Commonwealth Secretariat
  1. Law Home
  2. Criminal Law
    1. Commonwealth Network of Contact Persons
  3. Economic and Legal Advice
    1. Projects
  4. Environment Law
    1. Commonwealth Countries Environment Laws
  5. Justice
  6. Law Development
    1. Legal Debt Clinic
    2. Law Bulletin
  7. News Archive
  8. Meetings
  9. Documents
    1. Commonwealth Legal Assistance News (CLAN)
    2. LAWD
    3. Reports
    4. Commonwealth Countries Environment Laws
  10. Contact Us
  11. Links

Maritime Boundries Delimitation for Fiji

Technical Assistance is being provided to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Government of Fiji  in implementing some of the commitments that it has undertaken under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, (UNCLOS). 

In this regard, the Government has identified as a matter of priority the need to review and modernize the national maritime zones legislation to be compatible with its obligations under UNCLOS. This will provide the Government with the requisite national legal framework to begin maritime boundary negotiations with neighbouring States. Like many of its Pacific island neighbours, Fiji's social and economic survival depends largely on its ability to exploit and utilize its marine resources effectively. The sea and its resources continue to be a significant source for sustaining a growing population, half of which still live a subsistence way of life.  The significance of the sea is reflected in the fact that Fiji was the first nation to sign up to the UN Law of The Sea Convention, when it was adopted in 1982. 

However, despite being the first country to sign up to UNCLOS, much is desired in terms of implementation of UNCLOS.  Furthermore, there have been considerable developments in the Law of the Sea since the adoption of UNCLOS in 1982.  Fiji's key maritime legislation namely, the Marine Spaces Act and the Continental Shelf Act which were enacted in the early 1970's, are outdated, and are in need of urgent review and updating.