Law of the Sea Convention 1982

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the framework treaty governing all uses of ocean space. It was adopted at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982 and entered into force on 16 November 1994, one year after the 60th ratification. Across 320 articles and 9 annexes it defines the maritime zones (territorial sea to 12 nautical miles, contiguous zone, EEZ to 200 nautical miles, continental shelf), navigation rights, the Area as common heritage of mankind, marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, and a compulsory dispute-settlement system through ITLOS, the ICJ, and arbitral tribunals. The 1994 Part XI Agreement enabled industrialized states to join.