Abstract: The subject of this research is the concept of the “natural continuation of the land territory of a country” inextricably associated with the emergence and development of the continental shelf institution in the international law. This aforementioned concept, of a natural scientific origin, attained a special legal content, as well as consistently appears in decisions of the international courts, arbitrations, documents of international authorities, and international legal standings of the countries pertinent to the maritime boundaries. It plays a discrete role in determination of rights of the littoral countries to the shelf beyond the limits o 200 nautical miles from the baseline and establishment of its external boundaries with reference to the locality. Namely this explains the relevance of the meaning of term, in this case, in recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf – the authority that is systematically engaged in implementation of the Article 76 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982. The research demonstrates the discrepancy of the current international practice concerning the role of “natural prolongation” in the acting maritime law. The international legal assessment of documents of the Commissions vary. From the author’s standpoint, the concept is important of determination of rights (“title”) of a littoral state to the corresponding sectors of seabed and resources within, but not for the establishment of exact boundaries of the shelf with reference to the Locality. The question on the role of the indicated concept, its precise meaning and content is subject to further consideration within the framework of the mechanisms of dispute settlement.

Abstract: The subject of this research is the debatable question regarding the role of recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in delimitation of marine spaces. The specificity of continental shelf lies in the fact that in delineation of its boundaries (beyond the 200-mile distance of the initial lines) is involved the established in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 – the Commission. The work of the Commission, concerning the demarcation of shelf from the area, does not cause damage to delimitation of shelf between the neighboring states; however, assigning a special status to the boundaries of the shelf alongside the complexity of regulations of the Convention encourage many authors to determine the possible differences between delimitation within the 200 of sea miles and beyond. The problem becomes more relevant due to the constantly emerging conflict of claims of the neighboring states upon the same parts of the shelf beyond the 200-mile limit. The materials for this research contain the regulations of the Convention, practice of international courts and arbitrations, works of the Russian and foreign scholars. The research demonstrated that the regulations of 1982 Convention ensure the apartness of the process of demarcation and delimitation of the shelf, as well as the lack of temporal relationship between them; the disputing parties on delimitation should not await for the Commission’s recommendations in order to proceed with its settlement. The decision of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea contributed to the clarification of multiple contradictory moments; although some questions on demarcation beyond the 200-mile distance and the role of Commission remain disputable. The judicial and arbitration practice along with the agreement-based activity of the littoral states will encourage filling of the remaining “gaps”.