2 Flag State jurisdiction
This chapter establishes the jurisdictional and institutional foundations for the assessment of flag State obligations with respect to environmental protection in the ABNJ. The chapter first outlines the allocation of authority under UNCLOS, before examining how flag State jurisdiction - when read together with Part XII obligations - provides the jurisdictional basis for EIA of vessel‑based activities. The chapter concludes by clarifying the role of the IMO as the competent international organisation through which these obligations are operationalised.