152 



Approximate Delineation of Con- 

 tinental Shelves and intermediate 

 Zones as Proposed 



TlicKC rhdrts arc illustrative and do not 

 linrport to xhoir actual natimial lines of 

 jitrisditcion. Vo effort lias hci-n made to 

 ■ilioir lateral boundaries bctireeu Mitions 

 or midpoint lines. The seaward hoiindanj 

 of the continental shelf is drawn at the 

 .i1)()-ntcU r isobath or .'lO miles from the 

 baseline for measuring the territorial sea. 

 whichever is farther from shore. The 

 seaward boundary of the intermediate zone 

 is drawn at the 2.o00-nietcr isobath or 

 100 miles, whichever is farther from shore. 



nental shelf sliould be redefined to include 

 the intermediate zone and the position that 

 the intermediate zone should be treated in 

 every respect like the areas of the deep seas 

 beyond it. 



T'f^nder these recommendations, only the 

 coastal nation will have access to the mineral 

 resources of the intermediate zone. It may 

 decide not to register any claim to explore or 

 exploit mineral resources in the zone, in 

 which case every other nation and business 

 entity will be barred from engaging in such 

 activities in the zone. But claims to explore 

 and exploit in the intermediate zone must 

 be registered with the International Registry 

 Authority under the terms and conditions 

 applicable to areas of tlie deep seas beyond 

 the intermediate zone. 



TJie creation of the intermediate zone will 

 not raise the dangers the Commission saw in 

 the proposal to redefine the continental shelf 

 to include the zone. It will not encour- 

 age claims of exclusive access to the zone 

 for purposes other than general resources 

 development. 



A nation which registers a claim in the 

 intermediate zone (or beyond) will not 

 thereby acquire the "sovereign rights" of a 

 coastal nation over its continental shelf. It 

 will have only the rights accorded it under 

 the new framework. Thus, for example, its 

 right of exclusive access will be limited in 

 time. It will pay a portion of the value of 

 production into the International Fund. The 

 international community will thereby ac- 

 quire a significant interest in the zone. Scien- 

 tific inquiry concerning the bed of the inter- 

 mediate zone and undertaken there will not 

 require the coastal nation's prior consent. 



Under no other alternative framework 

 suggested will the exploring or exploiting 



