The continental shelf. Regulation of rights. Continental shelves of the Russian Federation

Borders between states are not only overland. They stretch across rivers, seas and oceans, as well as airspace. The oceanic or oceanic bottom that adjoins the shores is also the property of the state. All minerals and other valuable items belong to the country that owns this territory. The Russian Federation has a long coastline, respectively, and the sea territory belonging to it is very extensive.

Definition

Geographically, the continental shelf is a continental territory flooded by sea or ocean. More precisely, this is the underwater part of the land that adjoins it and has a similar geological structure. From a legal point of view, the continental shelf is a seabed with its entrails, which adjoins on one side to the shore, and on the other reaches a depth of at least 200 meters.

In some cases, the depth of the seabed can reach 500 meters or more, because there is one more restriction. International law defines the geological underwater extent of the continent that a given section of the bottom can have. For all states that have a continental shelf, the border runs along an isobath, or a crook that connects the sharp bends of the seabed. However, the territory may not be in the possession of a certain state.

Legal definition

Shelfs used by states do not coincide on the borders with territorial waters. In this case, the norms of international law determine which country can use the continental shelf. In addition, the development, protection and commercial activities associated with the seabed determine the laws of the state. The continental shelf of the Russian Federation falls under the law 187-FZ "On the Continental Shelf of the Russian Federation". According to him, the state has the right to use the sea or ocean floor, which extends from the surf line to 200 nautical miles.

Why are the shelves hidden by water

When nature created seas, oceans or mountains, it did not take into account the future needs of mankind. As it turned out, a lot of natural resources are concentrated in the thickness of rocks that are covered with water. There are a lot of minerals on land, too, but their production and processing are accelerating every year, and the reserves are not unlimited.

The Russian continental shelf contains up to 70% of all natural wealth of the state. Some of them are already actively exploited, some are just getting ready for development. Natural resources include minerals, mineral resources, as well as living organisms that are on the seabed and use it for movement.

Regulation of the exploitation of the continental shelf of the Russian Federation

All seabed, which is used by the subjects of the state, is protected in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation and the provisions of the law of the sea. Thus, the continental shelf can be used for the following purposes:

• Conducting marine scientific research.
• Study of the depths of the seabed.
• Implementation of burials of various types on the seabed and its seams.

Only the owner country has the exclusive right to explore and develop the continental shelf. All actions by any third parties on the ocean floor belonging to the Russian Federation must be carried out only by special permission. This means that if Russia decides not to conduct any research or burial, other states can not occupy this territory and use it at their own discretion. At the same time, all actions concern only the seabed, the rights to use water resources over the continental shelf, which goes beyond territorial waters, the country does not.

New possessions of the Russian Federation

For each section of the seabed in the world is a kind of struggle. In 2014, the Russian Federation expanded its holdings. The continental shelf of the Crimean coast is planned to be actively developed and studied. His departure to the Russian Federation occurred automatically as a result of the signing of the agreement on the accession of the Republic of Crimea. In this regard, there are ambiguous opinions - not all politicians in Ukraine recognize the legality of this event. Anyway, the shelf is now Russian.

The second acquisition was the continental shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk. In March 2014, the UN Commission recognized the right of Russia to use this underwater territory.

To date, the executive branch of the Russian Federation is preparing another application for recognition of the rights to own the continental shelf of the Arctic. The approximate dates for filing are in the autumn of 2014. So far, studies have been carried out on this territory, which are intended to prove that this section of the bottom is a continuation of the continent.