Section 124p. 124

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COMPENDIUM VOLUME I

substituted

for

such

outer

limit

lines

or

lines

of

delimitation.

2. The coastal State shall give due publicity to such charts

or lists of geographical coordinates and shall deposit a

copy of each such chart or list with the Secretary-General

of the United Nations.

PART VI. CONTINENTAL SHELF

Article 76. Definition of the continental shelf

1. The continental shelf of a coastal State comprises the

seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend

beyond

its

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.

2. The continental shelf of a coastal State shall not extend

beyond the limits provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6.

3. The continental margin comprises the submerged

prolongation of the land mass of the coastal State, and

consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope

and the rise. It does not include the deep ocean floor with

its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

4. (a) For the purposes of this Convention, the coastal

State shall establish the outer edge of the continental

margin

wherever

the

margin

extends

beyond

200

nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth

of the territorial sea is measured, by either:

(i) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by

reference to the outermost fixed points at each of which

the thickness of sedimentary rocks is at least 1 per cent of

the shortest distance from such point to the foot of the

continental slope; or

(ii) a line delineated in accordance with paragraph 7 by

reference to fixed points not more than 60 nautical miles

from the foot of the continental slope.

(b) In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the foot of

the continental slope shall be determined as the point of

maximum change in the gradient at its base.

5. The fixed points comprising the line of the outer limits

of

the

continental

shelf

on

the

seabed,

drawn

in

accordance with paragraph 4 (a)(i) and (ii), either shall not

exceed 350 nautical miles from the baselines from which

the breadth of the territorial sea is measured or shall not

exceed 100 nautical miles from the 2,500 metre isobath,

which is a line connecting the depth of 2,500 metres.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5, on

submarine ridges, the outer limit of the continental shelf

shall not exceed 350 nautical miles from the baselines

from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

This paragraph does not apply to submarine elevations

that are natural components of the continental margin,

such as its plateaux, rises, caps, banks and spurs.

7. The coastal State shall delineate the outer limits of its

continental shelf, where that shelf extends beyond 200

nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth

of the territorial sea is measured, by straight lines not

exceeding 60 nautical miles in length, connecting fixed

points, defined by coordinates of latitude and longitude.

8. Information on the limits of the continental shelf

beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which

the breadth of the territorial sea is measured shall be

submitted by the coastal State to the Commission on the

Limits of the Continental Shelf set up under Annex II on

the basis of equitable geographical representation. The

Commission shall make recommendations to coastal

States on matters related to the establishment of the

outer limits of their continental shelf. The limits of the

shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of these

recommendations shall be final and binding.

9.

The

coastal

State

shall

deposit

with

the

Secretary-General

of

the

United

Nations charts and

relevant

information,

including

geodetic

data,

permanently describing the outer limits of its continental

shelf.

The

Secretary-General

shall give due publicity

thereto.

10. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to

the question of delimitation of the continental shelf

between States with opposite or adjacent coasts.

Article 77. Rights of the coastal State over the continental

shelf

1. The coastal State exercises over the continental shelf

sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it and

exploiting its natural resources.

2. The rights referred to in paragraph 1 are exclusive in the

sense that if the coastal State does not explore the

continental shelf or exploit its natural resources, no one

may

undertake

these

activities

without

the express

consent of the coastal State.

3. The rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf

do not depend on occupation, effective or notional, or on

any express proclamation.

4. The natural resources referred to in this Part consist of

the mineral and other non-living resources of the seabed

and subsoil together with living organisms belonging to

sedentary species, that is to say, organisms which, at the

harvestable stage, either are immobile on or under the

seabed or are unable to move except in constant physical

contact with the seabed or the subsoil.

Article 78. Legal status of the superjacent waters and air

space and the rights and freedoms of other States

1. The rights of the coastal State over the continental shelf

do not affect the legal status of the superjacent waters or

of the air space above those waters.

2. The exercise of the rights of the coastal State over the

continental shelf must not infringe or result in any

unjustifiable

interference

with

navigation

and

other

rights and freedoms of other States as provided for in this

Convention.

Article

79.

Submarine

cables

and

pipelines

on the

continental shelf

1. All States are entitled to lay submarine cables and

pipelines on the continental shelf, in accordance with the

provisions of this article.

2. Subject to its right to take reasonable measures for the

exploration of the continental shelf, the exploitation of its

natural resources and the prevention, reduction and

control of pollution from pipelines, the coastal State may

not impede the laying or maintenance of such cables or

pipelines.

3. The delineation of the course for the laying of such

pipelines

on the continental shelf is subject to the

consent of the coastal State.

4. Nothing in this Part affects the right of the coastal

State

to

establish conditions for cables or pipelines

entering its territory or territorial sea, or its jurisdiction

over

cables

and

pipelines

constructed

or

used

in

connection with the exploration of its continental shelf or

exploitation of its resources or the operations of artificial

islands, installations and structures under its jurisdiction.

5. When laying submarine cables or pipelines, States shall

have due regard to cables or pipelines already in position.

In particular, possibilities of repairing existing cables or

pipelines shall not be prejudiced.

Article 80. Artificial islands, installations and structures

on the continental shelf

Article 60 applies mutatis mutandis to artificial islands,

installations and structures on the continental shelf.

© Compiled by RGL

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