The common heritage of mankind principle

The freedom of the high seas for all nation

States dividing and claiming maritime spaces between themselves

International cooperation to protect marine biodiversity

It extends coastal state EEZs to 300 nautical miles

It creates a legal basis for conserving marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, including high seas MPAs

It bans all commercial fishing on the high seas

It establishes a new international court for maritime disputes

Internal Waters

The EEZ

The Territorial Sea

The Contiguous Zone

Freedom of navigation, subject to the conditions laid down in the Convention

Freedom of scientific research, subject to Parts VI and XIII

Freedom to lay submarine cables and pipelines, subject to Part VI

Freedom to claim sovereignty over portions of the high seas

That coastal states always over-regulate fishing to protect their own interests

That developing states cannot afford to participate in the UNCLOS

That international law lacks enforcement mechanisms entirely

That because the ocean is a resource belongs to everyone and no one, each actor has an incentive to exploit it, leading to collective ruin

Provide the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources

Transfer the governance of the ocean to private corporations

Restrict virtually all forms of human activity at sea

Grant exclusive control over marine resources to a small number of coastal States

The International Seabed Authority (ISA)

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

Common Heritage of Mankind governing The Area

The principle of freedom of the high seas (Art. 87)

Innocent passage through the territorial sea

Sovereign rights within the Exclusive Economic Zone

The official maritime flag adopted by the United Nations for vessels sailing on the high seas

The practice of registering a vessel under the flag of a State that imposes minimal regulatory requirements, typically different from the ship owner’s nationality

A ceremonial flag flown by ships during international maritime celebrations

A flag flown by vessels exercising the right of innocent passage through a coastal State’s territorial sea