The Consequences of the Legal Regime of Marine Scientific Research on Marine Sciences in the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea

This Article intends to explore the existing legal literature on marine scientific research، derived from resources of international law of the sea، in order to study the concept and framework therein to find out what consequences the Legal Regime of Marine Scientific Research has so far had on Marine Sciences since the adoption of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and particularly part XIII of the said Convention. The significance of this task is that Part XIII of the UNCLOS clearly precludes other marine research activities from Marine Scientific Research and places them under different legal regimes. More or less identical qualities، tools and processes in most of these research activities led into difficulties in distinction one from another. Furthermore، the most significant outcome of this thesis is to determine the distinct legal effects upon which such concept and framework of marine research، particularly “marine scientific research”، would have on rights and obligations of (coastal and research) states. Parts XIII of UNCLOS provides for the co-operation among States، either directly or through competent international organizations، in the field of marine scientific research.