Straight and Archipelagic Baselines

Abstract

This chapter deals with the regional scope of straight and archipelagic baselines and describes three types of coast where straight baselines may be employed. First there are those coasts which are 'deeply indented and cut into' and second there are situations where there is 'a fringe of islands along the coast in its immediate vicinity'. The third type of coast was included only in the negotiations leading to the 1958 Convention. Archipelagic states are those which consist wholly of one or more archipelagos. There are important differences between straight and archipelagic baselines. The concept of straight baselines has a long history and it is thoroughly accepted as a legitimate basis for action by states. While Article 7 of the 1982 Convention is honoured in the breach as much as in the observance, breaches of Article 47 by archipelagic states have been so minor as to be quite unimportant.