On September 8, Dr. Aleke Stöfen-O’Brien, Associate Professor (Research/Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management) at the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI), delivered a lecture at Lund University’s Eden lecture hall titled “Introduction to Law of the Sea.”
LECTURE: "Introduction to law of the sea"
In her lecture, Dr. Stöfen-O’Brien provided students with a comprehensive introduction to the international legal framework governing the ocean. She outlined the development of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and explained its jurisdictional zones and general legal debates surrounding baselines, archipelagic waters, and the impacts of sea-level rise on maritime boundaries, by way of example. By referring to Swedish waters, such as the Öresund Sound, she explained how waters between states are divided and used.
The students also learned about the history of concepts such as mare liberum and mare clausum, the codification of the Law of the Sea (LOS), and the role of international courts including the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Dr. Stöfen-O’Brien further discussed the broader institutional context, introducing the United Nations system, its specialized agencies, and in particular the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the global regulatory body for shipping. She also highlighted the mission and work of the World Maritime University in training postgraduate students and advancing ocean-related research.
For more information please contact the WMU-GOI at goisecretariat@wmu.se
About the World Maritime University
The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden is established within the framework of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations. The mission of WMU is to be the world centre of excellence in postgraduate maritime and oceans education, professional training and research, while building global capacity and promoting sustainable development. WMU is an organization by and for the international maritime community and is committed to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
About wmu-goi
The World Maritime University (WMU)-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (GOI) is an independent focal point for the ocean science-policy-law-industry-society interface where policymakers, the scientific community, regulators, industry actors, academics, and representatives of civil society meet to discuss how best to manage and use ocean spaces and their resources in accordance with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Institute was inaugurated in May 2018 and made possible through generous support from The Nippon Foundation of Japan, the Governments of Sweden, Canada, and Germany, as well as the City of Malmö.
About Lund University Faculty of Law
The Faculty of Law at Lund University is one of Scandinavia’s oldest and most prestigious law schools, offering programmes from undergraduate to doctoral levels. With a strong focus on international and interdisciplinary perspectives, the faculty encourages students to explore both traditional and emerging areas of law, including maritime and environmental law. Its dynamic academic environment provides an ideal setting for engaging lectures on complex topics such as the Law of the Sea.