Conference on Oceans Law & Policy
Through the annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (established and formerly administered by the Center for Oceans Law & Policy, University of Virginia School of Law) the Stockton Center for International Law promotes interdisciplinary interaction with ocean-related legal and public policy issues at all levels, addressing international, national, regional, and state concerns.
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2025 Conference - Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
For the 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy, the Stockton Center for International Law at the United States Naval War College joined Gujarat Maritime University and the World Maritime University–Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute in convening the conference in New Delhi, India, from 9–12 September 2025. Hosted at The Ashok Hotel, COLP 48 marked a historic first for the series as the conference was held in the Indian subcontinent for the first time. The theme of the conference was “Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim.”
Reflecting the strategic and legal importance of the Indian Ocean region, the conference brought together distinguished scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to consider how developing states are shaping contemporary oceans law and policy. The conference addressed a wide range of issues, including the triple planetary crisis, the interests of small island developing states, international trade and shipping, critical ocean infrastructure, autonomous shipping, seabed mineral mining, maritime security, fisheries and food security, maritime boundaries, and the future of ocean governance in the Indian Ocean.
Featured participants included Judge Neeru Chadha, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Ambassador Hasanthi Dissanayake, Dato’ Monaliza binti Suhaimi, Professor James Kraska, Professor Ronán Long, Dr. Kilaparti Ramakrishna, Ambassador Arif Havas Oegroseno, Charlie Garnjana-Goonchorn, and Professor Maximo Q. Mejia.
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2024 Conference - Ocean Governance in the South Pacific and Latin America
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
For the 47th Annual Conference 2024, the U.S. Naval War College - Stockton Center for International Law, the World Maritime University - Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru held the first COLP in Latin America. It was held in Lima, Peru, and focused on "Ocean Governance in the South Pacific and Latin America." The conference honored the Latin American historical contribution to the law of the sea and ocean governance, while raising awareness, discussing, and exchanging perspectives about the challenges and opportunities for the South Pacific Region.
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The 6th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference
The Stockton Center for International Law
The Stockton Center for International Law is pleased to announce its 6th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference, “Multi-Domain Operations in the Indo-Pacific and International Law," May 14-16, 2024.
Multi-Domain Operations are the combined arms employment of joint capabilities to create and exploit advantages, achieve objectives, and defeat enemy forces. Multi-Domain Operations make use of all available combat power from each Service to accomplish missions at least cost. This expansive approach to all-domain combat operations necessitates a similarly broadened and interdisciplinary approach to the international law governing these operations.
The 6th Annual Cushing Conference will address a broad range of issues, including the international laws applicable to naval and joint operations in the Indo-Pacific; the synchronization of special operations, cyber operations, and space operations; China and the law of armed conflict; and foreign perspectives on Multi-Domain Operations (FVEY and East Asian allies). The Stockton Center’s Cushing Conference will bring together international organizations, the global academic community, military and government attorneys, and experts in military operations from the United States, Asia, and Europe. Selected research presented at the event will be published in International Law Studies, the oldest journal of international law in the United States.
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The 5th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference: "International Law and Conflict at Sea"
The Stockton Center for International Law
Hosted annually by the Stockton Center for International Law, the 5th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference brings together judge advocates, scholars, and practitioners from across the world to analyze international law and conflict at sea. This year, the Conference will focus on Law of the Sea & Maritime Security; Marine Environmental Security; Disruptive Technology at Sea; Armed Conflict at Sea; Indo-Pacific Maritime Security; Great Power Competition and International Law; and the Law of Naval Warfare, among other topics.
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The 4th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference: "International Law: Conflict at Sea"
The Stockton Center for International Law
Hosted annually by the Stockton Center for International Law, the Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference brings together judge advocates, scholars, and practitioners from across the world to develop and shape international maritime law and governance. This year, we will focus on international law and conflict at sea, examining current operations and emerging issues to include disruptive technologies at sea, maritime law enforcement, Russia and regional maritime security, and maritime security challenges in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and greater Indo-Pacific.
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The 3rd Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference: "Rule of Law in the Indo-Pacific Region and Beyond"
The Stockton Center for International Law
Hosted annually by the Stockton Center for International Law, the Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference brings together scholars and practitioners from across the world to develop and shape international maritime law and governance. This year, we will focus on the rule of law and great power competition in the Indo-Pacific region and the Arctic Ocean, as well as exploring climate change and illegal fishing.
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2023 Conference - Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Shipping: Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
The theme of the 46th Annual Conference on Oceans Law and Policy is "Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Shipping." Through the annual Conference on Oceans Law and Policy, the Stockton Center promotes interdisciplinary interaction with ocean-related legal and public policy experts and issues at all levels, addressing international, national, regional, and state concerns. COLP 46 was hosted by the Ankara University National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM), and cosponsored by the Stockton Center for International Law, the Japan Institute for International Studies (JIIA) in Tokyo, Gujarat Maritime University (GMU) in India, Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) in South Korea, the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong in Australia, the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMO IMLI) in Malta, and the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden. Selected articles will be published in International Law Studies.
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2022 Conference - UNCLOS at 40: Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Conference sessions address “UNCLOS at 40”. Panels: Overcoming the Threat of IUU fishing; Uses and Claims on the Continental Shelf; Climate Change, Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction & New Technologies; The COVID-19 Pandemic Through the Lens of UNCLOS; Capacity Building in the Law of the Sea: Issues and Experiences; Asymmetric Security Challenges in Regional Disputes; Emerging Challenges to 1982 UNCLOS and International Law.
The 45th Annual Conference is co-organized with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA).
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2021 Conference - “Peaceful Maritime Engagement in East Asia and the Pacific Region”: Draft Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
The conference will address “Peaceful Maritime Engagement in East Asia and the Pacific Region”. Panels: Baselines and Archipelagic States; Navigation Rights/Law Enforcement; Arctic Shipping; Maritime Security Issues Concerning Small Island States; East China Sea Maritime Boundaries; Preservation of the Marine Environment, Including the Hazard of Plastic Debris; and Issues Arising Out of Climate Change. Our 44th Annual Conference is co-organized with The Japan Institute of International Affairs, World Maritime University--Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at the World Maritime University and the Nippon Foundation.
The 2020 annual conference has been postponed until 2021.
2021 Conference Links -
2019 Conference - “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: Intractable Challenges & Potential Solutions”: Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 to Thursday, May 16, 2019 | World Maritime University, Sasakawa Auditorium, Malmö, Sweden
The conference discussed the development of an internationally legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Our 43rd Annual Conference was co-organized with the World Maritime University--Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at the World Maritime University and the Nippon Foundation.
Purchase Conference Proceedings Volume.
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2018 Conference - "Cooperation and Engagement in the South China Sea and Asia Pacific Region”: Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 to Friday, May 25, 2018 | Crowne Plaza Beijing Chaoyang U-Town, China
Our 42nd Annual Conference was co-organized with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and the Chinese Society of International Law.
Purchase Conference Proceedings Volume.
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2017 Conference - "The Marine Environment and UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water)": Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 to Wednesday, May 17, 2017 | Yogyakarta, Indonesia, May 16-19, 2017
The 41st Annual Conference of the Center for Oceans Law and Policy took place May 16-19, 2017 and was co-hosted by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
Purchase Conference Proceedings Volume.
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2016 Conference - "Legal Order in the World's Oceans: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea": Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Monday, June 27, 2016 to Tuesday, June 28, 2016 | United Nations Headquarters, New York City
The 40th annual COLP conference was organized by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, and the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations.
Purchase Conference Proceedings Volume.
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2015 Conference - "International Marine Economy: Law and Policy": Program
Center for Oceans Law & Policy
Wednesday, June 24, 2015 to Friday, June 26, 2015 | Shanghai, China
The 39th annual COLP conference was co-organized by the Center for Oceans Law and Policy, University of Virginia School of Law, and the Center for Polar and Deep Ocean Development, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Purchase Conference Proceedings Volume.
