This symposium will explore the legal framework for the compulsory settlement of disputes concerning fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under Part XV of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). As a general rule, all disputes concerning the interpretation or application of
UNCLOS, including fisheries disputes, are subject to compulsory settlement before UNCLOS tribunals such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) or arbitral tribunals under Annex VII of UNCLOS. However, Article 297(3)(a) UNCLOS automatically excludes compulsory jurisdiction over many
categories of EEZ fisheries disputes. This symposium will address open questions concerning the scope of this limitation (for example, in respect of disputes concerning shared fish stocks), the extent to which
excluded disputes can be submitted to compulsory conciliation, and the special situation of EEZ fisheries law enforcement disputes that can only be optionally excluded under Article 298(1)(b) UNCLOS and for some of which there is a special prompt release procedure (Article 292 UNCLOS).