Given the crucial importance of international tribunals in law of the sea, some of these topics are re-examined through recent case law. Although international in scope, some regional issues are analysed, in particular, Canada and the Arctic.

The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is one of the most important international instruments and qualified as the Constitution for the oceans. Case law is also crucial in international law of the sea, in particular issues regarding maritime boundaries and it is extensively cited in the book.

The book adopts a global, general, and theoretical treatment of the subject, while numerous examples are given to show how some facts or events are in compliance with law or, on the contrary, breach the rules:

• Section 4.3, scrutinizes legal instruments that regulate activities on the high seas and describes some recent incidents in violation of law (piracy and armed robbery against ships, terrorism, human smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal fishing, and other)
• Shows how Canada has an extensive legislation (the 1996 Oceans Act), generally in conformity with the 1982 United nations Convention on the Law of the Sea