440 



tion of these resources. It presents the geographical and legal defini- 

 tions of the continental shelf and the sea floor beyond, and the histori- 

 cal background leading to the international concern and the Geneva 

 Conventions of 1958. An inventory is taken of all the resources of the 

 seabed, which are the object of concern among the nations of the world. 

 The development in the techniques of exploiting the seabed are re- 

 viewed, showing the present state of the art and what the future holds 

 for underwater exploitation. The economic factors are added to the 

 technological capabilities to assess the parameters interacting in the 

 formulation of policy for exploiting seabed resources. 



On the international scene, the United Nations activities are re- 

 viewed, particularly following the Malta proposal for an international 

 regime for the seabed. The participation of the United States in these 

 activities is discussed, including the U.S. policy apparatus and the 

 evolution of U.S. policy in international ocean affairs. The role of 

 science and technology is analyzed, showing the effect of technological 

 development on ocean strategy, and the role played by scientists in 

 the diplomatic and policymaking processes. 



The study is mainly addressed to the seabed portion of ocean space 

 beyond national jurisdiction. It includes only cursory mention of 

 fisheries and other ocean resources, and the issues of territorial limits. 



II. Geography and Legal Concepts of the Continental Shelf 



The crust of the Earth as a whole has two major features — the con- 

 tinental platforms and the ocean basins. The physiographic features 

 of the oceans are not merely expressions of the Earth's surface but, 

 more significantly, they are reflections of fundamental geological and 

 geophysical provinces of the Earth's crust. These provinces differ in 

 shape, mass, structure, physical and chemical properties, and the 

 composition of their rock constituents. 



Where water meets land is not exactly where the ocean basins meet 

 the continental platforms. A relatively narrow margin of each plat- 

 form is under water, belonging geologically to the continent and not 

 to the ocean basin. This feature is called the continental margin. 



The continental margin has three physiographic features: The 

 shelf, the slope, and the ripe (Figure 1). The shelf is the extension of 

 the laud mass; the slope is its frontal edge ; and the rise is that vaguely 

 definable area where the bottom of the slope meets the deep ocean 

 basin. 



As its name implies, the continental shelf is topographically :i gently 

 sloping terrace, ranging in depth from the mean water line at the 

 .shore to a maximum of 300 fathoms 1 where the sharp slope begins. 



1 The International Committee on the Nomenclature of Ocean Rottom Features proposed 

 the following definition. Continental shrif, shelf edpe and borderland: The zone around 

 the continent, extending from the low water line to the depth ;it which there Is a marked 

 Increase of slope in greater depth. Where this Increase occurs the term "shelf edge" is 

 appropriate. Conventionally, the edge Is taken nl 100 fathoms (or 200 meters) hut in- 

 stances are known where the Increase of slope occurs at more than 200 or less than 65 

 fathom- Where the /one below the low water line is highly irregular and includes depths 

 well In excess of those typical of continental shelves, the term "continental borderland" 

 Is appropriate. 



The same definition was used by a group of marine geologists who chose the depth of 

 300 fathoms arhitrarllv (Andre Gnllcher and others) In preparing a report for the T'nited 

 Nations Kdurntlonnl, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Conference on the Law of the 

 Sea, 1057. 13/2. 



One fathom equals 6 feet or 1.83 meters. 



