The NCLOS Blog

The NCLOS Blog

The blog of the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea

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?

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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”

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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

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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?

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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 …

The Relationship between the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN Climate Change Regime: What Role for Article 237 UNCLOS?

Climate change / International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) / Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) / Marine pollution Leave a comment

By: Philipp P Nickels (Research Fellow and PhD Candidate, NCLOS, Faculty of Law, UiT) PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2024/04/The-Relationship-between-the-LOSC-and-the-UN-Climate-Change-Regime-NCLOS-blog.pdf Matters commented on: request for an advisory opinion, ITLOS, COSIS, inter-regime relationships 1 Introduction* On 12 December 2022, the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS) submitted a request …

A Peculiar Interaction: Extreme Temperature Rise in the North Atlantic and the International Maritime Organization’s Sulphur Regulation

Climate change / Marine pollution Leave a comment

By: Konstantinos Deligiannis-Virvos (PhD Research Fellow, Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea, UiT) PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2024/01/NCLOS-Blog-IMO-and-Climate-Change-final-1.pdf Matters Commented on: North Atlantic Ocean surface temperature rise, IMO 2020 Sulphur Regulation, IMO GHG Strategy, Climate Change 1.      Introduction In the summer of 2023 exceptional sea surface temperatures were recorded on the …

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

Biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) / Blog / Ecosystem approach / Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) / Marine Protected Areas / Rights of Nature Leave a comment

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 …

Did an Alleged Ukrainian Attack against the Nord Stream Pipelines Violate the Law of Armed Conflict?

Oil and gas / Security law Leave a comment

By: Alexander Lott (Marie Curie research fellow at the Norwegian Centre for the Law of the Sea). PDF: https://site.uit.no/nclos/wp-content/uploads/sites/179/2023/11/Alexander-Lott-NCLOS-Blog_Nord-Stream-Jus-in-Bello-Case-Study_-Final.pdf Matter commented on: The Nord Stream Explosions in the Baltic Sea 1. Introduction Preliminary Western intelligence reports have emerged about a purportedly pro-Ukrainian group of six divers conducting the sabotage against …

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

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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 …