UNCLOS

Dr. AMIRTHALINGAM. S
Assistant Professor of Law
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Trichy
 SOVEREIGNTY

POLITICAL SOVEREIGNTY

TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY

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Sovereignty in the relation between states
signifies independence. Independence in
regard to a portion of the globe is the right
to exercise therein, to the exclusion of any
other state, the functions of a state.

Islands of Palmas Arbitration, 22 AJIL (1928), 875.

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SOVEREIGNTY OF STATES

CANON SHOT RULE

EQUDISTANCE PRINCIPLE

CONTINENTAL SHELF

CODIFICATION
 CODIFICATION

Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1958

Geneva Convention on Fishing and Conservation of

Living Resources, 1958

Geneva Convention on the High Seas, 1958

Geneva Convention on the Territorial Sea and

Contiguous Zone, 1958
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 Emergence of new states in international law
Development of science and technology
Intensified demands over higher living standards for fuel
and other resources

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UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON
LAW OF THE SEA, 1982

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TERRITORIAL WATERS

CONTIGUOUS ZONE

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

CONTINENTAL SHELF

HIGH SEAS
 TERRITORIAL WATERS

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 CONTIGUOUS ZONE

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 EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE

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 CONTINENTAL SHELF
The continental shelf is
(a) the sea-bed and sub-soil of the submarine
areas adjacent to the coast, but outside the
area of the territorial sea to a depth of 200
meters or beyond that limit to where that
limit to where the depth of superjacent
waters admits of the exploitation of the
natural resources of the said areas;
(b) to the sea-bed and sub-soil of similar
submarine areas adjacent to the coastal of
island.
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 ELEMENTS

Adjacent

Depth

Exploitability

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 NORTH SEA CONTINENTAL SHELF
CASES
The rights of the coastal state in respect of
the area of continental shelf that constitutes
a natural prolongation of its land territory
into and under the sea exist ipso facto and
ab initio, by virtue of its sovereignty over
the land, and as en extensions of it in an
exercise of sovereign rights for the purpose
of exploring the seabed and exploiting its
natural resources.
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 CONTINENTAL SHELF
For the purpose of this convention, the Coastal
states 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 delianated in accordance with
paragraph 7 by reference to the sea-bed and
sub-soil of similar submarine areas adjacent to
the coastal of island.
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 LANDLOCKED STATES

In order to enjoy freedom of the seas on

equal terms with coastal states, states
having no sea coast should have free
access to the sea.

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 LANDLOCKED STATES
Landlocked states shall have the right of access to
and from the sea for the purpose of exercising the
rights provided for in this convention including those
relating to the freedom of the high seas and the
common heritage of mankind. To this end, land-
locked states shall enjoy freedom of transit through
the territory of transit states by all means of transport.
The terms and modalities for exercising freedom of
transit shall be agreed between the land-locked states
and the transit state concerned through bilateral, sub
regional or regional agreements.
Transit states, in the exercise of their full sovereignty
over their territory, shall have the right to take all
measures necessary to ensure that the rights and
facilities provided for in this Part for land-locked states
shall19in no way infringe their legitimate interests. 07/10/2015
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 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya/Malta

Anglo Narwegian Fisheries case

Qatar v. Bahrain

Corfu Channel case

North Sea Continental Shelf case

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 SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

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