Donat Pharand – författare

The crossing of the Northwest Passage in August 1985 by a US icebreaker, without requesting authorisation, raised the whole question of Canada's sovereignty over the waters of its Arctic Archipelago. Given this controversy and the existence of similar situations in other parts of the world, this book presents an examination of the international legal validity of Canada's claim by an in-depth study of three possible bases in international law: the sector theory, the doctrine of historic waters and the Straight baseline system. This work is the second of a series of monographs arising from the Canadian Northern Waters Project of the Dalhousie Ocean Studies Programme, It draws on examples from other parts of the world, and, as such it will have relevance beyond the development of the Canadian Arctic. Professor Pharand is a recognised authority in this field. His earlier book, The Law of the Sea of the Arctic is still one of the standard reference works in the area, but with changes in the general law of the sea, this monograph presents a timely reappraisal of the relevant legal theories and practices.

This volume focuses on both the general aspects of two of the most typical institutions introduced by the new Law of the Sea and the specific aspects related to the geographic and economic circumstances of Italy and Canada. It is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the delimitation of maritime boundaries, especially with respect to the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone. The problem is approached from both a theoretical and a practical point of view, in particular, in analyzing not only the more well-known controversies in delimitation solved by international agreements or by international courts, but also still unsettled disputes in which Italy and Canada are involved.The second part deals with the legal regime of the continental shelf and the exclusive zone and the activities - in particular exploration and exploitation - carried out in them. The same approach as in Part One is used in juxtaposing Italian and Canadian views on relative regulation.Indeed, the volume brings together the diverse legal experience of the two countries - Italy and Canada - resulting from the different geographic, political and economic conditions found in each. It is enough to think that Italy is surrounded on three sides by a closed or semiclosed sea, the Mediterranean, while Canada borders on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans.The volume was financed by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and edited by Donat Pharand, Professor Emiritus of International Law at the University of Ottawa, and Umberto Leanza, Full Professor of International Law at the University of Rome, 'Tor Vergata'.