Marine scientific research and the regulation of modern ocean data collection activities under UNCLOS /

Historically, marine science research has occurred outside the purview of the general public and beyond the reach of most legal frameworks. This situation changed, especially with regard to the latter, as the technological scope of marine science expanded, while some of the data gathered proved salient for international relations; meanwhile some marine resources came to represent substantial financial potential. As often occurs when a need to regulate public activities emerges, multiple independent, overlapping treaty and regulatory requirements were then created, affecting the continued conduct of marine research and use of the data. The most prominent and widely applicable current code of regulations with the potential to influence marine science research is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Yu's text reviews and explores the effects, consequences, and uncertainties of UNCLOS in relation to marine science research. This is not a marine science text; rather, it is intended primarily for those interested in policy or for researchers whose research might be subject to such international provisions. The text is written in non-legal prose style, although understanding the narrative requires familiarity with an array of organization and treaty names. No figures or tables are included, but extensive footnotes and citations support the reader's further exploration of topics. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals. --Stephen Robert Fegley, emeritus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill