Page 105 - GIS for Science, Volume 3 Preview

JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES
Unlike land, where the borders of many countries have been established and refined for many centuries, the delineation of countries’ maritime borders is a relatively recent development. In 1982, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea established the general rules that govern the uses of the ocean and its resources. Among many other things, the Convention provides the framework for how maritime borders are drawn, including those between adjacent coastal states, as well as those between coastal states and areas beyond national jurisdiction. Specifically, the Convention defines exclusive economic zones, an area in which countries have exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage all resources located on the seafloor and in the water column, including fishery resources, oil, gas, offshore energy, and seabed minerals. The Convention further gives nation states exclusive rights to establish artificial islands, installations, structures, conduct scientific research, and protect the marine environment within their exclusive economic zones. The boundaries of countries’ exclusive economic zones generally extend to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from their coastal baselines, with the exception of when that limit would overlap with another country.
The Convention also defines continental shelf boundaries of countries, which extend at least 200 nautical miles from coastal baselines, but potentially up to 350 nautical miles, if scientific evidence shows that the continental margin lies farther offshore. Countries that want to delimit their outer continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical miles limit can submit scientific justifications to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. If the commission grants the claim, the country obtains sovereign rights over the seafloor and
Marine areas beyond national jurisdiction, commonly known as the high seas, cover more than 61% of the surface of the global ocean. Jurisdiction over the other 39% of the global ocean surface is divided among 157 countries.1
Exclusive economic zones Extended continental shelf claims Areas beyond national jurisdictions Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges
its resources in these additional areas. However, the country does not obtain rights over those resources found in the water column above it, which are still considered high seas. Consequently, areas claimed as extended continental shelf are governed in a mixed way, with activities on the seafloor regulated by the claimed country and activities in the water column regulated by the respective intergovernmental organization.
The Convention thus provides the framework for delimiting the maritime borders of countries and for those with areas beyond national jurisdiction. Seventy- three percent of the Salas y Gómez and Nazca Ridges are located in areas beyond national jurisdiction, with smaller portions located in the national waters of Chile and Peru. Specifically, the northeastern section of the Nazca Ridge is located in the national waters of Peru, whereas both ends of the Salas y Gómez Ridge is located within the Chilean exclusive economic zone. Additionally, in December 2020, the Chilean government submitted an extended continental shelf claim for 550,000 km2 east of Salas y Gómez Island. If the claim is granted, Chile will obtain sovereign rights over the seafloor resources in this area, but the water column above it would still be considered high seas.
Unlike land, the delineation of countries’ maritime borders occurred relatively recently through the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of Sea. It granted coastal states jurisdiction over all seafloor and water column resources within its exclusive economic zones,1 which are generally located within 200 nautical miles of its coastlines. States can claim additional jurisdiction over seafloor resources if they can provide scientific evidence that their continental shelf extends beyond 200 nautical miles from shore,2 and delimits the maritime borders of countries and areas beyond national jurisdiction.
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