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Story: Law of the sea

Defining the continental shelf

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Defining the continental shelf

This diagram shows the basis on which coastal states can claim an extension of their 200-nautical-mile EEZ to include the continental shelf. The claimable area is 60 nautical miles from the foot of the continental shelf, or the distance from the foot of the shelf to the part of the sea floor that has 1% sediment. The maximum allowable extension of the EEZ by either of these methods is 100 miles.

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How to cite this page

Bill Mansfield, Law of the sea – The benefits for New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/6968/defining-the-continental-shelf (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Bill Mansfield, published 2 March 2009.