ASCOMARE Yearbook on the Law of the Sea
[Scopus Indexed | ISSN 3035-1448 | Winner of the 2024 Blue Ambassadord Award for Ocean Literacy]
The Yearbook on the Law of the Sea (YLOS) is a peer-reviewed publication of the Associazione di Consulenza in Diritto del Mare (ASCOMARE), dedicated to fostering a comparative and informed dialogue on cutting-edge and interdisciplinary issues within the field of the law of the sea.
Launched in 2021 to address a significant gap in dedicated Law of the Sea scholarship, at a time when no comparable Yearbook was actively being published, YLOS has developed in just a few years into a distinctive and internationally recognized scholarly publication. It has since achieved the status of an international journal and is indexed in Scopus, providing an established platform for high-level research and international academic exchange. Four volumes have been published to date by Luglio Editore (Trieste), with a fifth currently under preparation. Across its volumes, YLOS has brought together more than 60 international experts, including judges of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, alongside leading academics and practitioners from different regions and legal traditions. It has fostered sustained academic partnerships across Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, Palestine, Türkiye, and the UK, creating a genuinely international scholarly network around contemporary Law of the Sea research.
To date, YLOS has driven significant engagement, securing over 12,000 full-volume downloads and 20,000 individual article downloads via the ASCOMARE portal, in addition to extensive reach across global academic databases. YLOS has firmly established itself as an institutional landmark in the global study, research, and dissemination of ocean law. Its scholarly authority is recognized by leading judicial and multilateral bodies, with active citations in the work of the International Court of Justice, United Nations agencies, the International Law Commission, UN Special Rapporteurs, and flagship academic texts such as the Oxford Handbook on Human Rights at Sea
Recognised with the 2024 Blue Ambassador Award for Ocean Literacy, and now indexed in Scopus, YLOS has established itself as a reference point for lawyers, judicial bodies, policymakers, legal practitioners, and researchers. It also serves students, NGOs, and the private sector, providing accessible tools to develop a coherent understanding of the international legal framework governing maritime spaces and activities.
In line with ASCOMARE’s mission to advance knowledge-sharing and promote a universal understanding of the law of the sea, YLOS is published in English in a fully open-access digital format. This ensures that academic research – too often confined behind substantial paywalls – is available worldwide, regardless of geographical barriers. A printed edition is also produced for purchase.
- Volume 1, ‘Law of the Sea, Interpretation and Definitions’
- Volume 2, ‘Fisheries and the Law of the Sea in the Anthropocene Era’
- Volume 3, ‘Maritime Security, New Technology and Ethics: Evolving Challenges and Opportunities’
- Volume 4, ‘Humanity across the waves: Exploring the interplay between the Law of the Sea and Human Rights Law’
- Volume 5, ‘Unilateralism, Fragmentation, and the Evolving Balance of Power in the Law of the Sea’
For any questions, please contact Ms Chiara Pavesi (YLoS Coordinator) or send an email to info@ascomare.com
