Abstract
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is a globally recognized legal regime. UNCLOS has been widely regarded as a “constitution for the oceans” and enshrines the notion that “the problems of ocean space are closely interrelated and need to be considered as a whole”. In compliance with the concept of effective enforcement of international norms, standards and procedures, State Parties to UNCLOS have an obligation to preserve the marine environment. The purpose of this chapter is to consider the role of the law of the sea in marine spatial planning (MSP), bearing in mind that UNCLOS has also provided the framework for the further development of, inter alia, global ocean governance.