Public maritime domain and sea law

The aim of this course is to provide a legal understanding of the coastal areas included in the "maritime public domain", and of other coastal and offshore maritime zones, and to show which legal regimes apply to these areas: ownership of these areas, rules for occupying these areas, rules for developing these areas. The book draws on the law of the sea, coastal and urban planning law, and marine environmental law.

This course provides an understanding of the legal instruments relating to the occupation and use of the public maritime or river domain, and of the rules governing its use and exploitation. It covers a number of town-planning rules designed to regulate construction in coastal areas, and environmental law dedicated to coastal areas and maritime façades. It discusses certain regimes for exploiting resources (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture production activities) or protecting natural or man-made environments on the coast (obligations arising from integrated coastal zone management (ICZM), the new issue of respecting carrying capacity, etc.). It provides knowledge of instruments designed to identify and prevent sea-related risks. The teaching context is that of French law, supplemented by aspects of comparative law to see how other countries deal with these issues.

Final test - Case study.