Marine law starts to get attention it desperately needs
Africa’s only research chair in the law of the sea will compare and harmonise legislation on the continent’s marine environment
AFRICA’s only research chair in the law of the sea will compare and harmonise legislation on the continent’s marine environment, which will have far-reaching implications for the exploitation of resources, the management of pollution and maritime security.Research undertaken by the chair, hosted by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, helps governments in Africa’s coastal countries to manage their maritime zones effectively."Unlike land, which is defined by national borders, the sea is largely international territory, except for a narrow band close to shore that falls under the full jurisdiction of national governments," says the chair’s incumbent, Prof Patrick Vrancken.In the 1970s and 1980s, leading up to the adoption and coming into effect of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, marine law was heavily researched. But it lost popularity as the world’s focus shifted to other matters, such as human rights and climate change. "There are very few research...
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