Le statut maritime de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
Institution:
Aix-Marseille 3Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
Saint-pierre et miquelon are a group of small islands in the north atlantic, 23 km from the canadian coast of newfoundland. Since its discovery in 1520, its destiny has been influenced both by fishing industry and rivality between france and england. Before becoming definitely french in 1814, these islands were the object of many treaties between france and england whi h gave the french fisching rights off the canadian coast. These rights were confirmed in the last treaty between france and canada (the march 27 1972 fischeries agreement). However, the changes in the law concerning the sea, and particulary the new concept of the economic exclusive zone, caused a problem between the two countries. In 1977, canada decided to create off his coast a 200 milles fiching zone and france did likewise for saint-pierre et miquelon thus creating a zone revendicated by the two countries. From this date one, the boundary limits have been in conflict with that of the treaty. After years of negociation, the problem has been taken to court which will fixed the boundaries in 1992.
Abstract FR:
Saint-pierre et miquelon sont de petites iles francaises situees dans l'atlantique nord, a 23 km des cotes canadiennes de terre-neuve. Depuis sa decouverte en 1520, son destin est lie a la peche pratiquee dans cette region. Avant d'acquerir definitivement la souverainete francaise en 1814, ces iles firent l'objet de nombreux traites francobritaniques par lesquels les francais se voyaient reconnaitre des droits de peche sur le littoral canadien. Ces droits furent maintenus dans le dernier accord de peche passe entre la france et le canada le 27 mars 1972. Cependant, l'evolution du droit de la mer et particulierement l'apparition du concept de zone economique exclusive, va engendrer un different entre les deux etats. En 1977, le canada a en effet decider d'etendre au large de ses cotes une zone exclusive de peche de 200 milles, tandis que la france procedait de meme pour la zone economique de saint-pierre et miquelin, creant ainsi une zone revendiquee par les deux etats. Rendent l'application du traite de peche difficule, ce conflit devrait connaitre une issue en 1992, devant un tribunal arbitral. Les regles de delimitations maritimes applicables en l'espece, permettent a la france la revendication d'une zone economique basee sur le principe de l'equidistance et celui des circonstances pertinentes.