Science and national sovereignty are intertwined by the Law of the Sea. By international law, nations are entitled to the resources based on the position of their continental shelf. Continental margins extend under the sea as a shallow shelf before diving to the depths of the ocean. Countries are entitled to exclusive rights to the seafloor 200 miles beyond this feature. If a nation can show that a shelf is part of its continent, that country then owns the seafloor and everything inside of it—all the minerals, oil, and natural gas. The waters would remain open for navigation and fishing, but
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