Question

A coastal state wishing to claim a continental shelf extending to 350 nautical miles must interact with which body?

• A. The International Seabed Authority
• B. The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
• C. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
• D. The International Maritime Organization

Hint:

This process highlights the role of technical and scientific expert bodies in international law, rather than leaving boundary-setting solely to political negotiation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Under UNCLOS Article 76, a coastal state is generally entitled to a continental shelf extending up to 200 nautical miles. If the geological shelf extends beyond that, the state must submit scientific evidence to justify an extension up to a limit of 350 nautical miles.

Step 1: Identifying the reviewing authority.
The extension of the continental shelf involves complex geological and bathymetric data. The treaty establishes the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to review this data.

Step 2: The role of the Commission.
The CLCS consists of independent scientific experts who evaluate the state's submission against the criteria set out in Article 76. If the CLCS recommends the extension, the limits established by the coastal state on the basis of these recommendations are final and binding. equation Authority for Extended Continental Shelf = Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf equation center The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf center