159:
inside the EEZ as well. In all, 1.3 million square kilometres (380,000 square nautical miles) have been surveyed by
Icelandic marine research institutions for this purpose, an area 13 times larger than the land area of Iceland. The commission does however not make proposals regarding areas that are claimed by two or more states unless they have already reached an agreement on its division. Therefore, Iceland's submission is expected to deal only with the area that just Iceland has claimed and not the Hatton-Rockall area. Iceland also hosted an informal meeting of all parties to the dispute in 2001. It was the first such meeting regarding the dispute where all four countries participated.
155:
shelf-based resources within the limits of the
Icelandic continental shelf. Regarding the Hatton-Rockall area, it claims the area within 60 nautical miles (110 km) from the foot of the continental shelf and assumes that the UK and Ireland cannot claim a continental shelf outside their EEZs. To its fullest extent, this area reaches about 700 nautical miles (1,300 km) to the south from Iceland's coast, which is further south than the United Kingdom's northernmost point.
262:
we have time on our hands. It is in the interests of
Ireland, UK, Denmark and Iceland to come to a deal on the division of the seabed area. We have come to outline agreements in relation to other parts of our seabed in the Atlantic. There is no reason ultimately why we also can't do a deal on this protracted issue. Finding a deal is a significant challenge but the rewards are there for future generations from all four countries.
168:
20:
97:(EEZ) claimed by the United Kingdom. In 1997, the UK ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and thus relinquished any claim to an extension of its EEZ beyond the islet. The remaining issue is the status of the continental shelf rights of the surrounding ocean floor. These are the exclusive rights to exploit any resources on or under the ocean floor (
125:
A communiqué issued by the Prime
Minister's Office on 7 May 1985 announced the designation of not only the seabed in the immediate vicinity of the Faroes but also a vast area of the Rockall plateau to the south west. The press release which accompanied the communiqué indicated that the legal basis of
261:
There have certainly been protracted talks, but that is not unusual when one considers the complexity of the issue at hand and the competing interests. However, there was some progress made at the last talks in
Copenhagen. I believe further progress can be made in Dublin. The deadline is May 2009 so
248:
was to host negotiations. They were due to commence in
January 2008, but were postponed because of elections in the Faroe Islands. The talks are hoped to bring the four nations closer to reaching an agreement over the Rockall-Hatton basin. It is understood a final deal is not likely to be agreed at
89:
In 1997, the UK Government declared that "The United
Kingdom's fishery limits will need to be redefined based on St Kilda, since Rockall is not a valid base point for such limits under Article 121(3) of the Convention." This is the only example to date of a state voluntarily downgrading an insular
199:
has no mandate regarding issues of delimitation between neighbouring states and cannot consider an area under dispute without the agreement of all the parties concerned, Ireland has participated in informal discussions with
Iceland and the Faroe Islands in an attempt to resolve the dispute before
158:
In 2001, Iceland began working on its submission to the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; it was scheduled to finish in 2007. The most important aspect of this work is to survey the entire ocean floor in the areas claimed outside the EEZ and, in Iceland's case, a part of the area
187:
between the two countries and that this included a line of delimitation across the
Rockall Plateau. As a result, a very extensive area under Irish jurisdiction, including part of the Rockall Trough and Plateau, is not disputed by the United Kingdom. No further negotiations were taking place in
154:
country to do so. A regulation was issued by the government in that same year outlining the area where Iceland claimed continental shelf rights for itself; the regulation was based on legislation from 1979 claiming for Iceland the exclusive right to research and exploitation of continental
191:
More recently, on 11 June 2003, the Irish Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources gave a Written Parliamentary Answer, stating: "Ireland claims an extended continental shelf ... up to more than 500 nautical miles (926 km), particularly in the Hatton–Rockall area".
81:
The twenty-fourth session of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) was held in New York from 10 August to 11 September 2009. Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom have made submissions. Denmark was due to make a submission before the end of 2014.
105:, etc.) and should not be confused with the EEZ, as continental shelf rights do not carry any privileges with regard to fisheries. Ownership of these rights in the Rockall area are disputed between the United Kingdom, Denmark (for the Faroe Islands), Ireland and Iceland.
146:
to be "a minuscule, effectively uninhabited, islet, categorized under article 121(3) of the Law of the Sea Convention". Furthermore, St. Kilda lies outside the British territorial sea limit. Therefore, it is not an "equitable basepoint for an equidistant line".
122:. Since 1948 they have had self-government in almost all matters except defence and foreign affairs. Consequently, their interests in Rockall are represented by Denmark. On their behalf, Denmark claims continental shelf rights in the Hatton-Rockall area.
418:"Protocol Supplementary to the Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom concerning the Delimitation of Areas of the Continental Shelf between the two Countries (7 November 1988)8 December 1992"
221:. The parties have until May 2009 to submit reports to the commission, which it will take into account when determining the boundary. The involved nations have the option of submitting separate reports, or a joint one.
138:
Iceland does not claim the rock itself, considering it irrelevant as far as delimitation of EEZs and continental shelf is concerned. Iceland however claims an extended continental shelf in the Hatton-Rockall area.
77:
The convention was ratified by all four states in dispute over the Rockall Plateau – Iceland on 26 January 1985, Ireland on 21 January 1996, the United Kingdom on 25 July 1997 and Denmark on 16 November 2004.
85:
On 7 November 1988 the United Kingdom and Ireland agreed a delineation which ignores Rockall's existence and have granted exploration rights. This bilateral agreement is disputed by Iceland and by Denmark.
218:
183:
According to a Written Parliamentary Answer from the Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs on 14 June 1990, an agreement was reached between the British and Irish governments on delimitation of the
70:
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states, "Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or
598:
59:
217:, Iceland in September 2007 for negotiations over territorial rights over the continental shelf in the area. The final boundary will be determined by the
861:
250:
446:
646:
440:
Maritime Boundary Disputes, Settlement Processes, and the Law of the Sea By Seoung-Yong Hong, Jon M. Van Dyke, Martinus Nijhoff 2009
891:
282:
417:
357:
179:, on routine patrol at Rockall, 230 nautical miles (430 km) off the north-west coast of Ireland, 12 October 2012
306:
176:
330:
172:
94:
39:
23:
460:
126:
this designation was the assumption that "the Faroe Islands are part of the microcontinent" formed by the "
782:
733:
704:
127:
245:
393:"Agreement concerning the delimitation of areas of the continental shelf between the two countries"
47:
662:
572:
143:
119:
150:
Iceland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1985; it was the first
642:
442:
392:
384:
184:
71:
439:
886:
610:
564:
236:. Here a template for a deal was secured by Irish, Danish, British and Icelandic diplomats.
834:
506:
485:
196:
43:
808:
762:
142:
Despite its long history of human habitation into the 20th century, Iceland considers
58:, and the United Kingdom have all made submissions to the commission set up under the
880:
388:
331:"(UK submission) Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf"
151:
809:"Why a barren rock in the Atlantic is the focus of an international battle of wills"
167:
813:
254:
214:
19:
683:
599:"The Rockall Dispute Deepens: An Analysis of Recent Danish and Icelandic Actions"
553:"The Rockall Dispute Deepens: An Analysis of Recent Danish and Icelandic Actions"
266:
The latest conference between all four parties occurred in Reykjavik in May 2011
839:
527:
102:
614:
568:
233:
90:
feature to "a rock" and thus reducing the area of its claimed maritime zones.
98:
528:"Statutory Instrument 1997 No. 1750 – The Fishery Limits Order 1997"
55:
51:
31:
576:
552:
461:"Ireland and the Rockall Dispute: An Analysis of Recent Developments"
224:
Ownership of the rock itself did not form part of the negotiations.
213:
Representatives from the UK, Ireland, Iceland, and Denmark, met in
166:
35:
18:
641:. Dublin: Round Hall Sweet & Maxwell. p. 236 & 397.
30:
Several states have claimed interests over the sea bed adjoining
219:
United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf
307:"Hatton-Rockall Area Continental Shelf Submission of Ireland"
130:", an "elevated plain with its summit in the Faroe Islands".
625:
Published online by Cambridge University Press 17 Jan 2008
26:
of the countries claiming an interest in the dispute.
358:"Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations"
763:"Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf"
118:The Faroe Islands are an autonomous country of the
546:
544:
557:The International and Comparative Law Quarterly
259:
60:United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
603:International & Comparative Law Quarterly
8:
734:"Written Answers — Exploration Rights"
862:"Ministry for foreign affairs (Icelandic)"
705:"Written Answers — Rockall Ownership"
352:
350:
200:making its submission to the Commission.
379:
377:
274:
787:Written Answers. – UN Conventions
232:In November 2007, talks were held in
7:
835:"Government to host Rockall talks"
251:Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs
244:As a follow-up to Copenhagen, the
188:relation to the rock at the time.
14:
283:"The Icelandic Continental Shelf"
789:. Dáil Éireann. 23 October 2007
597:Symmons, Clive R (April 1986).
551:Clive R. Symmons (April 1986).
639:Ireland and the Law of the Sea
114:Danish claim via Faroe Islands
1:
637:Symmons, Clive Ralph (2000).
38:which is located within the
34:, an uninhabitable granite
16:Conflicting maritime claims
908:
807:Ross, John (2007-09-27).
249:the Dublin meeting. The
24:Exclusive economic zones
892:International relations
783:"Parliamentary Debates"
615:10.1093/iclqaj/35.2.344
569:10.1093/iclqaj/35.2.344
459:Symmons, Clive (1998).
95:Exclusive Economic Zone
40:exclusive economic zone
264:
180:
128:Faroes-Rockall Plateau
93:Rockall is within the
27:
246:Government of Ireland
228:Copenhagen conference
170:
22:
209:ReykjavĂk conference
466:. Durham University
391:(7 November 1988).
173:Irish Naval Service
181:
120:Kingdom of Denmark
28:
509:. Seaaroundus.org
488:. Seaaroundus.org
447:978-90-04-17343-9
240:Dublin conference
185:continental shelf
109:Individual claims
72:continental shelf
899:
872:
871:
869:
868:
858:
852:
851:
849:
848:
831:
825:
824:
822:
821:
804:
798:
797:
795:
794:
779:
773:
772:
770:
769:
759:
753:
752:
750:
749:
730:
724:
723:
721:
720:
701:
695:
694:
692:
691:
680:
674:
673:
671:
670:
659:
653:
652:
634:
628:
627:
622:
621:
594:
588:
587:
585:
583:
548:
539:
538:
536:
535:
524:
518:
517:
515:
514:
507:"EEZ of Ireland"
503:
497:
496:
494:
493:
482:
476:
475:
473:
471:
465:
456:
450:
437:
431:
430:
428:
427:
422:
414:
408:
407:
405:
403:
398:. United Nations
397:
381:
372:
371:
369:
367:
362:
354:
345:
344:
342:
340:
335:
327:
321:
320:
318:
316:
311:
303:
297:
296:
294:
292:
287:
279:
907:
906:
902:
901:
900:
898:
897:
896:
877:
876:
875:
866:
864:
860:
859:
855:
846:
844:
833:
832:
828:
819:
817:
806:
805:
801:
792:
790:
781:
780:
776:
767:
765:
761:
760:
756:
747:
745:
732:
731:
727:
718:
716:
703:
702:
698:
689:
687:
682:
681:
677:
668:
666:
661:
660:
656:
649:
636:
635:
631:
619:
617:
596:
595:
591:
581:
579:
550:
549:
542:
533:
531:
526:
525:
521:
512:
510:
505:
504:
500:
491:
489:
486:"EEZ of the UK"
484:
483:
479:
469:
467:
463:
458:
457:
453:
438:
434:
425:
423:
420:
416:
415:
411:
401:
399:
395:
383:
382:
375:
365:
363:
360:
356:
355:
348:
338:
336:
333:
329:
328:
324:
314:
312:
309:
305:
304:
300:
290:
288:
285:
281:
280:
276:
272:
242:
230:
211:
206:
165:
136:
134:Icelandic claim
116:
111:
68:
17:
12:
11:
5:
905:
903:
895:
894:
889:
879:
878:
874:
873:
853:
826:
799:
774:
754:
744:. 11 June 2003
725:
715:. 14 June 1990
696:
675:
665:. Reglugerd.is
663:"Reglugerd.is"
654:
647:
629:
589:
563:(2): 344–373.
540:
519:
498:
477:
451:
432:
409:
373:
346:
322:
298:
273:
271:
268:
241:
238:
229:
226:
210:
207:
205:
202:
197:United Nations
164:
161:
135:
132:
115:
112:
110:
107:
67:
64:
44:United Kingdom
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
904:
893:
890:
888:
885:
884:
882:
863:
857:
854:
842:
841:
836:
830:
827:
816:
815:
810:
803:
800:
788:
784:
778:
775:
764:
758:
755:
743:
739:
735:
729:
726:
714:
710:
706:
700:
697:
686:. Althingi.is
685:
684:"Althings.is"
679:
676:
664:
658:
655:
650:
648:1-85800-168-4
644:
640:
633:
630:
626:
616:
612:
608:
604:
600:
593:
590:
578:
574:
570:
566:
562:
558:
554:
547:
545:
541:
530:. Opsi.gov.uk
529:
523:
520:
508:
502:
499:
487:
481:
478:
462:
455:
452:
448:
444:
441:
436:
433:
419:
413:
410:
394:
390:
389:Geoffrey Howe
386:
385:Brian Lenihan
380:
378:
374:
359:
353:
351:
347:
332:
326:
323:
308:
302:
299:
284:
278:
275:
269:
267:
263:
258:
256:
253:at the time,
252:
247:
239:
237:
235:
227:
225:
222:
220:
216:
208:
203:
201:
198:
193:
189:
186:
178:
174:
169:
162:
160:
156:
153:
148:
145:
140:
133:
131:
129:
123:
121:
113:
108:
106:
104:
100:
96:
91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
73:
65:
63:
61:
57:
53:
49:
45:
42:(EEZ) of the
41:
37:
33:
25:
21:
865:. Retrieved
856:
845:. Retrieved
843:. 2007-12-29
838:
829:
818:. Retrieved
814:The Scotsman
812:
802:
791:. Retrieved
786:
777:
766:. Retrieved
757:
746:. Retrieved
741:
738:Dáil Éireann
737:
728:
717:. Retrieved
712:
709:Dáil Éireann
708:
699:
688:. Retrieved
678:
667:. Retrieved
657:
638:
632:
624:
618:. Retrieved
606:
602:
592:
580:. Retrieved
560:
556:
532:. Retrieved
522:
511:. Retrieved
501:
490:. Retrieved
480:
468:. Retrieved
454:
435:
424:. Retrieved
412:
400:. Retrieved
364:. Retrieved
337:. Retrieved
325:
313:. Retrieved
301:
289:. Retrieved
277:
265:
260:
255:Dermot Ahern
243:
231:
223:
212:
194:
190:
182:
157:
149:
141:
137:
124:
117:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
69:
29:
402:26 November
366:26 November
339:26 November
315:26 November
291:26 November
204:Conferences
163:Irish claim
103:natural gas
881:Categories
867:2017-01-19
847:2007-07-29
820:2007-09-27
793:2009-09-19
768:2007-08-01
748:2007-08-01
719:2007-08-01
690:2010-08-24
669:2010-08-24
620:2009-03-05
609:(2): 344.
534:2010-08-24
513:2010-08-24
492:2010-08-24
470:20 October
426:2010-08-24
270:References
234:Copenhagen
62:(UNCLOS).
215:ReykjavĂk
177:LÉ RĂłisĂn
144:St. Kilda
840:RTÉ News
582:22 March
175:vessel,
66:Overview
887:Rockall
449:(p. 29)
195:As the
152:Western
56:Iceland
52:Denmark
48:Ireland
32:Rockall
645:
577:759232
575:
445:
573:JSTOR
464:(PDF)
421:(PDF)
396:(PDF)
361:(PDF)
334:(PDF)
310:(PDF)
286:(PDF)
257:said
36:islet
643:ISBN
584:2021
472:2012
443:ISBN
404:2009
387:and
368:2009
341:2009
317:2009
293:2009
171:The
742:568
713:399
611:doi
565:doi
99:oil
74:."
883::
837:.
811:.
785:.
740:.
736:.
711:.
707:.
623:.
607:35
605:.
601:.
571:.
561:35
559:.
555:.
543:^
376:^
349:^
101:,
54:,
50:,
46:.
870:.
850:.
823:.
796:.
771:.
751:.
722:.
693:.
672:.
651:.
613::
586:.
567::
537:.
516:.
495:.
474:.
429:.
406:.
370:.
343:.
319:.
295:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
