Division for Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world's oceans and seas; it is an umbrella convention which establishes rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources. In so doing, it embodies in one instrument traditional rules for the uses of the oceans and at the same time introduces new legal concepts and regimes and addresses new concerns. The Convention provides the framework for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea. Maintained by the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs (DOALOS).