This advanced, practice-focused seminar examines the legal frameworks governing the protection of marine biodiversity across national and international waters. Anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and complemented by evolving global agreements and domestic laws, the course explores how governments, corporations, and international organizations regulate human activity to preserve ocean ecosystems.
The course focuses on how lawyers operate in real-world contexts: advising on marine protected areas, regulating fisheries, addressing pollution, managing offshore development, and navigating cross-border conservation disputes. Students will analyze enforcement challenges, jurisdictional conflicts, and emerging legal tools for biodiversity protection.
The seminar treats marine biodiversity law as a strategic and multidisciplinary field, where environmental protection, economic development, and geopolitical interests intersect. Students will develop practical skills in compliance, policy design, and dispute strategy.
This course assumes prior study of environmental law or public international law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the legal frameworks governing marine biodiversity.
2. Analyze international and domestic regulatory regimes.
3. Evaluate conservation tools such as marine protected areas.
4. Assess legal issues in fisheries management and resource use.
5. Understand enforcement challenges in marine environments.
6. Analyze cross-border environmental disputes.
7. Advise clients on compliance with biodiversity regulations.
8. Evaluate corporate environmental responsibilities.
9. Navigate conflicts between development and conservation.
10. Apply legal principles to real-world marine protection scenarios.
