1. Characteristics of the marine environment
The character of the marine environment as an ”open access resource”
The resulting ”tragedy of the commons”
The traditional ”freedom of the seas”
Conflicting interests: Coastal states vs. flag states
Differences from terrestrial environment
”Land-use”
”Hunting”
Pollution from land-based sources
Alien species

2. Normative issues Can UNCLOS be seen as an ”umbrella convention”?
For issues of jurisdiction: yes
For fisheries issues: yes
For issues concerning exploitation of other resources: yes
For pollution and alien species: ?
For marine protected areas: ?
The importance of regional regimes
IMO as a ”standard-setting body”
The importance of port state authority
Are we moving towards an ecosystem based approach?

3. UNCLOS and environment
Territorial sea
The issue of ”innocent passage” (art. 21)
Exclusive economic zone
Coastal state: limited by IMO standards (art and 6)
Obligations related to management of resources (art. 61-2)
Continental shelf
Coastal state: limited by the right to lay cables and pipelines (art. 79)
The high seas
Obligation to take conservation measures (art )
Flag state vs. coastal state
The special issue of migratory species (art. 64-7) – the 1995 Agreement
Pollution and responsibilities of flag state (art )

4. Institutional issues Which are the institutions of UNCLOS?
The challenge of a fragmented institutional structure
UNEP Regional Seas as a success story?
The divide between fisheries institutions and environmental institutions
The divide between IMO, UNCLOS and environmental institutions
Moving from a reparative approach to prevention and precaution
Failure of the current system
The problem of generating sufficient knowledge
Art. 6 of the 1995 Agreement, but leaving the issue to be implemented through regional agreements