGT).
For more information see here.
Guest Lecture: Rising Sea Level for the Law of the Sea Perspective
The CIL eAcademy 2020 shall host an open guess lecture, entitled, Rising Sea Level for the Law of the Sea Perspective, 14 October 2020 from 16:00 (SGT) online.
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
UK: West of Scotland Marine Protected Area
On 9 October 2020 the West of Scotland Marine Protected Area Order 2020, a Scottish Ministerial Order, entered into force, creating the largest MPA located in national waters within the North-East Atlantic. Features of the former Rosemary Bank Seamount MPA are now protected within the West of Scotland MPA.
For more information see here.
Filed under State Practice
Online Conference: Third Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) will host a virtual meeting, entitled, Third Asia-Pacific Day for the Ocean, 29 October 2020 from 12:00 (ICT).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinars: SCELG Seminar Series 2020-21
The Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law & Governance (SCELG) shall host its Seminar Series 2020-21, including, among others, Environmental Rights in Marine Spaces (13 November 2020) and Environmental Impact Assessment in the BBNJ negotiations (15 January 2021).
For more information on all the seminars see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Fishing on the High Seas and Marine Protected Areas
The World Commission on Environmental Law shall host a webinar, entitled, Fishing on the High Seas and Marine Protected Areas, on 13 October 2020 from 10:00 (EST).
Filed under Events
Webinar: India and the 1982 UNCLOS
The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) shall host a webinar, entitled, India and the 1982 UNCLOS, on 8 October 2020 from 15:30 (IST).
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
MOOC: Marine Litter
UN Environment Programme and Open Universiteit shall host a Massive Open Online Course, entitled, Marine Litter, beginning 26 October 2020. The Leadership Track includes 10 available languages, while the additional Expert Track includes 3 available languages.
Filed under Courses
Webinars: The Ghandhi Research Seminar Series
Global Law at Reading (University of Reading) shall host its Ghandhi Research Seminar Series, October 2020 – April 2021. Sessions that may be of interest to law of the sea scholars include, Worldmaking on the Sea (21 October 2020) and Colonial Futures: Resource Extraction and International Jurisdiction in the Seabed and Space (21 April 2021).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: DPRK Ghost Ships & PRC Dark Fleets
The Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS) shall host its first Indo-Pacific Maritime Hour, entitled, DPRK Ghost Ships & PRC Dark Fleets, 13 October 2020, from 09:00 (JST).
For more information and (optional) registration see here.
Filed under Events
ITLOS: Amendment to the Rules of the Tribunal
Pursuant to the Statute of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, Article 16, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has amended the Rules of the Tribunal (2018 Edition), on the 25 September 2020, namely the addition of Articles 41(7), 74(2), 112(5), 124(3) and 135(1bis) (entered into force, 25 September 2020). In doing so, the Tribunal vests itself with the competence to decide, as an exceptional measure, for public health, security or other compelling reasons, to hold hearings and meetings entirely or in part by video link.
For more information and the text of the new paragraphs see ITLOS Press Release 306.
Filed under International Organizations, Treaties
Webinar: European Proposals to Regulate Shipping Industry Emissions
UCL Laws shall host a webinar entitled, Smoke on the Water: European Proposals to Regulate Shipping Industry Emissions, 1 October 2020 from 15:30 (BST).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: World Maritime Day 2020
This year’s World Maritime Day, themed, Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet, shall include a webinar 24 September 2020, from 10:30 (BST).
For more information and to watch online see here.
Filed under Events
Online Conference: 13th Polar Law Symposium Special Online Session
The Kobe University Polar Cooperation Research Centre shall logistically support the first virtual polar law symposium, the 13th Polar Law Symposium Special Online Session, to be held 9-30 November 2020 online. The symposium will consist of (1) on-demand browsing of PPT files and video presentations with textual feedback from the participants, and (2) a few live, interactive ZOOM seminars and lectures. Registration is now open.
For more information and registration see here. See the provisional program here.
Filed under Events
USA: Revision of Marine Scientific Research Policy
On 9 September 2020 the President of the United States of America by Proclamation 10071, entitled, Revision to United States Marine Scientific Research Policy, establishes the revised US policy:
Section 1. Policy. The United States will exercise its right to regulate, authorize, and conduct marine scientific research, with a specific requirement to authorize, in advance, all instances of foreign marine scientific research, in the United States EEZ and on its continental shelf to the extent permitted under international law.
Former President of the United States of America, Ronald Regan, in the Presidential Statement of 10 March 1983, entitled, Statement on United States Oceans Policy, had established the previous US MSR policy:
While international law provides for a right of jurisdiction over marine scientific research within such a zone, the proclamation does not assert this right. I have elected not to do so because of the United States interest in encouraging marine scientific research and avoiding any unneccessary burdens.
Thus, according to the US State Department Press Release, the United States previously required advance consent for MSR conducted in its EEZ and on the U.S. continental shelf only when such research implicated certain U.S. domestic legal requirements.
Filed under State Practice
Webinars: Sustainable Shipping for A Sustainable Planet
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in London and the One Ocean Hub shall host a webinar series for the IMO’s Maritime Week, entitled, Sustainable Shipping for A Sustainable Planet. Seminars include:
Mainstreaming Sustainability Principles in Shipping: Insights from Multi-Stakeholders, 21 September 2020 from 10:30 (BST).
Ocean and Climate Change, 22 September 2020 from 10:30 (BST).
Marine Pollution, 23 September 2020 from 10:30 (BST).
Filed under Events
Online Conference: Local Ripples, Global Waves
The Master of Marine Management students of the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University, with support from the Sobey Fund for Oceans, shall host their ninth annual Sustainable Oceans Conference, entitled, Local Ripples, Global Waves: Bringing together local action to influence global change, 26-27 September 2020, online.
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Wildlife Trafficking in International Maritime Supply Chains
The IMO shall host a webinar, entitled, Accelerating action against wildlife trafficking in international maritime supply chains, 21 September 2020 from 12:00 (GMT +1).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Future of Shipping – Decarbonisation
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) shall host a webinar, entitled, Future of Shipping – Decarbonisation, 17 September 2020 from 17.00 (SGT).
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Untangling the Impact of Illegal Fishing in North Korean Waters
The Stimson Center shall host a webinar, entitled, Untangling the Impact of Illegal Fishing in North Korean Waters, 22 September 2020 from 09:00 (EST).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinars: Ocean Decade Series
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO shall host a series of webinars, entitled, The Ocean Decade Virtual Series, from 24 September 2020 until 31 January 2021. Each session will be conveyed jointly with different partners.
For more information see here. Registration for the first session, Co-designing the Science we need for the Ocean Decade, 24 September 2020, can be found here.
Filed under Events
Launch of BBNJ Virtual Intersessional Work
Following postponement of the fourth session of IGC on a BBNJ Agreement, the President of the IGC has decided to launch the BBNJ Intersessional Work, entitled, Virtual intersessional work of the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, from 14 September 2020. The objective is to continue the dialogue on the key pillars of any future BBNJ Agreement, as well as any cross cutting issues.
For more information see here.
Filed under International Organizations, State Practice
Webinar: Africa’s Maritime Domain Awareness and Security
The Secure Waters Africa Digital Conference, entitled, Effective Solutions to Strengthen Africa’s Maritime Domain Awareness and Security, will occur 9-10 September 2020.
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Blue Crimes – rethinking the maritime security agenda
SafeSeas will host a webinar, entitled, Blue Crimes: Rethinking the maritime security agenda, on 10 September 2020 from 14.00 (BST).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Consultation: ISA draft standards and guidelines for exploitation of mineral resources in the Area
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) welcomes comments from stakeholders on the first set of draft standards and guidelines to support the implementation of the draft regulations for exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed area until 20 October 2020. This includes:
Draft standard and guidelines on the development and application of environmental management systems
Draft standard and guidelines on the form and calculation of an environmental performance guarantee
Filed under Surveys
Consultation: EU mission for healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
The European Commission is currently developing its research and innovation missions that will form part of the Horizon Europe framework programme beginning in 2021. Under the mission area, healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters, citizens may submit proposals until 14 September 2020.
Filed under Surveys
Vacancy: Associate Professor of Maritime Security and Governance at U.S. Naval War College
The U.S. Naval War College (Newport, USA) is currently inviting applicants for the position of Associate Professor of Maritime Security and Governance. Applications are welcome until 5 October 2020, but note this position is only open to U.S. citizens.
Filed under Vacancies
Online Workshop: Marine Scientific Research in the Area
The International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association (COMRA), and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, will host an online workshop, entitled, Marine Scientific Research in the Area: Establishing collaborative platform to enhance biodiversity knowledge for environmental management in mid-ocean ridge ecosystem, 15-17 December 2020. Participants must register by 15 September 2020.
For more information see here.
USA: Visa Restrictions and Entity Listings Relating to Chinese Activities in South China Sea
On 26 August 2020, the US State Department announced visa restrictions on “individuals responsible for, or complicit in, either the large-scale reclamation, construction, or militarization of disputed outposts in the South China Sea, or the PRC’s use of coercion against Southeast Asian claimants to inhibit their access to offshore resource”. This includes inadmissibility to the USA for listed persons and visa restrictions for immediate family members. The persons listed remain confidential, but are inadmissible on the basis of US foreign policy concerns (senior State Department official; 8 USC 1182(a)(3)(c)).
On 26 August 2020, the US Department of Commerce announced that 24 Chinese companies were added to the Entity List (15 CFR 744.16) of the Export Administration Regulations on the basis “these entities enabled China to reclaim and militarize disputed outposts in the South China Sea” (85(167) Federal Register 52898). The US government determined it had “reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable facts, that the entity has been involved, is involved, or poses a significant risk of being or becoming involved in activities that are contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States” (15 CFR 744.11). A license is required, to the extent specified on the Entity List, to export, reexport, or transfer (in-country) any item subject to the Export Administration Regulations.
On the 27 August 2020, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson called the measures “unjustified”.
Filed under State Practice
Webinar: IUU Fishing as a Major Security Threat in Southeast Asia
Pacific Forum, in partnership with the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS), will host its next session of the Maritime Discussion Series, entitled, IUU Fishing as a Major Security Threat in Southeast Asia, 3 September 2020 from 09:00 (SGT).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Safeguarding the Freedom of Navigation in the Indo-Pacific
The German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) shall host a webinar, entitled, Safeguarding the Freedom of Navigation in the Indo-Pacific: What Role for European Navies?, 17 September 2020 from 16:00.
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Law and governance approaches within the ocean-climate nexus
The UNFCCC Secretariat (UN Climate Change), in co-operation with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Center for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), is hosting a Climate Legislation Webinar Series. The second webinar, entitled, Law and governance approaches within the ocean-climate nexus, will be held 17 September 2020 from 13:00 (GMT).
Filed under Events
Webinar: The contribution of the shipping sector to emission reductions
The International Foundation for the Law of the Sea (IFLOS) shall host its 13th Maritime Talks, entitled, Cleaner Air and better climate? – The contribution of the shipping sector to emission reductions, 26 September 2020, from 10.00 (CEST).
Filed under Events
ITLOS: Election of Seven Members of the Tribunal
The Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) have elected seven Members of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), following three rounds of voting held 24-26 August 2020 (UNCLOS, Annex VI, Article 4; Round 1; Round 2; Round 3).
The States Parties re-elected David Joseph Attard and Markiyan Z. Kulyk and elected Kathy-Ann Brown (Jamaica), Ida Caracciolo (Italy), Jielong Duan (China), María Teresa Infante Caffi (Chile), and Maurice Kamga (Cameroon) (see curricula vitae of candidates nominated by States Parties). The nine year term of each Member will commence 1 October 2020 (Rules of the Tribunal, Article 2).
The term of office for five Members of the Tribunal shall expire 30 September 2020, namely, Tafsir Malick Ndiaye (Senegal), Jean-Pierre Cot (France), Anthony Lucky (Trinidad and Tobago), Zhiguo Gao (China) and Elsa Kelly (Argentina).
For more information see the ITLOS Press Release and the Registrar’s Overview of the Election Procedure.
Filed under International Organizations, State Practice
Webinar: The Maritime Silk Road – International and EU Law Reflections
The Jean Monnet Chair on International and European Law of the Sea (IELoS) shall host a roundtable (as part of its EULoS Summer School), entitled, The Maritime Silk Road: International and EU Law Reflections, 28 August 2020, from 09:15 (CET).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Digital Lecture Series: Theorizing Law of the Sea in Context
The Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS) shall host a digital lecture series, entitled, Theorizing Law of the Sea in Context, the next seminar being 27 August 2020 from 15:00 (GMT +2).
Filed under Events
Webinars: Blue Justice Forum 2020
The Blue Justice Initiative, in cooperation with UNDP’s Blue Resilience project, shall host a series of webinars, entitled, Blue Justice Forum 2020, 27 August – 5 November 2020.
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Conference: The Secrets of the Ocean
Ocean Sustainability Bergen, University of Bergen, shall host a conference, entitled, The Secrets of the Ocean – how can we utilize the biodiversity of the ocean for future food, medicine, genetic resources and more in a post-Covid era?, 11 November 2020 at the University of Bergen.
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Calming Troubled Waters in the South China Sea
The Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia shall host a virtual discussion, entitled, Calming Troubled Waters in the South China Sea, on the 19 August 2020 from 14:00 (WIB).
For more information and registration, see here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: The Shadow Blue Economy – Tackling Organised Crime in Fisheries
The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy shall host a webinar, entitled, The Shadow Blue Economy: Tackling Organised Crime in Fisheries, 18 August 2020 from 08:30 (EDT). The event will launch their publication, ‘Organised Crime in the Fisheries Sector’.
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
Consultation: EU Arctic Policy
The European Commission and the European External Action Service are undertaking a consultation to assess the relevance and completeness of the current focus areas of the EU’s An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic. Stakeholder contributions are welcome until 10 November 2020.
Filed under Surveys
Vacancy: Legal Expert with UNDP (Mauritius)
Deadline to submit applications is 31 July 2020 with the United Nations Development Programme for the Appointment of a Legal Expert (Law of the Sea) to Support the Joint Management Area (JMA) Demonstration Project Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Phase II Process.
The JMA Demonstration project is assisting Mauritius and Seychelles in the development and demonstration of new management approaches for extended continental shelf areas, which can provide lessons and management techniques that could be replicated both within the western Indian Ocean and other similar maritime zones globally. The JMA covers an area of 396,000 sq. km extending seaward to the east beyond the existing EEZs of both coastal States and is the largest joint maritime zone in the world. More information is available here (Reference Number 67599).
Filed under Vacancies
Consultation: EU International Ocean Governance Agenda
The European Commission and the European External Action Service are currently undertaking a targeted consultation to assess the development needs and options of the EU’s International ocean governance: an agenda for the future of our oceans. Stakeholder contributions are welcome until 15 October 2020.
Filed under Surveys
Virtual Event: CIMSEC Forum for Authors and Readers
The Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC) shall host its sixth annual CIMSEC Forum for Authors and Readers (CFAR), on the 27 August 2020 from 18:00 (EST). Nominations for speakers are accepted until 23 July 2020.
For more information see here.
Filed under Events
Virtual Event: Law-making in the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law
The International Foundation for the Law of the Sea (IFLOS) shall host a virtual event, entitled, Law-making in the Law of the Sea and Maritime Law, on the 13 August 2020, from 09:00 (CEST).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Vacancy: Climate & Ocean Research Fellow at University of California, Berkeley
The Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) at University of California, Berkeley School of Law accepts applications for the position of Assistant/Associate Specialist on Climate & Ocean Research. The Climate & Ocean Law & Policy Fellow will work on domestic and international law and policy issues, roughly splitting their time between projects within the Climate Program and projects within the Ocean Program. Specific research areas will likely include: (1) on the climate side, work on California climate programs related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage and zero-emission transportation; (2) on the ocean side, domestic offshore renewable energy development, international ocean law issues including deep sea mining and marine scientific research; and (3) other potential energy and environmental issues.
Final date for applications is 27 July 2020, but next review date is 20 July 2020 to ensure full consideration by the committee. More information here.
Webinars: Tenth Annual South China Sea Conference
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) shall host a monthly webinar series, entitled, Tenth Annual South China Sea Conference, the Keynote and Session One being held 14 July 2020.
For more information see here, and registration for Keynote and Session One here.
Filed under Events
Webinar: Supporting IMO’s GHG Reduction Strategy
The Global MTCC Network (GMN) shall host a webinar, entitled, Supporting IMO’s GHG Reduction Strategy in the developing world, including an Asia and Pacific Session (15 Jul 2020, from 08:00 BST) and an Africa and Caribbean Session (16 Jul 2020, from 16:00 BST).
Filed under Events
Webinar: State of Maritime Piracy 2019
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Global Maritime Crime Programme and Stable Seas shall host a webinar, entitled, State of Maritime Piracy 2019, 14 July 2020 from 15:00 (BST).
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
Webinars: Virtual Dialogues on the Path to COFI 34
In light of the thirty-fourth session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) being postponed, the FAO will host a series of webinars, entitled, Virtual Dialogues on the Path to COFI 34, 14-16 July 2020. Various sessions will examine fisheries and aquaculture governance and development.
For more information and registration see here.
Filed under Events
De Maribus 
