This book seeks to fill a gap in the existing literature by examining the role of African States in the development and establishment of the regime of the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction (the Area) and the concept of the Common Heritage of Mankind.

Being at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean, South Africa plays a considerable role in the smooth running of maritime commerce and the diverse efforts to ensure the sustainable development of the marine environment. South Africa and the Law of the Sea brings together the many threads of the rich South African marine-law tapestry by covering both the public international law as context and the details of South African marine law and policy within their African framework. The result is a tool to foster implementation, co-ordination and further research at the domestic level as well as a platform to facilitate comparative work to strengthen Africa’s jurisprudence and influence in maritime matters.

This book is the culmination of research collaboration between the Nelson Mandela University and the University of Johannesburg, and, in particular, between the South African Research Chair in the Law of the Sea and Development in Africa (housed at Nelson Mandela University) and the Centre for Banking Law (housed at the University of Johannesburg). The topics considered have their roots respectively in international law, environmental law, public law and international trade law. The common denominator is the sea.