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Schulich School of Law

David VanderZwaag

Professor Emeritus of Law

law_faculty_david_vanderzwaag

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Schulich School of Law , Marine & Environmental Law Institute , Marine Affairs Program

Email: david.vanderzwaag@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-1045
Mailing Address: 
Room 407, Weldon Law Building, 6061 University Avenue
PO Box 15000 Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2
 
Research Topics:
  • Environmental law
  • International environmental law
  • Fisheries law and policy
  • Transboundary resource management
  • Species at risk protection
  • Law of the sea

Education

  • BA (Calvin)
  • MDiv (Princeton)
  • JD (Arkansas)
  • LLM (HÂţ»­)
  • PhD (Wales, Cardiff)

Bar admissions

  • Nova Scotia

Bio

David VanderZwaag is a Professor Emeritus of Law at the Schulich School of Law, HÂţ»­ University. He is a former Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law and Governance, as well as former director and associate director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute. Ěý

Professor VanderZwaag is a member of the International Council of Environmental Law as well as the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL). From 2004-2018, he co-chaired the WCEL’s Specialist Group on Oceans, Coasts and Coral Reefs.

Dr. VanderZwaag has authored over 150 papers in the marine and environmental law field.ĚýHis most recent co-edited book publications are: Research Handbook on Ocean Acidification Law and Policy (Edward Elgar, 2021); Research Handbook on Polar Law (Edward Elgar, 2020); Aquaculture Law and Policy: Global, Regional and National Perspectives (Edward Elgar, 2016); Routledge Handbook of National and Regional Ocean Policies (Routledge, 2015); Polar Oceans Governance in an Era of Environmental Change (Edward Elgar, 2014); andĚý Recasting Transboundary Fisheries Management Arrangements in Light of Sustainability Principles: Canadian and International Perspectives (Martinus Nijhoff, 2010).

His educational background includes PhD (1994, University of Wales, Cardiff), LL.M. (1982, HÂţ»­ Law School), J.D. (1980, University of Arkansas Law School), M.Div. (1974, Princeton Theological Seminary), and B.A. (1971, Calvin College).ĚýĚý

Teaching Ěý

  • LAWS 2051: International Environmental LawĚý

Areas of supervision:Ěýocean acidification: future directions in international environmental law and policy; protection of the marine environment; international fisheries law; Arctic Ocean development and governance

Research interests

Professor VanderZwaag’s research covers a wide range of topics in the field of international ocean law and governance.Ěý Research interests include: aquaculture regulation; fisheries management; marine species at risk, maritime boundary delimitation; transboundary cooperation; Arctic law of the sea; Canada-US ocean relations; marine protected areas; climate change and oceans; and principled oceans governance.

Ěý

Grants

  • Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law & Governance / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Rethinking Ocean Law and Policy Approaches in an Era of Changing Oceans 2017/07 - 2024/06 [7 years]
  • The Northwest Atlantic as a Climate Ocean: Projecting Future Changes in Productivity and the Biological Carbon Pump Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) / Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) 2020/01 – 2024/03 [4 years]
  • Future-proofing Marine Protected Area Networks Ocean Frontier Institute (CFI) / Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) 2017/04 - 2022/03 [5 years]
  • Comparing Canadian and Russian Approaches and Challenges in Arctic Ocean Governance [2] Donner Canadian Foundation 2017/09 - 2021/12 [4 years] 
  • Transboundary Fisheries Management in Changing North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans OceanCanada Partnership / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2014/04 - 2020/03 [6 years] 
  • Canadian Ocean Acidification Research Partnership [2] Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) / Networks of Centres of Excellence Program (NSERC/NCE) 2017/04 - 2019/03 [2 years] 
  • Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law & Governance / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2010/07 - 2017/06 [7 years] 
  • Biogeochemical Projection under a Changing Climate [1] Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) Network / Networks of Centres of Excellence Program (NSERC/NCE) 2012/10 - 2017/03 [5 years] 
  • Tracking & Protecting Marine Species at Risk: An Interdisciplinary and International Partnership International Joint Venture Project: Ocean Tracking Network (OTN) / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2010/03 - 2015/12 [5 years]
  • Tracking and Envisioning the Future for Arctic Ocean Governance / Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) 2011/03 - 2015/04 [3 years]

Selected awards & honours

  • Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law and Governance, Schulich School of Law
  • Member, International Council of Environmental Law
  • Member, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law

Selected publications

Book Publications

Dr. VanderZwaag’s most recent co-edited book publications are:

  • Research Handbook on Ocean Acidification Law and Policy (Edward Elgar, 2021)
  • Research Handbook on Polar Law (Edward Elgar, 2020)
  • Aquaculture Law and Policy: Global, Regional and National Perspectives (Edward Elgar, 2016)
  • Routledge Handbook of National and Regional Ocean Policies (Routledge, 2015)
  • Polar Oceans Governance in an Era of Environmental Change (Edward Elgar, 2014)
  • Recasting Transboundary Fisheries Management Arrangements in Light of Sustainability Principles: Canadian and International Perspectives (Martinus Nijhoff, 2010)

Journal Publications

  • O Koubrak, DL VanderZwaag & B Worm, “Saving the North Atlantic Right Whale in a Changing Ocean: Gauging Scientific and Law and Policy Responses” (2021) 200 Ocean and Coastal Management 105109.
  • UR Sumaila & DL VanderZwaag, “Guest Editorial—Canada and Transboundary Fisheries Management in Changing Oceans: Taking Stock, Future Scenarios” (2020) 25:4 Ecology and Society 44.
  • O Koubrak & DL VanderZwaag, “Are Transboundary Fisheries Management Arrangements in the Northwest Atlantic and North Pacific Seaworthy in a Changing Ocean?” (2020) 25:4 Ecology and Society 42.
  • C Engler, DL VanderZwaag & K Fennel, “Ocean Acidity Post-Paris: Gauging Law and Policy Responses in the Light of Evolving Scientific Knowledge” (2019) 33 Ocean Yearbook 207.
  • NS Steiner, WWL Cheung, H Drost, C Hoover, J Lam, L Miller, A Cisneros-Montemayor, T Sou, UR Sumaila, P Supenand, T Tai & DL VanderZwaag, “Impacts of the Changing Ocean-Sea Ice System on the Key Forage Fish Arctic Cod (Boreogadus Saida) and Subsistence Fisheries in the Western Canadian Arctic—Evaluating Linked Climate, Ecosystem and Economic (CEE) Models” (2019) 6 Frontiers in Marine Science, Article 179.
  • JE Edwards, E Holtz, F Broell, PG Burhnall, SE Campana, JS Christiansen, BM Devine, JJ Gallant, KJ Hedge, MA MacNeil, BC McMeans, J Nielsen, K Praebel, GB Skoma, JF Steffensen, RP Walter, YY Watanabe, DL VanderZwaag & NE Hussey, “Advancing Research for the Management of Long-Lived Species: A Case Study on the Greenland Shark” (2019) 6 Frontiers in Marine Science, Article 87.
  • DL VanderZwaag, M Bailey & NL Shackell, “Canada-U.S. Fisheries Management in the Gulf of Maine: Taking Stock and Charting Future Coordinates in the Face of Climate Change” (2017) 31 Ocean Yearbook 3.
  • J Jabour, T Stephens & DL VanderZwaag, “Introduction to Special Issue, New Frontiers in Tracking and Protecting Marine Species at Risk: Canadian and Australian Perspectives” (2016) 47 Ocean Development & International Law 219.
  • JA Hutchings, T Stephens & DL VanderZwaag, “Marine Species at Risk Protection in Australia and Canada: Paper Promises, Paltry Progressions” (2016) 47 Ocean Development & International Law 233.
  • S Belbin & DL VanderZwaag, “White Sturgeon in Jeopardy: Gauging the Law and Policy Currents” (2016) 19:1 Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy 62.
  • JA Hutchings, RM Peterman & DL VanderZwaag, “Sustainability of Canadian Fisheries Requires Bold Political Leadership” (April 18, 2016) Policy Options 1.
  • S McDonald & DL VanderZwaag, “Renewable Ocean Energy and the International Law and Policy Seascape: Global Currents, Regional Surges” (2015) 29 Ocean Yearbook 299.
  • W Hartman, DL VanderZwaag & K Fennel, “Recovery Planning for Pacific Marine Species at Risk
    in the Wake of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification: Canadian Practice, Future Courses” (2014) 27 Journal of Environmental Law and Practice 23.
  • A Lemkow & DL VanderZwaag, “Recovery Planning under Canada’s Species at Risk Act in a Changing Ocean: Gauging the Tides, Charting Future Coordinates” (2014) 26 Journal of Environmental Law and Practice 121.
  • DL VanderZwaag, MC Engler-Palma & JA Hutchings, “Canada’s Species at Risk Act and Atlantic Salmon: Cascade of Promises, Trickles of Protection, Sea of Challenges” (2011) 22 Journal of Environmental Law and Practice 267.

Book Chapters

  • DL VanderZwaag, “Canada’s Arctic Disputes: Cooperative Bridges, Foggy Futures” in Helene Ruiz Fabri, Erik Franckx, Marco Benatar & Tamar Meshel, eds,  (Leiden: Brill Nijhoff, 2021) 445-467.
  • DL VanderZwaag, “Governance of Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean: Cooperative Currents, Foggy Future” in Nengye Liu, Cassandra M Brooks and Tianbao Qin, eds, Governing Marine Living Resources in the Polar Regions (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar 2019) 92-108.
  • DL VanderZwaag, “Edging Towards Principled Ocean Governance: Law of the Sea and Beyond” in International Ocean Institute-Canada The Future of Ocean Governance and Training: Essays in Honour of Elisabeth Mann Borgese (1918-2002) (Brill Publishing, 2018) 117-127.
  • David. L. VanderZwaag, “Sustaining Transboundary Fisheries: International Coordinates, Sea of Challenges” in Clive Schofield, Young Kil Park and Leonardo Bernard (eds.), East China Sea: How to Build Confidence and Promote Cooperation (Korea Maritime Institute 2017) 111-130.
  • K Fennel & DL VanderZwaag, “Ocean Acidification: Scientific Surges, Lagging Law and Policy Responses” in R. Warner and S. Kaye, eds, Routledge Handbook of Maritime Regulation and Enforcement (London: Routledge, 2016) 342-362.
  • N Bankes, I Dahl & DL VanderZwaag, “Introduction: Navigating Multilevel Governance in Aquaculture” in N Bankes, I Dahl & DL VanderZwaag, eds, Aquaculture Law and Policy: Global, Regional and National Perspectives (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2016) 1-8.
  • DL VanderZwaag, “The International Control of Ocean Dumping: Navigating from Permissive to Precautionary Shores” in Rosemary Rayfuse, ed, Research Handbook on International Marine Environmental Law (Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2015) 132-147.
  • KN Scott & DL VanderZwaag, “Polar Oceans and Law of the Sea” in DR Rothwell, AG Oude Elferink, KN Scott & T Stephens, eds, The Oxford Handbook of the Law of the Sea (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015) 724-751.
  • M Balgos, B Cicin-Sain & DL VanderZwaag, “A Comparative Analysis of Ocean Policies in Fifteen Nations and Four Regions” in B Cicin-Sain, DL VanderZwaag & MC Balgos, eds, Routledge Handbook of National and Regional Ocean Polices (London & New York: Routledge, 2015) 3-48.
  • DL VanderZwaag, “Climate Change and the Shifting International Law and Policy Seascape for Arctic Shipping” in RS Abate, ed, Climate Change Impacts on Ocean and Coastal Law (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015) 299-314.
  • DL VanderZwaag, “Canada and the Governance of the Northwest Passage: Rough Waters, Cooperative Currents, Sea of Challenges” in DD Caron & N Oral, eds, Navigating Straits: Challenges for International Law (Boston: Brill Nijhoff, 2014) 87-121.

Service & activity

  • Chair, HÂţ»­ Advisory Committee to the International Ocean Institute-Canada
  • Member, International Council of Environmental Law
  • Member, IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL)
  • Editorial Board, Arctic Review on Law and Policy
  • Editorial Board, Ocean and Coastal Management
  • Editorial Board, Ocean Yearbook
  • Editorial Board, The Yearbook of Polar Law
  • Regional Reporter, Arctic, Yearbook of International Environmental Law (Oxford)

 

Past service

  • Co-chair IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL) Specialist Group on Oceans, Coasts and Coral Reefs (2004-2018)