UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) conveys sovereign rights to coastal states over the seabed and subsoil of their continental shelf. 76 of UNCLOS provides the formulae which allow coastal states to claim a continental shelf beyond the 200 M EEZ, and allows the state to exploit the natural resources of the seabed and subsoil of this continental shelf. UNCLOS also contains provisions for the protection and preservation of the marine environment. National Oceanography Centre has led the technical advice to the UK Government on all four UK claims under Article 76, provided advice and services to several overseas governments, and continues to provide advice on several aspects of UNCLOS, including delimitation of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.