Borders between states pass not only by land. They stretch across rivers, seas and oceans, as well as airspace. The sea or ocean bottom, which adjoins the coast, 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
From a geographical point of view, the continental shelf is a continental territory flooded by the sea or ocean. More precisely, this is the underwater part of the land, which adjoins it and has a similar geological structure. From a legal point of view, the continental shelf is the seabed with its bowels, which adjoins the coast on one side and reaches a depth of at least 200 meters on the other.
In some cases, the depth of the seabed can reach 500 meters or more, since there is another limitation. International law determines at what geological underwater length of the continent what length a given section of the bottom can have. For all states that have a continental shelf at their disposal, the border runs along the isobath, or edge, which connects the sharp bends of the seabed. Moreover, the territory may not be in the possession of a certain state.
Legal definition
The shelves used by states do not coincide on the borders with territorial waters. In this case, international law determines which country can use the continental shelf. In addition, the development, protection and commercial activities associated with the seabed are determined by state laws. The continental shelf of the Russian Federation falls under 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, extending from the surf line for 200 nautical miles.
Why shelves hidden by water?
When nature created the seas, oceans or mountains, it did not take into account the future needs of mankind. As it turned out, a lot of natural wealth is concentrated precisely in the thickness of rocks that are covered with water. There are also many minerals on land, but their extraction and processing are accelerated every year, and the reserves are not unlimited.
The Russian continental shelf contains up to 70% of all natural resources 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 located on the seabed and using it for movement.
Regulation of the operation of the continental shelf of the Russian Federation
The entire 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 sea law. So, the continental shelf can be used for the following purposes:
- Carrying out marine scientific research.
- Studying the bowels of the seabed.
- Implementation of various types of burials on the seabed and its strata.
The exclusive right to research and development of the continental shelf is reserved only to the host country. All actions by any third parties on the ocean floor belonging to the Russian Federation should be carried out only with special permission. This means that if Russia decides not to conduct any surveys or burials, then other states cannot occupy this territory and use it at its discretion. Moreover, all actions concern only the seabed, the country does not have the rights to use water resources over the continental shelf, which goes beyond the border of territorial waters.
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 an agreement on the annexation of the Republic of Crimea. On this occasion, there are mixed opinions - not all politicians in Ukraine recognize the legality of this event. One way or another, the shelf is now Russian.
The second acquisition was the continental shelf of the Sea of Okhotsk. In March 2014, the UN Commission recognized Russia's right to use this underwater territory.
To date, the executive branch of the Russian Federation is preparing another application for recognition of the rights to possession of the continental shelf of the Arctic. Estimated deadlines for filing - autumn 2014. So far, studies are being carried out in this territory to prove that this bottom section is a continuation of the continent.