British Contributions to the Law of the Sea and the Protection of the Marine Environment, including its Natural Resources

Abstract

Abstract This article explores the contribution of the United Kingdom to the development and continued evolution of the law of sea and the establishment of an international legal order for the world’s oceans. The authors consider the rise of the United Kingdom as the pre-eminent naval power until the early 20th century, and its use of international law, including the principle of the freedom of the seas, to further its national interests. Despite the relative decline in the naval power of the UK throughout the 20th century, the UK has continued to be influential in the development of the law of the sea, particularly through its participation in multilateral institutions. For example, the UK was at the forefront of the establishment of the IMO and played a leading role in the successful conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The authors identify that it is not only UK officials that have shaped the discipline, but also UK industry, civil society, and academia. The authors conclude their piece by considering the future of the UK’s contribution to the development of the law of the sea after its withdrawal from the European Union, as it resumes its status as an independent coastal state for the first time in four decades. The authors specifically consider the implications of this development for fisheries regulation and the protection of the marine environment.