Protecting coastal ecosystems and informing the laws that govern ships and shipping.
UQ Law School academics provide advice and expertise to governments on policy and legislation related to law and commercial maritime activities in an Australian, regional and international context.
Our research includes issues relation to:
- oceans policy
- admiralty jurisdiction
- carriage of goods by sea
- crimes at sea
- the international law of the sea to inform the laws governing ships, shipping, and the marine environment
- legislation to protect coastal ecosystems that are vital for maintaining biodiversity and serve as critical habitats for a wide variety of marine life.
From coal mines to coastlines: how legal experts are rewriting the playbook for a climate-resilient future
Discover how legal experts, policymakers and those on the frontline are facing the dilemma of laws that struggle to adapt at speed to the dynamic needs of the environment.
Justine has expertise in environmental and climate change law. Her main research interest is the legal mechanisms for the protection, management and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems. She has led projects funded by the Australian Research Council, CSIRO, and the National Environmental Science Program. Currently she is leading the legal component of two National Environmental Science Program projects related to upscaling coastal wetland restoration.
Jennifer researches on law reform and development in plural legal regimes and legal issues affecting small states. She has participated in a number of research grant projects including work on environmental issues in Solomon Islands, funded by the MacArthur Foundation. Most recently she has been co-investigator in a project concerning inclusion of women’s voices in marine resource management in the Pacific, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK).
Craig teaches and undertakes research in maritime law, private international law and cultural heritage law. He has published widely in these areas and contributed directly to national and international public policy developments and directly to the drafting of national legislation and international law. Most recently, he has completed a World Bank financed project on the future of the Marshall Islands Ship Registry with a research team drawn from Columbia University, University College London and the University of the South Pacific. Craig has a long association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Rosemary’s research interests are in contract law, maritime and shipping law, private international law and insurance law. She practised as a commercial lawyer for many years, most recently in the Shipping & Transport team at a leading Queensland law firm, where she advised clients on a range of matters including cargo and wharf damage claims, ship groundings, charterparty disputes and marine insurance matters.
Explore our featured projects, highlighting groundbreaking research and innovations in legal aspects of Shipping and marine environment.
Accelerating Adoption and Implementation of Blue Carbon in Australia
‘Blue carbon’ refers to the carbon sequestered in coastal ecosystems like mangroves and saltmarsh. Active management and restoration of these ecosystems can increase their health, coverage and extent, thereby increasing their capacity to store carbon dioxide. For this reason, there has been significant interest in these ecosystems as a way to achieve emissions reduction targets in Australia and internationally.
A model national legal framework for mangrove ecosystem services
This project aims to identify legal deficiencies and policy barriers in mangrove protection on the Australian coast, with the goal of creating an innovative legal framework that recognizes and safeguards the ecosystem services provided by mangroves, potentially benefiting other ecosystems and jurisdictions.
Carbon abatement and biodiversity enhancements through controlling feral ungulate disturbance in wetlands
Customary law in South Pacific Legal systems
This project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and led by The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, explores the challenges faced by South Pacific island nations, particularly regarding climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable marine resource management. It focuses on amplifying women's voices in the context of customary law within these countries' plural legal systems. The project aims to highlight how a holistic approach, integrating customary law with modern legal frameworks, can support sustainable environmental practices in the region.
Research to support development of a blue carbon project
Contact us
Get in touch to learn more about our research or to explore opportunities with our legal experts.