UnconventionalLawmakingintheLawoftheSeaexploresthewaysthatactorsoperatingattheinternationalleveldevelopstandardsofbehaviourtoregulatevariedmaritimeactivitiesbeyondtraditionallawmaking.Otherthanconventionsandcustomaryinternationallaw,thereisaplethoraofinternationalagreementsthatinfluenceinternationalconduct.This’softlaw’or’informallaw’isnowprolificinoceangovernance,andsoitistimetoconsideritssignificanceforthelawofthesea.Thismonographbringstogetherwomenlaw-of-the-seascholarswithexpertiseinspecificareasofthelawofthesea,aswellasinternationallawmoregenerally.Informallawmakingisexaminedinrelationtooceanresources,maritimesecurity,shippingandnavigation,andthemarineenvironment.Ineachinstance,therearereflectionsonthediverseactors,processes,andoutputsshapingtheregulationoftheoceans.Theanalysesinthisbookfurtherconsiderwhatthisactivitymeanswithintherulesonthesources,formation,andinterpretationofinternationallaw.Thegrowingrelianceoninformalagreementstofilllegalgapsprovidesquickresponsestopressingmatters.Wemustassessandunderstandthesenewformsofcooperationinordertoinfluenceexistingtreatiesorcustomaryinternationallaw.UnconventionalLawmakingintheLawoftheSeasurveysthescopeofinformallawmakinginthelawoftheseaandevaluatesthesignificanceofthisactivityfortheUNConventionontheLawoftheSea,aswellasforoceangovernancemorebroadly,nowandinthefuture.
