The non-negligible influence of global sea level change on the distribution of maritime zones

Abstract

This article sets out to explore the extent to which the climate change will affect the distribution of maritime zones. Delimitation clauses in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and marine geomorphology are closely related and as a result the legal character of certain submarine features will have to be re-identified along with sea level change. Meanwhile, the outer limits of maritime zones of coastal States with narrow/wide continental margins will be ambulatory as well. Two case studies—the Bays of Alaska and Bengal—are considered to focus more narrowly on the potential evolution of distribution issues. Finally, suggestions are put forward for the international organizations on how to address different types of submissions and cases as well as for coastal States to undertake discreet negotiations of conditional boundary-delimitations with neighboring States in certain geographic contexts.