The delimitation of maritime boundaries: an incomplete mosaic

Recent decades have witnessed a tremendous extension of coastal state claims to maritime jurisdiction offshore. Where once coastal state claims were restricted to a relatively narrow band of waters, generally out to three nautical miles (nrn) from the coast, now claims of 200nrn breadth are commonplace and in numerous cases may extend even further offshore.! Accordingly, there has been a significant proliferation in overlapping claims to maritime jurisdiction and potential maritime boundaries. The stakes have also been raised as valuable marine resources within these claimed maritime spaces, which are of increasing significance to coastal states, are at issue.