Res. UNGA 2574 (XXIV). Question of the reservation exclu­sively for peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, underlying the high seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, and the use of their resources in the interests of mankind

2574 (XXIV). Question of the reservation exclu­sively for peaceful purposes of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, underlying the high seas beyond the limits of present national jurisdiction, and the use of their resources in the interests of mankind

A

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2340 (XXII) of 18 De­cember 1967 and 2467 (XXIII) of 21 December 1968,

Having regard for the fact that the problems relating to the high seas, territorial waters, contiguous zones, the continental shelf, the superjacent waters, and the sea-bed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, are closely linked together,

Considering that the definition of the continental shelf contained in the Convention on the Continental Shelf of 29 April 1958² does not define with sufficient precision the limits of the area over which a coastal State exercises sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration and exploitation of natural resources, and that customary international law on the subject is in­conclusive,

Noting that developing technology is making the entire sea-bed and ocean floor progressively accessible and exploitable for scientific, economic, military and other purposes,

Affirming that there exists an area of the sea-bed and ocean floor and the subsoil thereof which lies beyond the limits of national jurisdiction,

Affirming further that this area should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and its resources utilized for the benefit of all mankind,

Convinced of the urgent necessity of preserving this area from encroachment, or appropriation by any State, inconsistent with the common interest of man­kind,

Noting that the establishment of an equitable inter­national regime for this area would facilitate the task of determining the limits of the area to which that regime is to apply,

Noting further the continuing efforts of the Com­mittee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdic­tion to elaborate such a regime in accordance with paragraph 2 (a) of resolution 2467 A (XXIII),

1.   Requests the Secretary-General to ascertain the views of Member States on the desirability of con­vening at an early date a conference on the law of the sea to review the regimes of the high seas, the con­tinental shelf, the territorial sea and contiguous zone, fishing and conservation of the living resources of the high seas, particularly in order to arrive at a clear, precise and internationally accepted definition of the area of the sea-bed and ocean floor which lies beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, in the light of the international regime to be established for that area;

2.   Requests the Secretary-General to report on the results of his consultations to the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth session.

1833rd plenary meeting, 15 December 1969.

B

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 2340 (XXII) of 18 De­cember 1967 and 2467 (XXIII) of 21 December 1968,

Having considered the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction,⁸

Expressing its satisfaction to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Labour Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, and to the Inter-Govern­mental Maritime Consultative Organization for their participation in and contribution to the Committee’s work, as well as to the Secretary-General for his as­sistance,

1.   Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction;

2.   Invites the Committee to consider further the questions entrusted to it under General Assembly reso­lution 2467 (XXIII) with a view to formulating rec­ommendations on these questions, in the light of the reports and studies to be made available to it and taking into account the views expressed in the Assem­bly at its twenty-fourth session;

3.   Notes with interest the synthesis at the end of the report of the Legal Sub-Committee,⁴ which reflects the extent of the work done in the formulation of prin­ciples designed to promote international co-operation in the exploration and use of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction and ensure the exploitation of their resources for the benefit of mankind, irrespective of the geographical location of States, taking into account the special interests and needs of the developing coun­tries, whether land-locked or coastal;

4.   Requests the Committee to expedite its work of preparing a comprehensive and balanced statement of these principles and to submit a draft declaration to the General Assembly at its twenty-fifth session;

5.   Takes note of the suggestions contained in the report of the Economic and Technical Sub-Committee;⁵

6.   Requests the Committee to formulate recom­mendations regarding the economic and technical con­ditions and the rules for the exploitation of the re­sources of this area in the context of the regime to be set up.

1833rd plenary meeting, 15 December 1969.

C

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 2467 (XXIII) of 21 De­cember 1968,

Noting with appreciation the report of the Com­mittee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdic­tion,®

Noting with satisfaction the study on international machinery prepared by the Secretary-General, which is annexed to that report,⁷

Bearing in mind the recommendation of the Com­mittee that the Secretary-General should be requested to continue this study in depth,

1. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare a further study on various types of international ma­

chinery, particularly a study covering in depth the status, structure, functions and powers of an interna­tional machinery, having jurisdiction over the peaceful uses of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the sub­soil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction, including the power to regulate, co-ordinate, supervise and control all activities relating to the exploration and exploitation of their resources, for the benefit of mankind as a whole, irrespective of the geographical location of States, taking into account the special inter­ests and needs of the developing countries, whether land-locked or coastal;

2.   Requests the Secretary-General to submit his report thereon to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction for consideration during one of its sessions in 1970;

3.   Calls
upon the Committee to submit a report on this question to the General Assembly at its twenty- fifth session.

1833rd plenary meeting, 15 December 1969.

D

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 2467 A (XXIII) of 21 De­cember 1968 to the effect that the exploitation of the resources of the sea-bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdic­tion should be carried out for the benefit of mankind as a whole, irrespective of the geographical location of States, taking into account the special interests and needs of the developing countries,

Convinced that it is essential, for the achievement of this purpose, that such activities be carried out under an international regime including appropriate interna­tional machinery,

Noting that this matter is under consideration by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdic­tion,

Recalling its resolution 2340 (XXII) of 18 Decem- cember 1967 on the importance of preserving the sea­bed and the ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, be­yond the limits of national jurisdiction from actions and uses which might be detrimental to the common interests of mankind,

Declares that, pending the establishment of the aforementioned international regime:

(a) States and persons, physical or juridical, are bound to refrain from all activities of exploitation of the resources of the area of the sea-bed and ocean floor, and the subsoil thereof, beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;

(b) No claim to any part of that area or its re­sources shall be recognized.

1833rd plenary meeting, 15 December 1969.