North-East Atlantic and the North Sea

• Main Author: Long, Ronán
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2016
• Subjects: Norway; Iceland; North East Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198715481.003.0029; https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/42608/chapter/357548936

Abstract This chapter assesses the legal regime of the North-East Atlantic and the North Sea. It begins by discussing some of the geographical, economic, environmental, strategic, and geo-political factors that are shaping the very distinctive regional regimes that give effect to the basic principles, as well as to many of the substantive provisions embodied in the UN Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) and related agreements. It provides a summary of the various maritime jurisdictional zones and boundaries claimed by the twelve coastal States that make-up the region: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. This is followed by a description of some of the principal regional bodies responsible for formulating and implementing various aspects of the law of the sea, including the regional seas environmental body, the EU and several fisheries management organizations.