Ecuador expands continental shelf: 350,000 km² proposal to the UN

Ecuador is preparing a proposal to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, which will be presented to the United Nations (UN) in 2027. The initiative is based on technical and scientific studies of the country's maritime areas.

The proposal seeks to incorporate approximately 350,000 square kilometers of the seabed into the extended continental shelf, where Ecuador could exercise rights over natural resources in accordance with international law. The drafting process began in 2020 and will continue with a third partial submission to the UN.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also presented the "Ecuador in Convemar" Geoportal, a platform that gathers geographical, technical, and documentary information on maritime areas and underwater mountain ranges. The tool will facilitate the research, planning, and management of national maritime interests.