Key Benefits:
Publics concerned: sea users.
Subject: publication of geographical coordinates of the outer limits of the French continental shelf off the territory of New Caledonia.
Entry into force: the decree comes into force on the day after its publication.
Notice: the decree sets out the outer limits of the continental shelf, as defined by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (the so-called Montego Bay Convention) off the territory of New Caledonia. These limits are set on the basis of recommendations made by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLPC) on 2 September 2009 on the application submitted by France on 22 May 2007 as part of the national programme Reasoned Extension of the Continental Shelf (EXTRAPLAC). They concern the continental shelf extending southwest of the coasts of New Caledonia.
In accordance with Organic Law No. 99-209 of 19 March 1999 on New Caledonia, the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf is a competence of the State, contrary to the regime of the underlying waters.
References: The decree is available on the website Légifrance (http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr).
The Prime Minister,
On the report of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
In view of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, signed at Montego Bay on 10 December 1982, including Part VI;
Having regard to the recommendations made by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on 2 September 2009 at the request of France concerning the territory of New Caledonia;
Having regard to Organic Law No. 99-209 of 19 March 1999 on New Caledonia, including Article 21-I-12;
Considering Act No. 68-1181 of 30 December 1968 on exploration of the continental shelf and exploitation of its natural resources;
Having regard to Decree No. 83-99 of 9 February 1983 on the publication of the Maritime Delimitation Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Government of Australia, signed in Melbourne on 4 January 1982,
Decrete:
The limits of the continental shelf off the territory of New Caledonia are defined by segments linking each point in the table below to the next point. These segments are loxodromies (right lines on Mercator projection cards). The coordinates are expressed in the reference geodesic system RGNC91-93, compatible with WGS 84 for the resolution to which they are provided.
| PC1 | 25° 11' 46''' | 158° 48' 21'' |
| PC2 | 26° 26' 30''' | 163° 43' 31''' |
| PC3 | 26° 12' 04'' | 165° 51' 38''' |
| PC4 | 26° 12' 00''' | 165° 52' 08''' |
The outline of the limits defined in this section is indicated for the purposes of illustration on the map annexed to this Order.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, the Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, the Minister of Overseas and the Secretary of State responsible for Higher Education and Research are responsible, each in the case of the Journal, for the execution of the decree issued
Annex
LIMITES EXTÉRIEUR DU PLATEAU CONTINENTAL AU LARGE DE LA NEW-CALÉDONIE
You can view the image in the JO facsimile
No. 0224 of 27/09/2015, text No. 4
Done on September 25, 2015.
Manuel Valls
By the Prime Minister:
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development,
Laurent Fabius
Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy,
Royal
Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research,
Najat Vallaud-Belkacem
Minister of Defence,
Jean-Yves Le Drian
Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital,
Emmanuel Macron
Minister of Overseas,
George Pau-Langevin
State Secretary for Higher Education and Research,
Thierry Mandon
