The Problem with the Concept of ‘Single Continental Shelf’

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has established one legal limit of the continental shelf at 200 M. However, it set out another limit for situations when the extent of the actual or ‘physical’ continental shelf may be greater than 200 M. Despite these distinctions, the concept of the ‘single continental shelf’ has gained traction, particularly in international jurisprudence. This article challenges the idea that there is only a ‘single continental shelf’. The article will first explore the history of the continental shelf regime, before examining the emergence of the concept of a ‘single continental shelf’, how the concept was used and the context of its usage. Then the article will analyse the differences between the inner and outer continental shelf, including the relevance of the principle of natural prolongation. The article will finally answer the question of whether the phrase ‘single continental shelf’ is an accurate term to describe the continental shelf regime.