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The 3rd U.N. Law of the Sea Conference was organized to review the current laws and regulations concerning seas and oceans and, thereby, formulating new ocean laws. The first session was inaugurated in 1973, and deliberations continued through six sessions. After termination of the sixth session) held in the spring of 1977, the Informal Composite Negotiating Text was distributed.
The course of deliberations taken up at the Law of the Sea Conference can be viewed as that of conversion from the "freedom of the sea", which had been set as a traditional law of the convention, to the "division of the sea". This movement could also be called either a history of expansion in jurisdiction of coastal nations centered on newly-born independent countries, or a history of confrontation between advanced seafaring nations and developing coastal nations. Deliberation on the important articles concerned with transport, are continuing. Regulations concerning passage of vessels through international straits and ocean pollution control are two of these articles.
In preparation for future conferences, Japan should endevor to obtain full understanding of her role in shipping. Also, careful consideration should be given to various measures for maintaining the security of the ocean environment with a view to maintaining harmony. It is necessary for Japan to proceed careful action which will adequately reflect her position on the treaty of the law of the sea, while closely watching the trend of the Conference and the direction of the domestic consensus.
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