UNCLOS and evolving ocean activities reviewed at ABLOS Conference
As global attention intensifies on ocean governance, the 12th IHO-IAG ABLOS Conference gathered 280 delegates in Qatar to explore whether today’s legal frameworks can keep pace with tomorrow’s maritime realities. The event, jointly organized with the Qatari Standing Committee of the Convention on the Law of the Sea, drew policymakers, scientists, lawyers and academic experts from around the world.
At the centre of discussion during the conference on 7–8 October was the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the landmark 1982 treaty that underpins maritime jurisdiction, environmental protection and the rights of coastal states. Against a backdrop of rising sea levels, expanding offshore industrial activity and rapid technological advances, participants questioned whether existing regulations remain fit for purpose. “The ocean is vital for societies. We should change the name of our planet from Planet Earth to Planet Ocean. The ocean provides huge economic opportunities and holds all the resources for sustainable development,” said H.E. Dr Ahmed Al-Hammadi, chairperson of the Qatari Standing Committee of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
New technologies and challenges
UNCLOS was drafted in an era before satellite navigation, autonomous vessels, digital twins and AI-enabled decision-making. Today, these technologies are rapidly expanding the scope of activity at sea and into the deep ocean. What was once largely the domain of naval forces now includes scientific dives, commercial subsea exploration and even underwater tourism, creating new expectations for safety procedures, search-and-rescue capabilities and risk management throughout the water column. At the same time, sea-level rise, pollution and biodiversity loss are reshaping coastal conditions and threatening to shift maritime limits. Recognizing these pressures, a July 2025 Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice stated that states could ‘fix’ their baselines to protect their sovereign rights and jurisdiction as they extend at present, notwithstanding the subsequent rise of waters and any changes to the low-water mark.
Developing legal clarity
Throughout the conference, participants emphasized the inherent flexibility of UNCLOS, noting that it provides tools and mechanisms that can adapt to emerging pressures. However, the rise of subsea infrastructure, autonomous operations, maritime cybersecurity and new forms of ocean observation are areas where legal clarity is still developing. The work of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), particularly regarding the standardization of hydrographic data and the provision of official nautical charts, continues to present clear information on maritime limits and boundaries, supporting legal certainty for coastal states.
One area of clear progress is the implementation of the S-100 framework, which will allow ocean users to access multiple data layers within a single interoperable ecosystem. Within this, the S-121 standard aims to provide precise digital records of maritime limits, supporting Law of the Sea submissions concerning extended continental shelves beyond 200 nautical miles.
Bridging technical expertise and legal interpretation
The Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (ABLOS), established jointly by the IHO and the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), works at this critical intersection of science, law and policy. Its primary role is to provide advice, guidance and interpretation on hydrographic, geodetic and other technical aspects of UNCLOS to its parent organizations, their Member States and other relevant bodies upon request. “ABLOS is unique in bringing together hydrographers, geodesists, lawyers, academics and other ocean stakeholders to ensure that legal provisions under UNCLOS are informed by sound technical interpretation. By uniting science, law and policy, and by engaging in open dialogue, ABLOS continues to serve as a beacon for the international community,” said Luigi Sinapi, director of the International Hydrographic Organization.
This year’s edition, the first held outside Monaco, saw strong participation from Gulf countries. The programme was coordinated by the ABLOS organizing committee, supported by the IHO Secretariat and hosted by the Qatari Standing Committee of the Convention on the Law of the Sea. The IHO delegation included IHO director Luigi Sinapi, IHO assistant director Leonel Manteigas as ABLOS Secretary, and public relations & communications officer Sarah Jones-Couture.
