The Continental Shelf is the seabed and subsoil (ocean floor and what's below) which begins from where the territorial sea ends, up to 200 nm from baseline. The country which the continental shelf belongs to is entitled to exclusive rights to exploit and explore the resources such as oil & gas deposits, minerals, and other resources such as marine organisms which can be found on the seabed and subsoil.
"The definition of the continental shelf and the criteria by which a coastal State may establish the outer limits of its continental shelf are set out in article 76 of the Convention. In addition, the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (the "Conference") adopted on 29 August 1980 a "Statement of Understanding" which is contained in Annex II to the Final Act of the Conference.
The term "continental shelf" is used by geologists generally to mean that part of the continental margin which is between the shoreline and the shelf break or, where there is no noticeable slope, between the shoreline and the point where the depth of the superjacent water is approximately between 100 and 200 metres. However, this term is used in article 76 as a juridical term. According to the Convention, the continental shelf of a coastal State comprises the submerged prolongation of the land territory of the coastal State - the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance. The continental margin consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise. It does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof ."
Source: https://www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/con...If the continental shelf extends beyond the 200nm limit, a state can extend its continental shelf up to 350 nm from the baseline, provided that it submits coordinates to the outer limits of the shelf, along with supporting technical and scientific data to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), as provided by Annex II of the UNCLOS.
"According to article 76, the coastal State may establish the outer limits of its juridical continental shelf wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles by establishing the foot of the continental slope, by meeting the requirements of article 76, paragraphs 4 - 7, of the Convention (see also figure)."
Source: https://www.un.org/depts/los/con...
Formerly known as the Benham Rise, Philippine Rise is the official designated name given by the government of the Philippines
The Republic of the Philippines Makes Official Submission to U.N. on Entitlement to An Extended Continental Shelf in the West Philippine Sea
