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Convention on the Continental Shelf
The Convention on the Continental Shelf was an international treaty that was adopted April 29, 1958 at the Geneva United Nations Convention. Its purpose was to define the continental shelf and clarify the rights of coastal states to harvest natural resources from the shelf. This treaty was one of four treaties created at the United Nations Conference on the Laws of the Sea, in addition to the Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, the Convention on the High Seas, and the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas.

Historical Background
The Convention on the Continental Shelf replaced the earlier practice of nations having sovereignty over only a very narrow strip of the sea surrounding them, with anything beyond that strip considered International Waters. This policy was used until President of the United States Harry S Truman proclaimed that the resources on the continental shelf contiguous to the United States belonged to the United States through an Executive Order on September 28, 1945. Many other nations quickly adapted similar policies, most stating that their portion of the sea extended either 12 or 200 nautical miles from its coast.

What the Treaty States
According to the treaty, Continental Shelf refers to "“(a) to the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas adjacent to the coast but outside the area of the territorial sea, to a depth of 200 metres or, beyond that limit, to where the depth of the superjacent waters admits of the exploitation of the natural resources of the said areas; (b) to the seabed and subsoil of similar submarine areas adjacent to the coasts of islands.”" In cases where the continental shelf of two different countries overlaps, arrangements must be made bilaterally. If no agreement is reached, the point equidistant from both countries’ borders is considered the border. In addition, the treaty gives exclusive rights to coastal countries for resources found on their continental shelf. Other provisions within the treaty state that the treaty does not affect airspace or water and forbids interference in fishing, travel and scientific exploration. It also allows for installation of devices to exploit natural resources.

UNCLOS II and III
In 1960, the United Nations held another conference regarding the Laws of the Sea, UNCLOS II, but no agreements were reached. However, another conference was called in 1973 to address the issues. UNCLOS III, which lasted until 1982 due to a required consensus, adjusted and redefined many principles stated in the first UNCLOS. The new definition of the Continental shelf in the new Convention rendered the 1958 Convention on the Continental Shelf obsolete.