The Arctic in International Law The Convention on the Law of the Sea and Sector Theory

The sharp decrease in the summer ice cover in the north polar sea has unleashed a debate within the field of international law over national sovereignty in the Arctic Ocean. Raw materials, shipping, and fishing are at stake. The basic question is whether modern maritime law or special common laws of the countries on the Arctic Sea apply. Even if the Convention on the Law of the Sea will probably be applied, Russia and Canada could manage to push through special rules by appealing to historic titles. The recognition of "historic waters" would confirm the baselines that have already been determined by both countries and which serve as the starting point for measuring the zones defined in the Convention on the Law of the Sea.