See the ENTRI query system for information about the signatory status of this treaty.
CONVENTION ON THE CONTINENTAL SHELF
Objectives
==========
To define and delimit the rights of States to explore and exploit
the natural resources of the continental shelf.
Summary of provisions
=====================
(a) Coastal States have sovereign and exclusive rights over the
continental shelf for the purpose of exploration and exploitation (art.
1);
(b) Such exploration or exploitation must not cause unjustifiable
interference with navigation, fishing or the conservation of the living
resources of the sea, or with oceanographic or other scientific
research (art. 5).
Membership
==========
Open for accession to all States Members of the United Nations and
members of the specialized agencies. Instruments of accession to be
deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Date of adoption 29.4.1958
Place of adoption Geneva, Switzerland
Date of entry into force 10.6.1964
Languages Chinese, English, French, Russian,
Spanish
Depositary Secretary-General of the United Nations
Participant Signature Ratification Entry into
Accession (Ac) force
Succession (S)
----------- --------- -------------- ----------
Afghanistan 30.10.1958
Albania 7.12.1964 (Ac) 6. 1.1965
Argentina 30.10.1958
Australia 30.10.1958 14. 5.1963 10. 6.1964
Belarus 31.10.1958 27. 2.1961 10. 6.1964
Bolivia 17.10.1958
Bulgaria 31. 8.1962 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Cambodia 18. 3.1960 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Canada 29. 4.1958 6. 2.1970 8. 3.1970
Chile 31.10.1958
China 11.11.1970
Colombia 29. 4.1958 8. 1.1962 10. 6.1964
Costa Rica 29. 4.1958 16. 2.1972 17. 3.1972
Cuba 29. 4.1958
Cyprus 11. 4.1974 (Ac) 11. 5.1974
Czechoslovakia 31.10.1958 31.10.1961 10. 6.1964
Denmark 29. 4.1958 12. 6.1963 10. 6.1964
Dominican Republic 29. 4.1958 11. 8.1964 10. 9.1964
Ecuador 31.10.1958
Fiji* 25. 3.1971 (S) 25. 3.1971
Finland 27.10.1958 16. 2.1965 18. 3.1965
France 14. 1.1965 (Ac) 14. 7.1965
Germany 30.10.1958
Ghana 29. 4.1958
Greece 6.11.1972 (Ac) 6.12.1972
Guatemala 29. 4.1958 27.11.1961 10. 6.1964
Haiti 29. 4.1958 29. 3.1960 10. 6.1964
Iceland 29. 4.1958
Indonesia 18. 5.1958
Iran, Islamic Republic of 28. 5.1958
Ireland 2.10.1958
Israel 29. 4.1958 6. 9.1961 10. 6.1964
Jamaica 8.10.1965 (Ac) 7.11.1965
Kenya 20. 6.1969 (Ac) 20. 7.1969
Lebanon 29. 5.1958
Lesotho* 23.10.1973 (S) 23.10.1973
Liberia 27. 5.1958
Madagascar 31. 7.1962 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Malawi 3.11.1965 (Ac) 3.12.1965
Malaysia 21.12.1960 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Malta 19. 5.1966 (S) 18. 6.1966
Mauritius* 5.10.1970 (S) 5.10.1970
Mexico 2. 8.1966 (Ac) 1. 9.1966
Nepal 29. 4.1958
Netherlands (for all
parts of the Kingdom) 30.10.1958 18. 2.1966 19. 3.1966
New Zealand 29.10.1958 18. 1.1965 17. 2.1965
Nigeria 28. 4.1971 (Ac) 28. 5.1971
Norway 9. 9.1971 (Ac) 9.10.1971
Pakistan 31.10.1958
Panama 2. 5.1958
Peru 31.10.1958
Poland 31.10.1958 29. 6.1962 10. 6.1964
Portugal 28.10.1958 8. 1.1963 10. 6.1964
Romania 12.12.1961 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Russian Federation 31.10.1958 22.11.1960 10. 6.1964
Senegal 25. 4.1961 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Sierra Leone 25.11.1966 (Ac) 25.12.1966
Solomon Islands* 3. 9.1981 (S) 3. 9.1981
South Africa 9. 4.1963 (Ac) 10. 6.1964
Spain 25. 2.1971 (Ac) 27. 3.1973
Sri Lanka 30.10.1958
Swaziland 16.10.1970 (Ac) 15.11.1970
Sweden 1. 6.1966 (Ac) 1. 7.1966
Switzerland 22.10.1958 18. 5.1966 17. 6.1966
Thailand 29. 4.1958 2. 7.1968 1. 8.1968
Tonga 29. 6.1971 (S) 29. 6.1971
Trinidad and Tobago 11. 7.1968 (Ac) 10. 8.1968
Tunisia 30.10.1958
Uganda 14. 9.1964 (Ac) 14.10.1964
Ukraine 31.10.1958 12. 1.1961 10. 6.1964
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland 9. 9.1958 11. 5.1964 10. 6.1964
United States of
America 15. 9.1958 12. 4.1961 10. 6.1964
Uruguay 29. 4.1958
Venezuela 30.10.1958 15. 8.1961 10. 6.1964
Yugoslavia 29. 4.1958 28. 1.1966 27. 2.1966
* Date of deposit of formal notification of succession with the
Secretary-General
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