Abstract
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Although the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC)
is of great importance to a majority of countries, coastal states, naval powers
and distant water fishing nations alike, there is a group of countries for whom
the sea is such an integral part of their existence that the LOSC, as the
“Constitution for the Oceans,” must be regarded as being of fundamental significance.
The populations of these countries, comprised of one or more relatively
small islands, find their way of life, indeed their very existence, dominated
by the sea. The UN Secretary-General noted in 2011 that small islands are, “by
their very nature, highly dependent on oceans and seas for the livelihoods of
their people, while also remaining extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise and the
adverse effects of climate change, pollution and other stresses on oceans and
marine resources.” The LOSC provides small island states with a degree of
stability and security, allowing them to deal on a more even footing with larger
and more prosperous nations and to more easily access the benefits of marine
resources.