ABSTRACT
Certain broad characteristics of the historical evolution of the Third World presence at sea help distinguish marine policies, North and South. The roots of contemporary Third World marine policies lie in the early postwar period. Some Third World states can trace the origins of national marine policy back to the nineteenth century, especially in Latin America where political independence was achieved at a relatively early date. Differences in Latin American marine interests and positions contributed to the protracted delay in forging regional unity. Reform of the international law of the sea through national enclosure, it was increasingly recognized, could complement national policy aims for offshore development and security. Military issues were largely excluded from the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea negotiations and will certainly pose sticky North-South problems as the implementation stage of Third World marine policies gains momentum.
