Do the Continental Shelf Developments Challenge the Polar Regimes?

• Published in: The Yearbook of Polar Law Online
• Main Author: Koivurova, Timo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Brill 2009
• Subjects: Antarctic; Arctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Arctic Council; Law of the Sea; Yearbook of Polar Law
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22116427-91000024; https://brill.com/view/journals/yplo/1/1/article-p477_24.xml; https://data.brill.com/files/journals/22116427_001_01_S24_text.pdf

Abstract The article will provide a study of the continental shelf submissions that have been made in the polar regions and an evaluation as to whether these pose a challenge to the two polar regimes: the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty System. This will be done by comparing these regimes, examining the development of the law of the sea as regards seabed rights and studying what sort of challenge the polar regimes face from the continental shelf activity in both polar regions and how serious that challenge is. Conclusions are finally drawn as to what types of effects may ensue for the polar regimes from the continental shelf submissions by various states.