Part I Assessing the UN Institutional Structure for Global Ocean Governance: The UN’s Role in Global Ocean Governance, 6 The Role of Maritime Boundary Delimitation and Related Co-operative Resource Regimes within Global Ocean Governance

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of maritime boundary delimitation and related co-operative resource regimes within global ocean governance. It first provides an overview of the history of international maritime boundary delimitation law before discussing the convergence between the drawing of simple jurisdictional demarcation lines and the construction of international ocean governance regimes, designed to fulfil marine resource management and environmental protection functions. It then considers the link between marine resource and environmental protection issues, along with the importance of natural resource factors in the evolution of international maritime delimitation law. It also looks at examples of maritime boundary-related co-operative resource regimes, including the 2010 Norway-Russia Maritime Boundary Delimitation treaty and the 2012 Mexico/United States Agreement on Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs. It concludes with a review of international maritime delimitation law and marine environmental protection as an aspect of ocean governance.