'Due Regard' Obligations under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: The Laying of Cables and Activities in the Area

This article examines in detail the obligations of 'due regard' found in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). It considers the way these are reflected in the International Seabed Authority (ISA) current Prospecting and Exploration Regulations, and then looks at the way that 'due regard' obligations have been considered by international courts and tribunals and by scholars. It then considers the specific 'due regard' issues raised by cable laying, and the modalities for settlement of disputes that may arise from such activities.