Legal and Policy Framework of Ocean Governance
Author : Md Minarul Hoque
31 Jan 2023

The ocean is the source of abundant economic resources and mankind has relied on the ocean for centuries. The growing importance of the ocean has facilitated the reach of marine living resources, seabed minerals and energy resources with the advent of marine technologies. According to the UN, the world population has exceeded 8 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. As land resources are depleting rapidly, human pressure on the ocean is likely to increase exponentially in the near future. The value of the ocean is not limited to food, resources, or livelihood; it also plays a critical role in maintaining the biosphere of our planet earth. It regulates Earth’s climate and helps us to breathe. In consequence, dependency of mankind on the oceans, climate change and degradation of the ocean environment and biodiversity generated the concept of Ocean Governance.