Interceptions in the high seas: from a question of legality to a question of legal (re-)ordering

By: Konstantinos Deligiannis Virvos, Vito De Lucia and Jan Jakub Solski, Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS), Faculty of Law, UiT The Arctic University of Norway 1.  Introduction In September 2025, the United States of America (US) launched operation “Southern Spear” which, among other actions, included a …

The BBNJ Agreement enters into force on 17 January 2026: What does this mean for Norway and why is proper implementation important for international ocean governance?

By: Jessica N.M. Schechinger (postdoctoral research fellow at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea (NCLOS), Faculty of Law, UiT The Arctic University of Norway) Matter commented on: the BBNJ Agreement entering into force and Norway’s ratification and implementation of the Agreement 1. Introduction: Norway’s ratification of the …

Introduction to the Outcomes of the 2024 NCLOS Conference: “Future Trajectories for the Law of the Sea”

By: Sofie Elise Quist and Bastiaan Klerk (UiT, Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea). Matter commented on: NCLOS Conference on “Future Trajectories for the Law of the Sea”, 6-7 November 2023, Tromsø, Norway. The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) seen by many as …

Impact of the ITLOS Climate Change Advisory Opinion on Civil Liability Regimes for Oil Spills

By: Daniel Stein, Assistant Professor, OP Jindal Global University, Jindal Global Law School; Visiting Researcher, Freie Universität, Berlin. PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2024/06/Daniel-NCLOS-blog-ITLOS-AO-on-Climate-change-and-CLC_PDF.pdf Matter Commented on: The Conventions regulating Civil Liability for oil spills were not explicitly mentioned by the ITLOS, but several new duties related to transboundary harms and environmental restoration could …

Norway formally opens the Norwegian continental shelf to seabed mining exploration activities: Rowing against the tide?

By: Maria Madalena das Neves (Associate Professor at NCLOS, Faculty of Law, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway). PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2024/04/Maria-Seabed-Mining_-NCLOS-Blog_290424.pdf Matter commented on: Norwegian Government’s plans for seabed mining and theNorwegian Parliament’s decision to open the Norwegian continental shelf to seabed mining. 1. Introduction On the 12th of April 2024, the …

Introduction to the outcomes of the 2023 NCLOS Conference on “Ocean Commons”

By: Konstantinos Deligiannis-Virvos (UiT, Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea) Matter commented on: NCLOS Conference on Ocean Commons, 1-3 November 2023, Tromsø, Norway. Introduction: The term “commons” usually brings into mind the problem of the tragedy of the commons: a concept in environmental science and economics that describes …

Reflections on the Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Pikialasorsuaq: What does it legally mean for the Inuit?

By: Apostolos Tsiouvalas (PhD Fellow at NCLOS, Faculty of Law, UiT The Arctic University of Norway). PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2023/10/Apostolos_NCLOS-Blog_271023_Final.pdf Matter commented on:  Letter of Intent for Cooperation on the Pikialasorsuaq between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans of Canada and the Ministry of Agriculture, Self-sufficiency, Energy and Environment of the Government …

Deep-Sea Minerals Exploitation: The 2-Year Rule Deadline is Running Out, What Happens Next?

By: Maria Madalena das Neves (Associate Professor at NCLOS, Faculty of Law, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway) PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2023/06/MMN_Deepsea-Minerals-Exploitation_NCLOS-Blog_27062023.pdf Matter commented on:  ISA draft exploitation regulations and the 2-Year rule Nauru invoked  the ‘two-year rule’ enshrined in section 1(15)(b) of the Annex to the 1994 Agreement relating to the implementation …

The Nord Stream Pipelines through the Lens of Law and Geopolitics

By: Timo Koivurova (Research Professor at Arctic Centre, University of Lapland); Theresa Winkel (Doctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Law, University of Lapland) PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2023/06/NCLOS-Blog_Koivurova_Winkel_Final.pdf Matter commented on: Regulation of Nord Stream Pipelines In the realm of European energy security, few topics have sparked as much debate and controversy as …