After over a decade of international efforts to include the ocean in the policy discussions at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) annual Conference of the Parties (COP), the ocean has finally been included by, inter alia, a reference to ‘ocean-based action’ in a series of COP outcomes, notable among which is the cover decisions known as the ‘Glasgow Climate Pact’. This article provides the necessary background to the inclusion of the ocean in COP26 outcomes, including the Pact, and examines key issues, impacts and shortfalls of the Pact and other COP26 outcomes, including mitigation, adaptation, finance and human rights. It concludes with suggestions for priority research areas moving forward.

At the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022, Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached a historic Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies that aims to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This article provides the necessary background to the Agreement, tracing briefly the history to the negotiations. After a general overview of the Agreement, three key provisions of the Agreement are examined, namely, the prohibition of subsidies to (1) illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, (2) the fishing of overexploited stocks, and (3) fisheries on the high seas outside the competence of regional fisheries management organisations. The provisions of the Agreement on special and differential treatment in favour of developing and least developed countries, as well as notable procedural and institutional features, are also considered. The remaining issues still to be addressed at the WTO are highlighted in the conclusion.

After drawing attention to the crucial role of marine biodiversity, including that of deep-sea ecosystems, in current scientific understanding of the ocean-climate nexus, this article highlights the limited extent to which the international climate change regime has so far addressed the ocean. The focus then shifts to how the international climate change regime could contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity as part of mitigation, adaptation and finance, taking into account human rights impacts and standards, drawing a comparison with REDD+. The article concludes with an original proposal, inspired by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, to develop urgent, synergistic approaches to ocean- and human rights-based climate action through a multi-actor coalition, including different international treaties and United Nations bodies, to ‘protect and restore the ocean’s contributions to climate regulation, human well-being and planetary health’.

This article analyses critically the effectiveness of two EU Directives: Directive 2004/35/CE on Environmental Liability (ELD), and Directive 2008/99/EC on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law (ECD). As the effectiveness of these directives can only be judged through their implementation within a member state’s jurisdiction, this article focuses on the United Kingdom—a now former member of the EU. A comparison is made between the implementation of these two directives in two discrete legal systems in the United Kingdom: that of Scotland, and the rest of the United Kingdom (rUK), that is, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This article begins by establishing the roots of the ELD’s weaknesses by examining how the ELD has been transposed in the rUK and Scotland. It then turns to whether these weaknesses have been addressed by the implementation of the ECD. Finally, the effectiveness of the ECD regime is assessed by examining how both Scotland and the rUK deal with wildlife crime. This article ultimately concludes that despite implementing the two regimes through separate legal systems, both face similar shortcomings that limit their effectiveness.

State-of-the-art remote inspection techniques (RIT), namely unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and magnetic crawlers are the resultants of a cascade of technological innovation. RIT usage has gathered momentum since classification societies turned to manuals alternatives during COVID-19 pandemic. Capable of gathering complex data through real-time visual imagery, it is claimed that RIT has the potential to deliver inspection services more safely and efficiently, thus enabling the transformative digitalization of the “ship survey” landscape. The paradigm shift has begun. In this scope, the multi-robot (ship-hull) survey platforms explored by classification societies and service suppliers have the potential to alter the manner in which massive structures are currently being inspected and maintained. This change will eventually improve shipping competitiveness, thus, paving the way for better and safer regulations and standards. Notwithstanding, the current framework derived from international common minimum standards, while noteworthy and creditable, continues to facilitate a number of thorny issues that could arise post-deployment of available techniques. This chapter highlights crucial elements that could altogether serve as a pathway forward against incidental issues acting as market growth barriers resulting in an unwanted impasse in this paradigm shift. This chapter derives from research conducted under the European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 funded project titled Autonomous Robotic Inspection and Maintenance on Ship Hulls (BUG-WRIGHT2) under grant agreement No. 871260.

Fisheries is a topic in national and international forums in a post-Brexit world. Prima facie, the fishing industry is a niche area that has become high profile following the Brexit referendum. A number of fisheries-relevant issues that branch out from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) of 2020 remain unresolved, especially discords over “quotas” and “access” that have taken those matters to shaky heights. For a better comprehension of the implications and challenges faced by coastal and fishing communities, this chapter captures and consolidates opinions of experts from academia and industry partners. The objective is to shed light on ideas and emerging findings, spear through some of the legal issues and highlight best practices that will altogether facilitate future constructive dialogues between stakeholders and policymakers.