The Legal Regime of the Arctic Ocean

Abstract

I. Factual Background 653 II. The Legal Regime of the Arctic 654 1. Is There a General Legal Regime of the Arctic? 654 2. Status of and Passage through the North West Passage 655 a. The North West Passage as Historic Waters of Canada 656 b. Straight Baselines in the Arctic 658 c. The Right of Innocent Passage through the Arctic Straits 660 3. Arctic Continental Shelf Issues 661 a. Status of the Continental Shelf 661 b. Seaward Limit of the Continental Shelf 662 c. The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf: Responsibilities and Recommendations 672 d. Future Prospects 682 4. Protection of the Arctic Environment 683 III. Conclusion 687