cooperation made possible by LEPLAC, as Brazil gained unique technical training
regarding the delineation of outer limits, thus clearing prospects for international
technical cooperation with neighboring coastal states on that regard.
Thus far, Brazil has forwarded three submissions for outer continental shelf limits
to the CLCS.
92 The first submission dates from 2004, well within the 10-year limit
established at the SPLOS,
93 claiming sovereign rights over approximately
911,000 km
2 of extended continental shelf. The submission was followed by revised
partial submissions in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
94 The fact that the Brazilian submission
was presented within the 10-year limit has been praised as demonstrating the
country’s “compliance in good faith with Article 76 UNCLOS”.
95 Following deliberations on the initial submission, the CLCS formalized recommendations in April
2007, according to which Brazil was acknowledged approximately 765,000 km
2 of
the claimed limits, which corresponded to approximately 79% of the initially
required area. The remaining 21% were not initially acknowledged, mostly due to
insufficient data supporting the submissions. Yet, in 2019 the Commission approved
the recommendations regarding the partial revised submission made by Brazil in
respect of the Brazilian Southern Region.
96
Hence, the Brazilian government persisted with LEPLAC activities, with a view
to preparing revised proposals, in order to have the Commission greenlight the rest
of the area initially requested. The entire extension requested by Brazil corresponds
to five areas: Amazonas Cone, Northern Chain, Vitória e Trindade Chain, Southern
Continental Margin, and São Paulo Plateau.
97
The Amazonas Cone—one of the largest submarine sedimentary cones in the
world—is formed by the successive depositions of sediments brought from the
mouth of the Amazon River. The Amazon cone has the largest sedimentary thicknesses of the Brazilian continental margin.
98 The cone is often described as an
“anomalous sedimentary accumulation”,
99 with its own peculiarities, in which
sedimentary accumulation occurs on the continental geomorphological platform,
thus making it extremely difficult to assess the exact foots of continental slope,
92 The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf established by the Convention had
granted a period of up to 10 years from the date of entry into force of the Convention for the
delineation of the outer limits beyond 200 nm. That limit was later amended.
93 Meeting of the State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, SPLOS/72, which
determined the commencement of the 10-year period as 13 May 1999.
94 See Brazilian Executive Summaries of Submission, available online at the CLCS website.
95 Silva (2012), p. 299.
96 CLCS/108, Progress of work in the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Fortyninth session New York, 28 January–15 March 2019.
97 For a detailed chart, elaborated by the Hydrographic Department of the Brazilian Navy and
Petrobras, see Brazilian Summary, CLCS. Available at: https://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/
submissions_files/submission_bra.htm. Accessed 11 April 2020.
98 Mohriak (2003), p. 89.
99 Figueirôa (2014), p. 61.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
273
regarding the delineation of outer limits, thus clearing prospects for international
technical cooperation with neighboring coastal states on that regard.
Thus far, Brazil has forwarded three submissions for outer continental shelf limits
to the CLCS.
92 The first submission dates from 2004, well within the 10-year limit
established at the SPLOS,
93 claiming sovereign rights over approximately
911,000 km
2 of extended continental shelf. The submission was followed by revised
partial submissions in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
94 The fact that the Brazilian submission
was presented within the 10-year limit has been praised as demonstrating the
country’s “compliance in good faith with Article 76 UNCLOS”.
95 Following deliberations on the initial submission, the CLCS formalized recommendations in April
2007, according to which Brazil was acknowledged approximately 765,000 km
2 of
the claimed limits, which corresponded to approximately 79% of the initially
required area. The remaining 21% were not initially acknowledged, mostly due to
insufficient data supporting the submissions. Yet, in 2019 the Commission approved
the recommendations regarding the partial revised submission made by Brazil in
respect of the Brazilian Southern Region.
96
Hence, the Brazilian government persisted with LEPLAC activities, with a view
to preparing revised proposals, in order to have the Commission greenlight the rest
of the area initially requested. The entire extension requested by Brazil corresponds
to five areas: Amazonas Cone, Northern Chain, Vitória e Trindade Chain, Southern
Continental Margin, and São Paulo Plateau.
97
The Amazonas Cone—one of the largest submarine sedimentary cones in the
world—is formed by the successive depositions of sediments brought from the
mouth of the Amazon River. The Amazon cone has the largest sedimentary thicknesses of the Brazilian continental margin.
98 The cone is often described as an
“anomalous sedimentary accumulation”,
99 with its own peculiarities, in which
sedimentary accumulation occurs on the continental geomorphological platform,
thus making it extremely difficult to assess the exact foots of continental slope,
92 The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf established by the Convention had
granted a period of up to 10 years from the date of entry into force of the Convention for the
delineation of the outer limits beyond 200 nm. That limit was later amended.
93 Meeting of the State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, SPLOS/72, which
determined the commencement of the 10-year period as 13 May 1999.
94 See Brazilian Executive Summaries of Submission, available online at the CLCS website.
95 Silva (2012), p. 299.
96 CLCS/108, Progress of work in the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, Fortyninth session New York, 28 January–15 March 2019.
97 For a detailed chart, elaborated by the Hydrographic Department of the Brazilian Navy and
Petrobras, see Brazilian Summary, CLCS. Available at: https://www.un.org/Depts/los/clcs_new/
submissions_files/submission_bra.htm. Accessed 11 April 2020.
98 Mohriak (2003), p. 89.
99 Figueirôa (2014), p. 61.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
273