1.4 Scope and Limitations
The thesis focuses exclusively on existing and emerging State obligations under public international law; questions of private liability, domestic regulatory implementation, and comparative national space law fall outside its scope. The analysis is confined to areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), the high seas and the deep seabed known as "the Area," defined under UNCLOS as all parts of the sea not included in the territorial sea, internal waters, or exclusive economic zone of any State, and the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction respectively, together constituting the marine spaces over which no single State exercises sovereign rights.(1) UNCLOS, arts. 1(1), 86; BBNJ, art. 3. Questions of State obligations in relation to reentries occurring within territorial waters or exclusive economic zones present distinct legal issues that are not addressed here.