ABSTRACT
Operations in the context of law enforcement, such as anti-drugs and anti-piracy operations, are on the increase in terms of size and importance. As a major maritime power, the Indian navy is duty-bound to work towards improving the maritime security environment in the region. Because the sea as a means of transportation, or as a 'flow resource', is particularly important in the globalised era, the chapter concentrates on that but not to an extent that might imply that the sea as a resource is not important because that would be manifestly untrue. Many navies implicitly divide maritime security into a 'home' game and an 'away' game. The defence of a country's maritime fishing or internal security interests may well require it to take action far from home, very often in company with others. The review of the benefits the sea has to offer shows just how important jurisdictional issues can be to their full enjoyment.
