Continental shelf

• Continental Shelf (CS)


  Submarine areas that extend beyond a coastal state's territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance

  
• Genesis of the concept of CS

  1. 1945 Truman Proclamation

  2. Latin American States

  3. 1958 Geneva Convention

  4. 1969 ICJ North Sea Continental Shelf cases

  
• Spatial scope of the CS

  • Art 76(1) LOSC
  • 1969 ICJ North Sea Continental Shelf cases - natural prolongation
  • 1985 ICJ Libya / Malta - distance criterion up to 200 NM, natural prolongation beyond 200 NM

  
• Outer limits criteria


  • Art 76(4)(a) LOSC - delineated by fixed points at 1% sedimentary rock thickness or 60 NM from foot of continental slope
  • Art 76(5) LOSC - fixed points not exceeding 350 NM from baselines or 100 NM from 2,500m isobath
• Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS)

  • 21 members-experts in geology, geophysics or hydrography
  • No jurists
  • No International Seabed Authority representation
  • Main role to ensure limits do not extend beyond LOSC

  
• Outer limits procedures


  1. Delineate

  2. Submit information to CLCS within 10 years

  3. Establish limits according to recommendations

  4. Submit charts and relevant information to UN SG
• Sovereign rights over the CS

  • Art 77(1)-(2) LOSC - Coastal state exercises exclusive sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting natural resources
  • Art 77(3)-(4) LOSC - Rights do not depend on occupation or proclamation, natural resources include minerals, non-living resources and sedentary species
• Sovereign rights over the CS

  • Section 8(3) MZA - for exploration, exploitation and mining
  • 2001 CUCH Art 10(2) - coastal state can prohibit or authorise activities directed at underwater cultural heritage
  • S 6 MZA - maritime cultural zone, NHRA amendment
• Sovereign rights over the CS

  • Must not infringe or interfere with navigation and other rights of other states (Art 78(2) LOSC)
  • Coastal state has exclusive right to authorise and regulate drilling (Art 81 LOSC)
  • Coastal state has right to exploit subsoil by tunnelling (Art 85 LOSC)
• Marine scientific research on the CS

  • Coastal state consent required (Art 246(2) LOSC)
  • Coastal state can withhold consent if project is of direct significance for exploration/exploitation of resources (Art 246(5)(a) LOSC)
  • Coastal state cannot withhold consent for projects beyond 200 NM except in designated areas (Art 246(6) LOSC)
• Dumping on the CS

  Requires express prior approval of coastal state (Art 210(5) LOSC)
• Exploitation payments


  • Coastal state shall make payments/contributions in kind for exploitation of non-living resources beyond 200 NM (Art 82(1) LOSC)
  • Developing state net importer of mineral resource exempt (Art 82(3) LOSC)
  • Payments/contributions distributed by International Seabed Authority (Art 82(4) LOSC)
• Freedoms of third states

  • All states entitled to lay submarine cables and pipelines on the CS (Art 79(1) LOSC)
  • Coastal state can take reasonable measures to explore, exploit resources and prevent pollution from pipelines (Art 79(2) LOSC)
  • Delineation of pipeline courses subject to coastal state consent (Art 79(3) LOSC)
• Superjacent waters - Coastal state rights over artificial islands, installations, structures, safety zones, and marine scientific research (Art 78(1), Art 80, Art 246 LOSC)
• Question: Outline the legal regime of the continental shelf