مجلة آفاق للبحوث والدراسات
Volume 9, Numéro 1, Pages 198-213
2026-01-31
Navigating Legal Currents: Maritime Jurisdiction, Resource Rights, And The Development Of Blue Energy Under Unclos
Authors : Kabouche Seif Eddine . Benouna Redha .
Abstract
Blue energy, which generates renewable power from salinity gradients, presents significant potential but faces legal uncertainties under international maritime law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) grants coastal states sovereign rights over salinity gradient resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) under Article 56, classifying the osmotic gradient as a "non-living resource" of the water column. However, ambiguities persist regarding jurisdictional boundaries, environmental regulations, and transboundary cooperation, particularly in shared maritime zones. Key challenges include reconciling EEZ-based resource rights with high-seas freedoms, applying Part XII's environmental safeguards to large-scale projects, and addressing regulatory gaps for floating installations. While UNCLOS provides a foundational legal framework, its lack of specific provisions for blue energy creates risks for developers and states alike. To fully realize this renewable energy source, targeted legal reforms are needed to clarify ownership rights, environmental obligations, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Without such clarifications, legal uncertainties may continue to hinder the global development of blue energy technologies.
Keywords
Blue Energy ; UNCLOS ; Maritime Jurisdiction ; Resource Rights ; Ocean Governance
Les articles similaires
بوسالم أحلام
.
عابد يوسف
.
ص 117-132.
Yahia Zeghoudi
.
pages 74-88.
Said Houari Amel
.
pages 257-268.
