What is the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)?

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is an intergovernmental organization based in Hamburg, Germany that is responsible for the implementation and interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This organization functions as an international court of justice that handles disputes between states concerning the interpretation and/or application of the UNCLOS. It was established in 1996 after the adoption of the Convention. The ITLOS is made up of 21 elected judges who serve 9-year terms which are renewable. The Tribunal is an independent body from the UN and has jurisdiction over disputes concerning sovereignty, jurisdiction, navigation, marine environmental protection, marine scientific research, fishing rights, and more. In New Jersey, the ITLOS exists to resolve disputes between parties who are either subject to UNCLOS or disputes that arise out of it, and to interpret the provisions of the Convention. In particular, ITLOS’ jurisdiction over the East Coast of the United States is relevant to the state of New Jersey as fishing rights and marine environmental protection are often subject to dispute. The ITLOS is responsible for resolving these disputes peacefully and can provide an impartial and legally binding decision for all parties involved.

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What is the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)?

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