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David VanderZwaag

Professor Emeritus of Law

law_faculty_david_vanderzwaag

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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 (Dalhousie)
  • PhD (Wales, Cardiff)

Bar admissions

  • Nova Scotia

Bio

David VanderZwaag is a Professor Emeritus of Law at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie 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.  

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. His 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); and  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, Dalhousie Law School), J.D. (1980, University of Arkansas Law School), M.Div. (1974, Princeton Theological Seminary), and B.A. (1971, Calvin College).  

Teaching  

  • LAWS 2051: International Environmental Law 

Areas of supervision: ocean 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.  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.

 

Grants

Selected awards & honours

Selected publications

Service & activity

Past service

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