The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Maritime Organization - IMO all work with questions concerning the law of the sea.

The "freedom of the sea" principle

For centuries the "freedom of the sea" principle prevailed on the oceans. In the 20th century, however, technological breakthroughs in navigation, fishing and ocean exploration coupled with the population explosion caused conflicting claims such as

• claims to the oceans and their resources
• claims for fishing zones
• claims for extended territorial zones
• claims for military security zones.

The Convention on the Law of the Sea

In 1982, the Conference approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) - a convention to regulate all ocean space, its uses and resources. This treaty, sometimes described as "the constitution of the oceans", was, however, controversial: it took another twelve years until it entered into force in 1994.

Since the 1950s the United Nations had been the central forum for the development of the international law of the sea. The First United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS I) was held in Geneva in 1958, and it was succeeded by UNCLOS II in 1960. The Third UNCLOS Conference was entrusted with the task of adopting a convention - a convention that was eventually adopted in 1994.

Organizations involved with the law of the sea

The following three United Nations organizations work with the law of the sea.

DOALOS

The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS)

• provides advice on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• conducts monitoring and research in areas relevant to the Convention.

ITLOS

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) has been established to settle disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

IMO

The Internationella sjöfartsorganisationen - IMO is responsible for international conventions and agreements concering

• safety at sea
• navigation
• marine pollution
• other legal maritime issues.

More on UN and law of the sea

• Oceans and Law of the Sea. Links to UN programs and agencies relevant to the law of the sea by Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS).
• ​United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Overview and full text. Background information and full text of the Convention and related agreements with ratifications.
• DOALOS issues bibliographies, surveys and reports on the law of the sea. A list of publications: United Nations Publications prepared by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs. These are published as UN sales publications, section V.
• International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea provides background information and documents and reports, proceedings and judgments.