The rights of a coastal state over its continental shelf exist ipso facto and ab initio by virtue of its sovereignty over the land. The territorial sea, and the continental shelf where the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) are found, are considered integral natural extensions of the coastal land territory. This is expressed in the international law principle of “the land dominates the sea”. A coastal state has an inherent right to its continental shelf, without need of any formality, announcement, proclamation or occupation. There is, therefore, no need to proclaim the coordinates of the outer limits of a coastal state’s EEZ. (1969 North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, Articles 76 and 77 of UNCLOS).
What is required is to publicize the coordinates of an archipelagic state’s baselines (Article 47(8), UNCLOS). The Philippines has complied with this requirement by enacting Republic Act No. 9522 which updated our archipelagic baselines to comply with UNCLOS.
