La disciplina della ricerca scientifica in mare alla luce della recente prassi internazionale

This paper analyses to what extent the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially Part XIII, is challenged by the UN Decade for Ocean Sciences for the Sustainable Development, covering from 2021 to 2030. It argues that State practice shows a paradigm shift: from a system of unilateral scientific research to multilateral scientific coordination and cooperation at international and regional level. Multilateralism allows the achievement of a balance between the freedom of research of all States and the protection of interests of coastal States. This paper suggests that regional cooperation may provide the best solution for attaining sustainable scientific goals and creating favourable conditions to boost the progress of ocean sciences.