Faculty Liasons: Dalhousie University

Dr. David VanderZwaag, PhD, LLM, JD, MDiv, BA
Director, Marine & Environmental Law Institute
Canada Research Chair in Ocean Law & Governance
Professor of Law

Dr. David VanderZwaag holds the Canada Research Chair in Ocean Law and Governance at the Marine & Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. He teaches in the areas of international environmental law and law of the sea. He is the past Co-director of Dalhousie's interdisciplinary Marine Affairs Program (1986-1991).

Dr. VanderZwaag is currently a member of the World Conservation Union's Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) and Co-chair of the CEL’s Specialist Group on Oceans, Coasts & Coral Reefs. He is a Co-founder and Co-chair of the Australian-Canadian Oceans Research Network (ACORN) and has had extensive research and lecturing experience in South and Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia and the Caribbean
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Dr. VanderZwaag has authored over sixty papers in the marine and environmental law field. His most recent book publications are Towards Principled Oceans Governance: Australian and Canadian Approaches and Challenges (edited with D.R. Rothwell) (London: Routledge Press, 2006) and Aquaculture Law and Policy: Towards Principled Access and Operations (edited with Gloria Chao) (London: Routledge Press, 2006).

Professor VanderZwaag’s educational background includes: PhD (1994, University of Wales, Cardiff), LL.M. (1982, Dalhousie Law School), J.D. (1980, University of Arkansas Law School), M.Div. (1974, Princeton Theological Seminary), and B.A. (1971, Calvin College).