The law of the sea provides the legal framework for managing the 71% of the earth's surface covered by water. The modern law of the sea is derived from the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS) and other international instruments; the custom and practice of states; the judgments of international courts and tribunals; and the opinions of eminent international jurists. It may be either the “hard law” of binding international treaties, or the “soft law” of non-binding guidelines or codes of conduct.

The law of the sea is the part of public international law that deals with human uses of the oceans and seas of the world, exploiting their resources and preserving their utility for future generations. It covers regimes for navigation, fishing, offshore mining, marine scientific research, the laying of cables and pipelines, sea dumping, resolving maritime disputes and the preservation and protection of the marine environment. A particularly important aspect is the extent and nature of the jurisdiction and sovereignty exercised by coastal states over their adjacent waters. The law of the sea has evolved over the years in response to changing political circumstances, demands posed by new and wider uses of the sea, technological developments and increasing concern for the health of the world's oceans and their living resources.