Unit information: International Law of the Sea in 2016/17

Unit name	International Law of the Sea
Unit code	LAWDM0028
Credit points	30
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor Sir. Evans
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	University of Bristol Law School
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit examines the history and evolution of law of the sea, and in particular, the legal regime of the 1982 UN Convention. In particular, it examines the various zones within which maritime jurisdiction is exercised: the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, the high seas and the deep sea bed. It explores and explains the legal regulation of a range of activities such as passage and resource exploration and exploitation, whilst at the same time considering the range of political factors that have shaped the development of the law. Particular attention is paid to the construction of baselines and to the delimitation of maritime zones in state practice and before the International Court of Justice. The regulation of fishing and the principles bearing upon the exercise of jurisdiction at sea are also focused upon. Particular attention is paid to interferences with the freedom of navigation on the high seas and with addressing piracy. The unit also discusses the dispute settlement mechanisms established under the law of the sea convention.

Aims:

• to understand the general principles and methods of interpretation of the UNCLOS
• to understand the case-law of the ITLOS, ICJ, and Arbitral Tribunal, with regard to the law of the sea
• to understand the particular features of the dispute settlement at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.
• to be able to identify the legal problems of the law of the sea posed by complex factual situations and to understand how the applicable norms provide answers to such problems;
• to discuss and understand the relationship between the legal concepts of the law of the sea and the geographical and geo-morphological configuration and concepts.

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this unit, students are expected to be able to:

• demonstrate a sound understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of the law of the sea, including jurisdiction
• show a good understanding of the nature of the legal and political disputes on the law of the sea
• show an understanding, and make a reasoned critique, of the case-law of the ICJ, ITLOS, and Arbitral Tribunal with regard to the law of the sea, in particular with regard to the delimitation of maritime zones
• show a good understanding of the evolution of the law of the sea, including the relationship between customary and treaty law of the law, as well as of relationship between UNCLOS with other legal regimes related to the law of the sea.

Teaching Information

This unit is taught by way of 20 lectures (approx.), 10 two-hour seminars and 2 assessment preparation and feedback sessions. Lectures are delivered jointly to students on the related undergraduate unit.

Assessment Information

Summative: a 2000 word essay (33%) will assess the candidate's ability to research a topic within the scope of this unit. The remaining Intended Learning Outcomes will be assessed in a 3 hour written examination (67%). Both assessments will assess all of the Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit in the context of topics selected by the examiners.

Formative: students should do one formative assessment (this will usually be 1 x 1500 word essay).

Reading and References

• Churchill/Lowe, Law of the Sea, 3rd edition, MUP 1999
• Evans, International Law Documents, 12th edition, OUP, 2015
• Rothwell & Stephens, The International Law of the Sea, Hart Publishing, 1st Edition, 2010
• Tanaka, The International Law of the Sea, CUP, 2012
• Rothwell and others, Oxford Handbook on the Law of the Sea, OUP 2015