|
Abstract |
|
|
|
|
|
The dispute over the delimitation of the continental shelves around the Island of Rockall erupted in the middle
of 1970s when the promising potential for discovery of oil and gas on the submarine areas near that island came to
be recognized.In 1988the Anglo-Irish Continental Shelf Agreement between the U.K. and Ireland demarcated the
continental shelf.In 1999the U.K./Danish Agreement relating to the Maritime Delimitation in the Area between the
U.K.and the Faeroes of May18,1999demarcated the continental shelf between the Faeroes and the U.K.just within
the 200nautical mile baselines of each party. In and about the south part of the continental shelf designated by
Denmark which is situated on the west of the Island of Rockall,however,the continental shelves of the U.K.,Ireland,
Denmark and Iceland overlapped in large areas and so remains to be delimited. In my opinion we need detailed
research and accurate information about the submarine areas geologically and geomorphologically around that
island, because the resolution of this dispute requires the decision of the continental margin in Art. 76(4) of the
UNCLOS.
On the other hand,there remains to be the problem of the clarification of the legal status of the Island of Rockall,
namely whether this island is qualified to have its own continental shelf.With the exception of the U.K.which has
the sovereignty over this island,the other three countries―Ireland,Denmark and Iceland―strongly disagree that
this island has a large maritime areas such as a continental shelf and an exclusive economic zone. |
|
|