Continental Shelf.

What is Continental Shelf?
Definition of Continental Shelf.
Rights of Coastal State over Continental Shelf.
Rights of Other State over Continental Shelf.



Continental Shelf


Continental shelf, a broad, relatively shallow submarine terrace of continental crust forming the edge of a continental landmass. The geology of continental shelves is often similar to that of the adjacent exposed portion of the continent, and most shelves have a gently rolling topography called ridge and swale. Continental shelves make up about 8 percent of the entire area covered by oceans.


The continental shelf is an underwater landmass which extends from a continent, resulting in an area of relatively shallow water known as a shelf sea. Much of the shelves were exposed during glacial periods and inter-glacial periods.


Definition of the continental shelf

According to Article 76 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

- 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.

- The continental shelf of a coastal State shall not extend beyond the limits provided for in paragraphs 4 to 6.

- 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.

-  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,

- 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.




Rights of the Coastal State over the continental shelf 


According to Article 77 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

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.



Rights of Other State over Continental Shelf


Legal status of the superjacent waters and air space and the rights and freedoms of other States


According to Article 77 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

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


Submarine cables and pipelines on the continental shelf

According to Article 79 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

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.


Artificial islands, installations and structures on the continental shelf

According to Article 80 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) III

Article 60 applies mutatis mutandis to artificial islands, installations and structures on the continental shelf.

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