SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL GUIDELINES OF THE COMMISION ON THE LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF

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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL GUIDELINES OF THE
COMMISION ON THE LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF
Harald Brekke
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Objectives of Guidelines

• Assist coastal States in preparing submissions
• Be the main reference to the CLCS for the
  consideration of submissions
• Form the basis on which the CLCS shall provide
  advice on request from States

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General contents of Guidelines

• The practical consequences of the provisions of
  UNCLOS related to the delineation of the limit of
  the continental shelf
• Description of the technical and scientific
  methods to be applied in determining the limit
  line
• Outline of format of submission documents and
  required data including a final checklist

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ENTITLEMENT TO AN EXTENDED CONTINENTAL SHELF AND
THE DELINEATION OF ITS OUTER LIMITS (CHAPTER 2)
Harald Brekke
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Sketch of geological principles
Continental margin
Continental Shelf
Continental
Mid - oceanic
Foot of slope
ridge
slope
Sediments
Continental
Deep ocean floor
rise
Oceanic crust
6-15 Km
30 - 50 Km
Krystallinsk kontinental skorpe
Crystalline continental crust
Melted
mantle
Earth's mantle
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Definition of the Continental Shelf
The continental shelf of a coastal State
comprises the sea-bed and the 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.
Article 76, Paragraph 1
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Paragraph 1
The continental shelf comprises the sea-bed and
subsoil (the superjacent water is not included)
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Paragraph 1
Defines the continental shelf in terms of the
outer edge of the continental margin. This
is a legal definition and must not be confused
with the scientific definition.
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The continental shelf - juridical vs scientific
concept
Continental shelf (juridical)
Continental margin
Continental Shelf (scientific)
Continental
Mid - oceanic
Foot of slope
ridge
slope
Sediments
Continental
rise
Deep ocean floor
Oceanic crust
6-15 Km
30 - 50 Km
Krystallinsk kontinental skorpe
Crystalline continental crust
Melted
Earth's mantle
mantle
0
100
200
Nautical miles (M)
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Paragraph 1
The continental shelf extends either to the
outer edge of the continental margin or to 200
nautical miles where the continental margin does
not extend that far
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Definition of the Continental Margin 1
The continental margin comprises the submerged
prolongation of the land mass of the coastal
State, and consists of the sea-bed and the
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.
Article 76, Paragraph 3
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Article 76, paragraph 3
Coastal State
Sea Surface
Shelf
Land mass
Slope
Foot of slope
Rise
Deep ocean floor
Continental margin
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The Coastal State Origin
According to paragraphs 1 and 3 the coastal State
is the starting point for the continental margin,
and generates its continental shelf The
continental margin is the submerged prolongation
of its landmass ( 3), while The continental
shelf is the sea-bed and subsoil of the natural
prolongation of its land territory ( 1).
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Definition of the Continental Margin 2
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 Article 76, Paragraph 4 a
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Definition of the Continental Margin 2 (continued)
(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
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Definition of the Continental Margin 2 (continued)
(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.
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Determination of the outer edge of the
continental margin
Baseline
Foot of slope
Sediments
60M
1 of distance
to foot of slope
Crystalline continental crust
Oceanic crust
Nautical mile( M )
100
200
300
400
0
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Test of appurtenance

• If either the line delineated at a distance of
  60 nautical miles from the foot of the
  continental slope, or the line delineated at a
  distance where the thickness of sedimentary rocks
  is at least 1 per cent of the shortest distance
  from such point to the foot of the slope, or
  both, extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the
  baselines ., then a coastal State is entitled to
  delineate the outer limits of the continental
  shelf as prescribed by the provisions contained
  in article 76, paragraphs 4 to 10 (See 2.2.8)

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Article 76 - Delineation principles
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Delineation requirements
States that the outer limit of the continental
shelf beyond 200 nautical miles shall be
delineated by fixed points not more than 60
nautical miles apart, and straight lines
connecting the fixed points (See paragraph 7,
article 76)
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The use of straight lines

• A straight line is defined by the CLCS as the
  shortest distance between two points measured
  along a geodesic on the surface of the reference
  ellipsoid (See 2.3.7)
• The straight outer limit line segments based on
  sediment thickness should not connect fixed
  points located on opposite and separate margins
  (See 2.3.9)
• The straight outer limit line segments may
  connect fixed points located along arcs (See
  2.3.10)
• No straight outer limit line segments should be
  constructed to enclose areas that do not meet all
  the provisions of article 76 (See 2.3.10)