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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

Immediately after the adoption of its Arctic Pollution Prevention Act in 1970, Canada embarked on intense diplomatic efforts in a number of international for a to obtain recognition of international law principles which would serve as a basis for its legislation. These efforts were pursued mainly in three international conferences : the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, the London Conference of the International Maritime Consultative Organization on the prevention of pollution by ships in 1973 and the United Nations Third Law of the Sea Conference which began in 1974 at Caracas.
At the 1975 session of that Conference, held in Geneva, a form of Artic clause was inserted in the first Negotiating Text and it provided that coastal States could adopt special protective measures in special areas within their exclusive economic zone, where exceptional hazards to navigation prevailed and marine pollution could cause irreversible disturbance of the ecological balance. In 1976, the provision was enlarged to enable coastal States themselves to enforce such protectives measures, instead of leaving the enforcement to the flag State, and the provision has been kept without change in all the subsequent negotiating texts of 1977, 1979 and 1980. Considering the wide consensus which this provision has received, particularly on the part of other Arctic States, it may now be regarded as part of customary international law and completely validates Canada's arctic legislation.

The territorial sovereignty over Alaska, the Arctic islands of the Soviet Union, Svalbard, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago poses no problem, but the continental shelf off those territories and islands has yet to be delimited between the five Arctic States: Alaska, the Soviet Union, Norway, Denmark and Canada. Beyond the continental shelf, the mineral resources of the deep sea-bed should normally form part of the common heritage of mankind, but their presence has not yet been determined. The Arctic Ocean, in spite of the permanent presence of ice, is subject to the freedoms of the seas. The straits of the Northeast Passage are internal waters of the Soviet Union, at least since the establishment of straight baselines in 1985 (presumably, under the Territorial Sea Convention to which the USSR is a Party) and, possibly before, by way of historic title. Under the Convention, a right of innocent passage would exist but not if they are historic waters. The waters of the Northwest Passage are internal waters of Canada since their enclosure by straight baselines in 1985, under customary international law, and no right of passage exists. The sovereignty of Arctic States extends to the air space above their territory, internal waters and territorial sea. There is no right of over flight above those areas, outside of the I.C.A.O. Conventions. The Arctic Ocean being a semi-enclosed sea, bordering States should cooperate under the new Law of the Sea Convention in the exploitation of the living resources, the protection of the marine environment and the conduct of scientific research. This cooperation could best be attained by the creation of an Arctic Basin Council composed of all Arctic States and, possibly, the Nordic countries.

Collection of articles, including one each devoted to the point of view of Canada, Greenland, the Soviet Union, Norway, the United States, and the Inuits. Also in this issue, a bibliographic essay by Nils Ørvik entitled "L'Arctique face aux années 90," p. 187-97. Summary in English.

Sommaire trois reprises dans trente ans, le transit du Passage du Nord-Ouest par des navires américains a soulevé la question de la souveraineté du Canada sur les eaux de son archipel arctique. Après la traversée en août 1985 par le navire de la garde-côtière Polar Sea, le Canada n'a pas tardé à encercler l'archipel par une série de lignes de base droites.Le présent article étudie la validité de ces lignes, à la lumière de la décision de la Cour internationale de Justice dans l'Affaire des Pêcheries de 1951, et conclut qu'elles trouvent un fondement solide en droit international coutumier. En conséquence, les eaux encerclées sont des eaux intérieures à travers lesquelles il n'existe aucun droit de passage.Considérant, toutefois, que les États-Unis ne reconnaissent pas la validité internationale de ces lignes et prétendent que le Passage du Nord-Ouest constitue un détroit international, l'auteur prévient que le Canada devrait prendre des mesures de contrôle effectif de sorte que cette prétention ne puisse devenir une réalité. Autrement, le nouveau droit de passage en transit s'appliquerait et permettrait à tous les navires d'exercer un droit de passage en transit sans entrave selon leur mode normal de navigation. Cela signifierait que tous les sous-marins étrangers pourraient y naviguer à l'abris de la banquise polaire et mettre ainsi en danger la sécurité du Canada.