Release of the book 'Delimitation of maritime boundaries between states'

Herbert Smith Freehills' consultant Antonio Pastor is pleased to announced the release of his book  'Delimitation of maritime boundaries between states. Insular formations and low-tide elevations'.

In the law of the sea, the delimitation of spaces between States is the most contentious dispute in the international courts. This monograph brings together the author's studies on the international legal regime of the islands, shoals, rocks, reefs, atolls, islets and cays. The analysis is not limited to the main categories (islands and shoals), since others can also play and, in fact, play an important role in many maritime delimitations.

Commenting on the book, Antonio Pastor, said:

"There are still a large number of unresolved maritime delimitations disputes around the world. The South China Sea case, still unresolved, demonstrates the need to specify the applicable law and its geopolitical relevance. The purpose of this work is to discern some general principles, tendencies or common patterns of behaviour reflected in state practice and in case-law, which might lead to normative developments in maritime delimitation.

There is an economic dimension of this subject matter. The settlement of maritime boundaries can have a significant impact on the economic decisions of States as well as of commercial actors. Businesses need to know which State exercises sovereignty or jurisdiction over an insular formation, and therefore to grant commercial concessions in relation to that territory."