Publications
The implications of seabed mining in the Area for the human right to health
“As the prospect of seabed mining in the Area looms closer, much of the debate to date has focused on the prospects of economic gain versus environmental harm. This article contends that potential human health implications must also be considered, including threats to food safety and security and acceleration of global climate change. Through analysis […]
Public participation at the International Seabed Authority: An international human rights law analysis
“In light of the interlinkages between marine biodiversity and the protection of human rights, this article explores the relevance of international human rights law to the decision-making processes at the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It illuminates the relevance of the ISA decisions for the protection of everyone’s right to a healthy environment, as well as […]
International legal requirements for environmental and socio-cultural assessments for large-scale industrial fisheries
“Although Ghana has ratified several relevant treaties related to the ocean, and the country recognises local communities’ customary laws as an important source of law, there is limited research on the integration of customary laws and practices into marine small-scale fisheries governance. This article addresses this gap by analysing customary law systems and practices of […]
Integrating communities’ customary laws into marine small-scale fisheries governance in Ghana: Reflections on the FAO Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries
“Although Ghana has ratified several relevant treaties related to the ocean, and the country recognises local communities’ customary laws as an important source of law, there is limited research on the integration of customary laws and practices into marine small-scale fisheries governance. This article addresses this gap by analysing customary law systems and practices of […]
Casting the net wider? The transformative potential of integrating human rights into the implementation of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
“The removal of harmful fisheries subsidies is essential to reverse unsustainable fisheries globally. This goal has now, in part, been met following the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in June 2022, which adopted an Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. There is a vast literature on the trade law issues associated with fisheries subsidies, and much has […]
A principled approach for BBNJ: An idea whose time has come
“Environmental justice refers broadly to the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, and the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making and legal frameworks. The field of environmental justice initially developed out of a concern for the disproportionate distribution and impacts of environmental pollution and hazardous waste disposal on groups that […]
Environmental (in)justice in the Anthropocene ocean
“Environmental justice refers broadly to the distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, and the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental decision-making and legal frameworks. The field of environmental justice initially developed out of a concern for the disproportionate distribution and impacts of environmental pollution and hazardous waste disposal on groups that […]
marine biodiscovery in south africa. Science, conservation, governance and equity
“Marine ecosystems and biodiversity are critical to global food security, planetary health and human wellbeing. The “ocean genome”, the genetic material present in all marine biodiversity, including both the physical genes and the information they encode (so-called digital sequence information, or DSI), holds enormous potential for improving the quality of human life and contributing significantly […]
Reimagining Ocean Stewardship: Arts-Based Methods to ‘Hear’ and ‘See’ Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Ocean Management
“Current ocean management approaches are often characterised by economic or environmental objectives, paying limited consideration to social and cultural dimensions, as well as Indigenous and local knowledge. These approaches tend to inhibit ocean stewardship, often marginalising coastal communities or limiting people’s access to spiritual, traditional and recreational uses of the ocean and coast. Piloting arts-based […]
