BCOLP’s Director Dr Abdullah Al Arif has recently published an article in the International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law (Brill). The article examines the legal implications of autonomous fishing vessels (AFV s) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). As AFV s challenge the Convention’s human-centric assumptions, they raise complex questions concerning vessel classification, navigation, flag State jurisdiction, nationality, maritime safety, environmental protection, and the management of marine living resources. The analysis identifies key gaps and ambiguities within the LOSC framework, particularly regarding the exercise of coastal and flag State rights and responsibilities. It argues that the evolving use of AFV s necessitates targeted legal adaptation to ensure regulatory clarity, environmental conservation, and sustainable fisheries management.
The article can be found here.
