Children are the future of a nation, but data shows that there is still a high prevalence of child labour in Indonesia’s fisheries sector. Child laborers often did not receive the rights which guaranteed by both National Law (Child Protection Law and Labour Law) and International Law. Indonesian law has expressly prohibited the employment of a child. The problem of child labour is still a problem for the Indonesian fisheries sector and several other countries. By using normative research methods and a statute approach, this study examines two things. First, how is the legal protection for child labour in the fisheries sector in Indonesia. Second, legal efforts that can be taken by Indonesia to eradicate child labour in the fisheries sector. The results of the study show that Indonesian Law (Child Protection Law and Labour Law) prohibits anyone from employing children. Legal protection that can be carried out against child labour in the fisheries sector is by eradicating child labour in Indonesia with several legal efforts such as regulating administrative sanctions in the form of revocation of business permits including fishing permits for vessels employing child labour; establishing criminal sanctions for parents who allow or order their children to work; criminal sanctions for vessel captains; increasing supervision of the implementation of related regulations; and establishing international cooperation with other countries such as countries importing Indonesian fishery products, flag countries of vessels where Indonesian fishing crews work, or with countries that also have child labour problems.

The phenomenon of the dark fleet in the global maritime economy has escalated significantly following the imposition of international sanctions against Russia since 2022 and has developed into a systemic mechanism for evading sanctions that undermines the effectiveness of international maritime governance. This article analyzes the structural weaknesses in the enforcement of administrative sanctions by flag states against illegal vessels and their legal implications within the framework of monitoring obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The research uses a normative legal approach with qualitative analysis of UNCLOS, international maritime conventions such as SOLAS and MARPOL, international sanctions regimes, and maritime investigative reports. The results of the study show that the practices of open registries and flags of convenience are systematically exploited for flag-hopping, beneficial ownership concealment, Automatic Identification System (AIS) switching off, and ship-to-ship transfers that create maritime zones of impunity. The repeated failure of flag states to carry out their due diligence obligations as stipulated in Article 94 of UNCLOS could potentially be classified as a violation of international obligations that triggers state responsibility. This article emphasizes the need for structural reform through the strengthening of port state control, the adoption of advanced surveillance technology, binding ship ownership transparency, and the updating of global flag registration standards to restore the effectiveness of maritime sanctions enforcement and the integrity of international maritime law.

The Black Sea case during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict shows that digital diplomacy is increasingly vital for maintaining freedom of navigation amidst traditional and hybrid conflicts. Although freedom of navigation is firmly rooted in the law of the sea, its practical enforcement increasingly relies on narrative authority, transparency, and quick international cooperation. The article argues that digital diplomacy serves as a supplementary layer to traditional mechanisms for protecting merchant shipping. It does so by shaping legal frameworks, documenting violations, rallying international support, and reinforcing adherence to maritime regimes. Using an interdisciplinary approach that combines maritime law, security studies, and digital communication analysis, the research shows how Ukraine has used digital tools to internationalize maritime security threats, fight disinformation, and legitimize efforts such as humanitarian corridors and alternative shipping routes. The findings suggest that digital diplomacy needs to be integrated into the operations of state maritime agencies and multilateral coordination efforts as a key part of modern maritime security and governance.

The article explores subsidiarity in taxation, focusing on its relation to European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence. Taxation impacts society’s socio-economic structure. By applying subsidiarity, the Court supports Member States’ fiscal autonomy while protecting individual rights, especially under Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights. The article reviews key judgments from the European Court of Human Rights, such as Ferrazzini v. Italy, Bulves AD v. Bulgaria, and Gasus Dosier- und Fördertechnik GmbH v. the Netherlands, to highlight the tension between state fiscal powers and individual property rights. Statistical findings derived from HUDOC data highlight trends in subsidiarity tax cases, underlining the adaptability of the principle to meet evolving governance challenges. The findings demonstrate how subsidiarity is implemented, with the ECHR balancing fairness in taxation while respecting national sovereignty. The analysis reveals geographical variations in tax cases related to subsidiarity, illustrating the different challenges faced by Member States. This connection underscores subsidiarity’s importance in advancing governance and human rights.

The article explores recent initiatives by international organizations and national governments to protect the rights of seafarers and port workers. Recent developments in seafarers’ labour rights and wellbeing, and their recognition as “key workers” under the 2025 updates to the Maritime Labour Convention, have increased attention to the like rights of port personnel. The discussion emphasizes the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) case law concerning seafarers and its significance in understanding jurisdictional practices and holding States accountable for ship crew mistreatment and environmental violations. Special focus is made on how protecting seafarers’ human rights intersects with the enforcement of environmental policies in the shipping industry.

This article explores the changing landscape of next-generation bioenergy technologies and their relevance to the maritime sector amidst increasing global decarbonization efforts. It specifically highlights microalgae-based fuels, residual biomass, and hybrid biochemical-thermochemical systems, forming a varied platform for low-carbon energy. Through comparative analysis of technology, environment, and regulation, the study pinpoints key hurdles for large-scale use – such as high costs, infrastructure challenges, and regulatory inconsistencies. Attention is given to current gaps in the IMO framework, which hinder the recognition and adoption of biofuels despite their potential to significantly reduce emissions from production to use. The article emphasizes that uniform global standards, port upgrades, and support for innovative solutions like genetically optimized microalgae, bioelectrochemical systems, and blockchain tracking are crucial to advancing toward climate-neutral maritime operations.

This article makes a unique contribution to understanding the legal framework of the negotiability feature of the bill of lading. The importance of this study is underscored by the fact that such a nature has not been fully elucidated in the international conventions governing the use of the bill of lading in the context of the carriage of goods by sea. This lack of clarity has led to confusion regarding the legal nature of such negotiability. In particular, under Kuwaiti Law, the rules of the negotiability of Nominal Bills of Lading and Order Bills of Lading are not clearly defined. In response, this article critically analyses the perspectives of relevant laws (UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Jordan) and scholarship on the negotiability of a bill of lading. Doing so establishes this feature on solid legal grounds, from which an appropriate legal framework can be drawn to resolve disputes between the parties negotiating the bill of lading. Accordingly, the study proposes that the negotiability of a Nominal Bill of Lading should be regulated in accordance with the rules of assignment. In contrast, it is suggested that the negotiability of a bill of lading drafted to order should be determined by the general rules of subrogation, which define the implications of such negotiation for the holder in due course, whether against the indorser or the maritime carrier.

Plastic waste in the ocean is a global problem that has a serious impact on the sustainability of marine ecosystems. Indonesia, as an archipelagic country with a dominant sea area, faces major challenges in managing marine plastic waste, which is mostly sourced from land and shipping activities. This study aims to analyze the government’s collaboration model in the management of marine plastic waste as part of Indonesia’s marine environmental protection efforts, with an emphasis on the construction of national laws and forms of international cooperation. This research uses a descriptive and explanatory approach through the study of documents on regulations such as Law No. 32 of 2014 concerning Marine Affairs, Law No. 17 of 2008 concerning Shipping, Presidential Regulation No. 83 of 2018, and international cooperation documents. The results of the study show that the government’s collaboration model is legal-formal, regulatory-based, and institutionally structured. This collaboration includes multi-level coordination between central and local governments and sectoral ministries, as well as the involvement of non-governmental actors and international organizations such as NPAP, MARPOL Annex V, and UNEA. This model differs from the conceptual collaborative approach because it prioritizes policy synergy through a binding and implementable legal framework. The study concludes that the Indonesian government’s collaborative model has strong potential to achieve the target of reducing 70% of marine plastic waste by 2025 and can be replicated by other archipelagic countries facing similar challenges.