The Role of Implementing Agreements in Developing the Law of the Sea

What is it about?

Three implementing, or implementation, agreements have been negotiated under the Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC). These relate to deep seabed mining, straddling and highly migratory fish stocks, and the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. This article compares the three implementing agreements and outlines some of the key differences between the 1994, 1995 and 2023 agreements. The use of implementing agreements have proven a valuable tool to allow for flexibility and development of the law of the sea but may not, in themselves, be sufficient to respond to all the modern challenges facing the ocean.

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