Sovereignty of ocean resources

The sovereignty of ocean resources refers to the legal and political control that states exercise over the seas and their resources, including fish, oil, gas, and minerals. This topic is central to political geography and maritime law, as it determines how nations claim, use, and manage ocean spaces. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal states have sovereign rights over a 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where they can exploit resources. Beyond this, the high seas are considered global commons, but disputes often arise over overlapping claims, such as in the South China Sea or the Arctic.

Understanding ocean sovereignty is crucial because it affects global trade, food security, energy supplies, and environmental sustainability. For example, overfishing in international waters highlights the tension between national interests and collective stewardship. The topic also links to geopolitics, as powerful states use naval forces to assert claims, and to development, as small island states rely on ocean resources for their economies. In the WJEC A-Level Geography syllabus, this topic fits within the 'Global Governance' theme, showing how international laws and institutions shape human-environment interactions.

Students should grasp that sovereignty is not absolute; it is negotiated through treaties, contested through disputes, and influenced by physical geography (e.g., continental shelves). The concept of 'freedom of the seas' versus 'territorial waters' is key, as is the role of bodies like the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. By studying this, students learn how power, law, and geography intersect in managing a finite and fragile resource.