Chile presents its Extended Continental Shelf to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula before the United Nations
The presentation ratifies Chile’s commitment to Antarctica and demonstrates our country’s active role in the areas of scientific research and conservation on the continent. Following 13 years of scientific, technical, and bathymetric research, the report establishes the existence of an extended shelf covering a total of 210,000 km2.
In a new step in the presentation of applications for our country’s extended continental shelf, Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Carolina Valdivia today presented the report on the Extended Continental Shelf to the west of the Antarctic Peninsula before the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLPC).
As announced in December by the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, this presentation ratifies Chile’s commitment to Antarctica and demonstrates our country’s active role in the areas of scientific research and conservation on the continent.
Acting Minister Valdivia explained, “with this presentation, Chile has taken an important step regarding the extended continental shelf on Chilean territory. This report is the result of joint work between different state organizations and the National Continental Shelf Committee.”
Following 13 years of scientific, technical, and bathymetric research, the report establishes the existence of an extended shelf covering a total of 210,000 km2.
This milestone comes on top of the presentation given by Chile before the CLPC in December 2020 on a report establishing an extended continental shelf in the Easter Island province with an extension of 550,000 km2.
The continental shelf is the underwater continuation of the continent submerged under the sea. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (CONVEMAR) recognizes a continental shelf for all states that have a coastline of 200 nautical miles. However, in some cases this distance can be greater, reaching 350 nautical miles or more.
To prove the existence of a continental shelf of more than 200 miles, coastal countries must carry out technical and scientific studies that demonstrate the geomorphological continuity of the continent under the sea. They must be presented to the CLPC, who must validate the claims.