Marine Awareness and Ocean Governance: Arafura, Timor Seas, and Torres Strait

Declaring a state's jurisdictional limits for managing marine biotic and mineral resources, defining cooperation zones where dispute settlement is at a stalemate, and introducing maritime border protection legislation are official actions adopted by States when deemed necessary. This narrative offers a brief overview of select agreements relating to maritime boundary delimitation in the seas separating northern Australia from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste. The study highlights inherent problems post-naval boundary delimitation between the Parties to the relevant agreements. In summary, Australia negotiated agreements relating to maritime boundary delimitation with its northern neighbors with intense diplomacy and good intentions. However, dissatisfaction with the alignments was raised.