Summary and Background
6.The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) is an international agreement which defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans. Under Part V of UNCLOS, coastal states can claim rights within an area, known as the exclusive economic zone, which forms part of the area of the continental shelf and extends from the edge of the 12 nautical miles limit of the territorial sea for a further distance of 188 nautical miles. Within this area, the coastal state can claim exclusive sovereign rights over all natural resources, including storage space under the seabed. Under this Chapter, the UK will claim rights relating to the unloading and storage of gas, and to related exploration activities. This is a precursor to the regulatory regimes to be established under Chapters 2 and 3 of Part 1, relating to the importation and storage of combustible gas, and storage of carbon dioxide.