The Oxford Handbook of Human Rights at Sea provides the first systematic treatment of the application of human rights at sea. It examines the general principles guiding the protection of people who are at sea--including seafarers, fishers, passengers, migrants, pirates, traffickers, scientists, and many others--alongside the application of specific rights in the maritime context, from life, liberty, health, and freedom from torture, to the rights to education and privacy. It also explores how sources beyond human rights law, such as criminal law and maritime labour law, contribute to protecting people at sea.

The volume further considers the obligations of states and other actors to uphold human rights at sea, and how these obligations can be implemented in different contexts. It also engages with contemporary debates, including the rights of Indigenous peoples, deep seabed mining, climate change, and the instrumentalization of death at sea to prevent migration. Contributing authors provide insights from all over the world, showcasing both global and regional perspectives.