Law No. 41 concerning the Territorial Sea, the Economic Exclusive Zone and the Continental Shelf, 1979

22°24'3 W 22°11'0 W 18°49'9 W 17°50'3 W 17°06'8 W 16°32'4 W 16°11'8 W 16°01'5 W 14°31'9 W 13°36'3 W 13°30'8 W 13°29'6 W 13°30'6 W 13°31'5 W 13°36'8 W 14°01'5 W 14°07'0 W 14°28'0 W 14°58'4 W 15°58'7 W 16°11'3 W 16°38'5 W 17°33'5 W 17°55'6 W 17°59'9 W 18°11'8 W 18°42'8 W 19°07'5 W 20°36'2 W 22°59'4 W 23°17'1 W 24°02'5 W 24°32'1 W 24°06'0 W Translation Law No. 41 of 1 June 1979 conceming the Tenitorial Sea, the Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf I The territorial sea Article 1 The territorial sea of Iceland shall be delimited by a line every point of which is 12 nautical miles from a baseline drawn between the following points: 1. Horn , ... ",.,.,.",.............................. 1l6°27'4 N 2. AshlHSal'rif .. , " , , 66°08'1 N :t Siglunes "., .. , .. , '" " , , li6°11'9 N 4. Flatey " ,., ,., .. ,., " ,. fi6°10'3 N 5. Lagey , ,' , ,..... 6(j°17'8 N 6. Rautiinupur 66°30'7 N 7. Rifstangi 66°32'3 N 8. Hraunhafnartangi 66°32'2 N 9. Langanes .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66°22'7 N 10. Glettinganes 65°30'5 N 11. Norl'Sfjartsarhorn ,., : ti5°10'0 N 12. Gerpir 65°04'7 N 13. Holrnur .. , ,.................. 64°58'9 N 14. Setusker 64°57'7 N 15. I>ursasker 64°54'1 N 16. Ystibotsi ., .. , , '............ 64°35'2 N 17. Selsker 64°32'8 N 18. Hvitingar.......................................... 64°23'9 N 19. Stokksnes 64°14'1 N 20. Hrollaugseyjar 64°01'7 N 21. Tvisker 63°55'7 N 22. Ing{)lfshMtsi , . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63°47'8 N 23. Hvalsiki ,................................. 63°44'1 N 24. Me(5allandssandur I .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63°32'4 N 25. Me(5allandssandur II ,., , ",., ,. 63°30'6 N 26. Myrnatangi .. , , , 63°27'4 N 27. Kotlutangi ,., ' , , 63°23'4 N 28. Lundadrnngur , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63°23'5 N 29. Surtsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 63°17'7 N 30. Eldeyjardrangur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 68°43'8 N 31. Geirfugladrangur................................... 63°40'7 N 32. Sklilasnagi......................................... 64°51'3 N 33. Bjargtangar........................................ 65°30'2 N 34. Kopanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 65°48'4 N 79-45618 2 35. Bartii . 36. Straumnes . 37. Kogur . 38. Horn . 66°03'7 N 66°25'7 N 66°28'3 N 66°27'9 N 23°47'4 W 23°08'4 W 22°55'5 W 22°28'2 W The territorial sea shall moreover be delimited by a line every point of which is 12 nautical miles from the low-water line of Kolbeinsey (67°08'9 N 18°41'3 \V). Hval­ hakur (64°35'8 N 1:3°16'6 \V) and the outermost points and rocks of Grimsey. Each nautical mile shall he equal to 1852 meters. Article 2 The sovereignty of Iceland extends to the territorial sea, the bed of the territorial sea and the superjacent air space. This sovereignty is exercised in accordance with Icelandic law and the rules of international law. II The economic zone Article 3 The economic zone of Iceland is an area beyond the territorial sea delimited by a line every point of which is 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, subject. however. to the provisions of article 7. Article 4 In the economic zone, Iceland has: a) sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring. exploiting, conserving and managing the resources, whether living or non-living. of the sea-bed and subsoil and the superjacent waters, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploit­ ation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents and winds; b) jurisdiction with regard to: i ) the establishment and use of man-made structures ; ii) scientific research; iii) the preservation of the marine environment; c) other rights and duties under international law. The exercise of rights and the performance of duties in the economic zone shall be in accordance with special legislation and in conformity with international agreements to ' ....hich Iceland is a party. III The continental shelf Article 5 The continental shelf of Iceland comprises the sea-bed and subsoil of the sub­ marine areas that extend beyond the territorial sea throughout the natural prolong­ ation of the land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance, subject, however, to the provisions of article 7. 3 Article 6 Iceland exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting the non-living resources thereof. together with living organisms which, at the harvestable stage, either are immobile on or under the sea-bed or are unable to move except in physical contact with the sea-bed. The authorities concerned shall issue regulations concerning the exploration and exploitation of the resources of the continental shelf. IV Delimitation of areas between States Article 7 The delimitation of the economic zone and the continental shelf between Iceland md other States shall. where appropriate. be effected by agreement with the States concerned. Such agreements shall be subject [0 approval hy the Althing. Until otherwise decided. the economic zone and the continental shelf of Iceland shall be 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the territorial spa is measured, provided. however, that where the distance is less than 400 nautical miles between the baselines of the Faroe Islands and Greenland on the one hand and of Iceland on the other hand. the oconomic zone and the continental shelf or Iceland shall be delimited by the equidistant line. V Measures to prevent pollution Article 8 Any measures which might pollute or otherwise damage the marine envtronment shall be avoided, The Icelandic authorities concerned shall, by special legislation and in conformity with international agreements to which Iceland is a party, take measures to protect the marine environment against pollution and other harmful effects. VI Scientific research Article 9 Scienfific research in the territorial sea, the economic zone and the continental :,'~cJf shall be subject to the consent of Ihe Icelandic authorities concerned. In normal circumstances such consent shnll he granted for research projects within the economic zone or on the continental shelf if the application emanates from unolhr-r State or :1 competent international organization and the research project is 10 he carried out for peaceful purposes and in order to increase knowledge of the marine environment. Consent may. inter alia, be withheld if the application: a) is of direct significance for tho exploration find exploitation of resources, whether living or non-living; h) involves drilling into the continental shelf or the use of explosives or substances harmful to the environment; r) involves the construction, operation or lise of man-made structures. Article 10 An application for a research permit in accordance with article 9 shall be submitted not less than six months in advance of the expected starting date of the project and shall be accompanied by full particulars concerning: a) the nature and objectives of the research project; b) the method and means to be used, including name, tonnage, type and class of vessels and a description of scientific equipment; c) the precise geographical areas in which the activities are to be conducted; d) the commencement and termination of the research period; e) the name of the sponsoring institution, its director, and the person in charge of the research project; f) the anticipated participation of the Icelandic authorities in the research project. The Icelandic authorities shall communicate their decision on an application within four months if consent is to be withheld. VII General provisions Article 11 Violations of the provisions of this Law shall be subject to penalties prescribed in prevailing legislation. Article 12 Law No. 17 of 1 April 1969 concerning the continental shelf of Iceland hereby ceases to be in force. Furthermore, such provisions of law as are incompatible with this Law also cease to be in force. Article 13 This Law shall enter into force immediately.