Sovereignty and Jurisdiction over Arctic Waters

The author reviews the development of the international legal regime with respect to Arctic waters, as it has evolved through five ages or eras of international attitudes towards the region. The author then assesses the current legal regime of Arctic waters, focusing on Canada's claims to sovereignty over these waters and the numerous and diverse legal theories which are being relied on to both support and rebut sovereignty claims. The author concludes with a critical examination of the adequacy of the legal regime in the Arctic.