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Preliminary considerations on the potential influence of submarine fans on marine delimitation

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Abstract

The complex issues associated with marine delineation for the outer limit of continental shelf and the boundary delimitation have provoked considerable attention among researchers in a variety of academic circles, particularly in the juristic filed and the geo-science field. In the present contribution, we start from an overview of submarine fans, as one of common types of sediment-deposit bodies in the ocean, and explore the related geological features which may be of relevance to the marine delimitation in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. We carry out a comparative assessment of certain significant geological features of submarine fans, using the Bengal fan as an example, which is the biggest submarine fan in the world and represents an important factor in the maritime boundary dispute between the neighboring states currently. The relationship between the special geological bodies and the international principle in the 1982 United Nations Convention can be established by combining geological and juristic analyses. This preliminary observation on the effect of submarine bodies both on the marine entitlement and boundary delimitation indicates that it is important for the international society to appropriately deal with this problem so that the marine right of any state can be protected.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China

    Wenxian Qiu

  2. The Second Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Hangzhou, 310012, China

    Wenxian Qiu, Xianglong Jin & Mingbi Li

  3. Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2522, Australia

    Wenxian Qiu & Clive Schofield

Authors
  1. Wenxian Qiu
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  2. Xianglong Jin
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  3. Clive Schofield
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  4. Mingbi Li
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Correspondence to Wenxian Qiu.

Additional information

Foundation item: Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean under contract No. 201205003; Basic jurisprudence research of natural prolongation and historical territorial waters on the delimitation of outer continental shelf under contract No. JG1315; Geological nature and delimitation influence of Kyushu-Palau ridge in Western Pacific Ocean under contract No. JT1306

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Qiu, W., Jin, X., Schofield, C. et al. Preliminary considerations on the potential influence of submarine fans on marine delimitation. Acta Oceanol. Sin. 32, 133–142 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0391-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13131-013-0391-4

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