UNCLOS, Article 84(2) – Charts and Lists of Geographical Coordinates

“Due Publicity”

UNCLOS defines “the Area” as “the seabed and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.” The establishment of the exact geographic limits of the Area depends on the establishment by States of the limits of their national jurisdiction, including the delineation of the continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline of the territorial sea.

Pursuant to UNCLOS, Article 84(2), coastal States are obliged to give due publicity to charts or lists of geographical coordinates of points and, in the case of those indicating the outer limit lines of the continental shelf, to deposit a copy of such charts or lists with the ISA Secretary-General.

Ten members of ISA have so far deposited such charts and lists with the Secretary-General, namely:

Link: UN-DOALOS Deposits of Charts/Lists of Coordinates under the Convention