Praia, Cape Verde, 8 Sept – Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau plan to extend the outer borders of their territorial waters beyond 200 nautical miles, joining other countries in the West African sub-region that started analysing the matter Monday in Praia.

At a seminar promoted by Norway, specialists in Sea Law from the Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Mauritania and Senegal, as well as from Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, will study how their territorial waters can be extended by a further 150 nautical miles.

The seminar, which is also attended by specialists from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations (UN), follows up on recommendations from three meetings held this year between coastal West African states, with a view to extending their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZ) to 350 nautical miles.

According to the United Nations Convention on Sea Law, the limits of continental shelves can be extended a further 150 nautical miles but interested countries should be base their plans on well-founded scientific and legal arguments. (macauhub)