Practice question
States Alder and Birch have overlapping continental shelf entitlements and are negotiating their boundary. Alder says the entire overlap is conclusively its own because its domestic statute draws a line there, and it refuses to consider any international agreement. Neither State has accepted that line. What is the best legal response?
- A domestic claim does not itself settle the international boundary; Article 83 requires delimitation by agreement on international law toward an equitable solution
- Alder's statute binds Birch automatically
- The first domestic map conclusively decides all boundaries
- Birch loses rights by joining negotiations
- UNCLOS assigns every overlap to the northern State
Legal references
- UNCLOS Article 83(1) and (3): https://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf
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