New Frontiers in the Law of the Sea and Policy Integration

As global advancements accelerate, modernisation and technological developments are transforming the ocean sector, bringing new opportunities while also posing significant challenges. Nevertheless, these developments have exposed gaps in the existing legal framework of ocean governance—the law of the sea—which has yet to fully address many emerging complexities and new frontiers. Addressing these gaps requires rigorous gap analyses and collaborative discourse. To this end, the 11th Ocean Law and Governance International Symposium, themed “New Frontiers and the Law of the Sea”, was held in Dalian, China, on 27–28 September 2024, in a hybrid format—online and offline. The event was co-hosted by the School of Law and the National Institute of Ocean Governance at Dalian Maritime University, with support from Zhejiang University and the Chinese Society of the Law of the Sea. The symposium brought together 22 experts and scholars from around the world to discuss critical topics, including high seas and seabed governance, climate litigation, digitalisation, law enforcement, and pressing issues, such as BBNJ and MPP. The symposium provided essential interdisciplinary legal insights, laying a robust foundation for fostering new discourse in the academic arena, which, in turn, advances future research while informing the development of marine policies aimed at achieving sustainable ocean governance. This study critically evaluates whether the symposium successfully bridged gaps in the existing academic landscape and explores whether it offers a way forward for addressing the challenges associated with new frontiers and the law of the sea. Through empirical legal analysis, this study aims to assess the impact of the symposium in promoting further discussions and policy innovations necessary to meet evolving ocean governance needs.