This book crystallized in the aftermath of the Rule of Law for Oceans conference held at the University of Oslo’s Faculty of Law in November 2019. The conference was organized by the faculty’s research group on International Law and Governance in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research. Scientific research on challenges and pressures on the marine environment, the role and functioning of environmental and international law, as well as the law of the sea, all culminated in the understanding that it is high time to critically examine the environmental rule of law for oceans. Many oceans and seas around the world are currently under threat. Strengthening the environmental rule of law is therefore urgent.

This book brings together a variety of perspectives from an extremely knowledgeable and intellectually creative group of scholars. Each author presents unique perspectives on the environmental rule of law for oceans (or the lack of such) and proposes legal solutions that might contribute to better protection and sustainable use of our oceans and seas. We would like to thank the authors for their patience and positive collaboration during the entire book process, and especially during the review of individual chapters. The majority of writing and editing took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, which may have slightly slowed down the process but never stopped any of us. It has been an intellectually inspiring and exciting journey.

In addition to all authors, we would also like to thank several others who have contributed to the success of this book project. First and foremost, for academic, practical and financial support in the organization of the conference and accomplishment of the book project we owe major thanks to the Faculty of Law’s research group on International Law and Governance, the Scandinavian Institute of Maritime Law, as well as the Norwegian Institute for Water Research. Others who have contributed with financial support are the Fridtjof Nansen Foundation (Nansenfondet) for language editing, and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research and the law faculty of the University of Oslo for covering Open Access expenses related to publication of this book. Special thanks go to Christopher Goddard for proofreading all chapters thoroughly and consistently. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to Cambridge University Press for their highly constructive and positive collaboration, and especially to Tom Randall, who has always been supportive and helpful throughout the entire process.