Spanning over 70% of Earth, the ocean is the central feature and life-support system for our planet. This two-week intensive course on international marine environmental law focuses on helping students learn to use law as a tool to better manage human activities in, on, under or otherwise affecting the ocean. It will explore global and regional agreements relevant to the law of the sea, shipping, fishing, dumping, biodiversity conservation, land-based sources of marine degradation, and problems related to implementation, effectiveness and enforcement. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the UN Fish Stocks Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity are among the international agreements discussed. While the primary focus of the course is on legal issues, there will be extensive coverage of the interface of legal institutions with science and politics. Key cross-cutting issues include coral reef ecosystem management, dynamic ocean management, polar conservation efforts and governance of the ocean beyond national boundaries.

The course will be conducted using lectures, guest speakers, class presentations, intense discussions and in-class debates. Active student participation is both encouraged and required. A final report due two weeks after class ends will enable the student to conduct in-depth research into an area of their choice. Students will be able to meet individually with the instructor during the course to develop their research reports.