International Association for the Law of the Sea (AssIDMer)
The International Association for the Law of the Sea (AssIDMer) was established in 2001, with a view to promote research activities on issues relating to the law of the sea. It was created by academics, civil servants and legal practitioners. The idea of creating an association composed of legal experts and centred on the law of the sea was first developed by Daniel Vignes.
The International Association for the Law of the Sea (or “Association Internationale du Droit de la Mer” in French) is an independent and non-partisan organisation which is financed through annual fees paid by its members, donations and subsidies from private persons, corporations, foundations, and governmental agencies, as well as interests on short-term investments.
The International Association of the Law of the Sea is a scientific and not-for-profit entity, called to study the issues of the law of the sea. It has an international vocation.
AssIDMer was founded on the occasion of the Colloquium ” Pêche responsable – Développement du contentieux international dans le domaine de la pêche maritime “, which took place in Brest on 19 and 20 May 2000. It was registered as a scientific and non-profit entity in the sub-prefecture of Brest (France), on July 2, 2001 with the Declaration to the sub-prefecture of Brest, Announcement No.: 505, Published on: 28/07/2001, Publication No.: 20010030.
The objectives of the Association are:
- to promote cooperation and research in the field of the Law of the Sea and to ensure a better understanding, harmonious development and balanced application of the Law of the Sea;
- create an independent institution to develop a dynamic legal community of lawyers involved in law of the sea issues; and
- to strengthen the links of cooperation between experts in the law of the sea throughout the world.
AssIDMer intends to play a central role in the international community of experts in law of the sea. To this end, it conducts the main following activities:
- Organising symposia (on a two-year basis) and other conferences or meetings on selected topics;
- Sponsoring of meetings of experts organized by universities and public or private research centres;
- Awarding, every two years, the “Daniel Vignes Prize” to the authors of the best articles devoted to a specific topic of International Law of the Sea;
- Making available on its website a number of resources;
- Publishing proceedings of the AssIDMer Meetings and the “Cahiers de l’Association Internationale du Droit de la Mer / Papers of the International Association of the Law of the Sea”;
- Promoting the participation of a young generation of lawyers in the scientific activities of the Association;
- Establishing relations with public and private institutions and international organizations working in the field of the Law of the Sea.
