Obligations of States in Disputed Areas of the Continental Shelf

Normally, a coastal State has sovereign rights to explore and exploit the natural resources of the continental shelf appurtenant to its territory. In some situations, however, States have overlapping claims as to their continental shelves, which raises important issues as to how such States must conduct themselves prior to resolution of their dispute. This chapter advances eight basic rules that every State is expected to follow in such a situation. Inevitably, such rules are general in nature and will have variable effects when applied in context. Nevertheless, it is submitted that such rules provide importance guidance to States in upholding their overall duty to resolve disputes peacefully