David VanderZwaag

Professor of Law; Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law and Governance; Primary Researcher

law_faculty_david_vanderzwaag

Related information


Email: david.vanderzwaag@dal.ca
Phone: 902-494-1045
Mailing Address: 
Room 415, 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 Professor of Law, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Ocean Law and Governance, and Director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University. He teaches international environmental law and serves as the 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

  • 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, A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Dispute Resolution in the Law of International Watercourses and the Law of the Sea (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, Dalhousie 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)