ARCTIC LEGAL REGIME

The Arctic is formed not only by a frozen part of the Arctic Ocean, but also waters adjacent to coastal States and their mainland. Several international instruments which grant coastal States a diverse range of rights in areas where certain rights (e.g. high sea freedoms) are also granted to extra-territorial states have been codified by development of international law. These include the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. The article also analyzes sectoral theory, which has led to some states trying to prove their territorial claims at a certain point in their history. The article summarizes the legal regimes that apply in the Arctic, it does not deal with the legislation of the Arctic states.