UNCLOS at 40: small island developing states and new forays into positive sovereignty

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted on 10th December 1982, 40 years ago. It has opened a new world for most coastal states, and small island states most of all. With an exclusive economic zone reaching out up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) from shore, small island states (SIS) have been coming to terms with now being ‘large ocean states’ (LOS). A foray into carving out marine protected areas has been gathering pace. While referencing the concept of ‘positive sovereignty’ (Jackson, 1993), this article suggests that UNCLOS may have an additional role to play in advising and supporting the governance of EEZs ... and particularly where SIDS are concerned.