U.S. Continental Shelf Outer Limits Extended

In December, the U.S. Department of State released the geographic coordinates defining the outer limits of the U.S. continental shelf in areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast, known as the extended continental shelf (ECS).

Under international law, the USA and other countries have rights to conserve and manage the resources and vital habitats on and under their ECS.

The U.S. ECS area is approximately one million square kilometers spread across seven regions. The Department of State led the ECS effort through the U.S. ECS Task Force, an interagency body of the U.S. Government composed of 14 agencies. 

Determining the ECS outer limits requires data on the depth, shape, and geophysical characteristics of the seabed and subsoil.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) were responsible for collecting and analyzing the necessary data.

Data collection began in 2003 and constitutes the largest offshore mapping effort ever conducted by the United States.

The United States determined its ECS limits in accordance with customary international law and the Scientific and Technical Guidelines of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, according to the Department of State.

The outer limits of the U.S. ECS and additional information are available in the Executive Summary posted on the Department of State website at state.gov/shelf.

source: U.S. Department of State