The dispute between Britain and Iceland over North Sea oil resources and its impact on lasting peace in the North Atlantic.

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

PhD Candidate of British Studies, Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The dispute between the UK and Iceland over the Hatton–Rockall Basin highlights the complexity of maritime conflicts, which involve legal, environmental, political, and geopolitical factors. This study employs qualitative content analysis within a framework that combines geopolitics, positive peace, and hydro-politics to demonstrate that Iceland’s broad continental shelf claims are primarily driven by geopolitical and economic security concerns rather than legal grounds. Climate change intensifies competition by affecting fish stocks and offshore oil and gas exploration. Iceland’s delay in submitting a formal claim to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has stalled negotiations. The research recommends renewed multilateral diplomacy under international mediation, incorporating environmental commitments into boundary agreements, and utilizing advanced technologies, such as AI-based marine mapping, to clarify boundaries. The findings also offer valuable lessons for Iranian policymakers in managing similar maritime disputes in the Caspian Sea.

Keywords

References

Al Hinai. (2015). “Establishing the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf under the LOSC: Oman as a Case Study”. University of Southampton. https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/sites/www.un.org.oceancapacity/files/mubarak.my_thesis-combined_final_comments.pdf
ALJAZEERA. (2019). “Fish fight: Nations’ maritime melee over post-Brexit rights”. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2019/6/26/fish-fight-nations-maritime-melee-over-post-brexit-rights
Amoghavarsha IAS Academy. (2025). “Introduction to the Heartland Theory”. https://amoghavarshaiaskas.in/heartland-theory-of-mackinder/
Arctic Portal.org. (2010). “Historical border deal between Russia and Norway”. https://arcticportal.org/ap-library/news/278-historical-border-deal-between-russia-and-norway
Arctic Portal.org. (2025). “Exclusive Economic Zone”. https://arcticportal.org/the-arctic-portlet/law-of-the-sea/exclusive-economic-zone
Brethaut, C. (2022). “Exploring discursive hydropolitics: a conceptual framework and research agenda.” International Journal of Water Resources Development, Vol: 38.
Britannica Money. (2025). “Great Recession economics [2007–2009]”. https://www.britannica.com/money/great-recession
British Geological Survey. (2000). “Geology of the Rockall Basin and adjacent areas.” British Geological Survey Offshore Regional Report. https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/memoirs/docs/B06844.html
British Sea Fishing. (2025). “The Cod Wars”. https://britishseafishing.co.uk/the-cod-wars/
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. (2025). “Brexit, Bridges, and Barriers: Where Next for EU-UK Relations?”. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2025/01/brexit-bridges-and-barriers-where-next-for-eu-uk-relations?lang=en
Daw, T; Adger, N; Brown, K. (2009). “Climate change and capture fisheries: potential impacts, adaptation and mitigation”. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 530. Rome, FAO. pp.107-150. https://digitalarchive.worldfishcenter.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/f6ed6527-08c1-4fd8-82d3-fb3c2668f6fb/content
De Facto IAS. (2024). “Continental Shelf under UNCLOS”. https://www.defactolaw.in/post/continental-shelf-under-unclos
Diplo. (2025). “Soft power diplomacy”. https://www.diplomacy.edu/topics/soft-power-diplomacy/
Ercoşkun, B. (2021). “On Galtung’s Approach to Peace Studies”. Yeni Yüzyıl University, Istanbul-Turkey. Vol. 5. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/1282610
European Parliamentary Research Service. (2021). “EU climate action in ocean governance and fisheries policy”. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2021/690572/EPRS_BRI(2021)690572_EN.pdf
Fettweis, C. J. (2000). “Sir Halford Mackinder, Geopolitics, and Policymaking in the 21st Century”. The US Army War College Quarterly Parameters. Vol: 30. Number: 2. https://press.armywarcollege.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1974&context=parameters Gov.ie. (2025). “Law of the Sea”. https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/policy-information/law-of-the-sea/
Huang, M; Ding, L; Wang, J; Ding, C; Tao, J. (2021). “The impacts of climate change on fish growth: A summary of conducted studies and current knowledge.” Ecological Indicators, Volume 121, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X20309158
Iceland Government.no. (2025). “Continental shelf – questions and answers”. https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/international-law/continental-shelf--questions-and-answers/id448309/
International Institute for Law of the Sea Studies. (2021). “UK maritime claims about the outer limit of the extended continental shelf and exclusive economic zone”. https://iilss.net/uk-maritime-claims-about-outer-limit-of-extended-continental-shelf-and-exclusive-economic-zone/
International Maritime Organization- IMO. (2025). “United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”. https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/legal/pages/unitednationsconventiononthelawofthesea.aspx
Johnson, T., & Ó Domhnaill, C. (2019). “Rockall and Hatton: Resolving a Super Wicked Marine Governance Problem in the North Eastern Atlantic Ocean.” Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, Article 69. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2019.00069/full
Law Log. (2021). “An Irish Claim to Rockall”. https://lawlog.blog.wzb.eu/2021/01/21/an-irish-claim-to-rockall/
Mahlakeng, M. (2019). “A Theoretical Analysis of Hydropolitics: Homer–Dixon’s Environmental Scarcity Theory and The Regime Theory”. World Affairs: The Journal of International Issues, 23(4), 36–57. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48566196
Modern Diplomacy. (2018). “Recognizing the North American Heartland: A More Suitable Fit for Mackinder’s Thesis”. https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/07/26/recognizing-the-north-american-heartland-a-more-suitable-fit-for-mackinders-thesis/
National Wildlife Federation. (2025). “Deepwater Horizon’s Impact on Wildlife”. https://www.nwf.org/oilspill
North Sea Commission. (2018). “Brexit impact on the North Sea Region”. https://cpmr-northsea.org/news/updated-nsc-report-brexit-impact-on-the-north-sea-region/1775/
OSPAR Commission. (2025). “Convention for the protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR Commission)”. https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/sites/default/files/2025-06/20250530IFBsCooperationOSPAR.pdf
Oxford Scholastica Academy. (2025). “Brexit: The Student Guide”. https://www.oxfordscholastica.com/blog/politics-articles/brexit-the-students-guide/
Reed Smith. (2025). “Maritime emissions: Navigating EU and UK regulations”. https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2025/02/maritime-emissions-navigating-eu-and-uk-regulations
Rig Zone. (2025). “What is Heavy Oil and How is it Formed?”. https://www.rigzone.com/training/heavyoil/insight?i_id=184
Sovereign Limit. (2022). “More to Maritime Boundaries: The Extended Continental Shelf”. https://sovereignlimits.com/blog/more-to-maritime-boundaries-the-extended-continental-shelf
SPICe Spotlight. (2019). “Unpacking the legal disputes over Rockall”. https://spice-spotlight.scot/2019/06/18/guest-blog-unpacking-the-legal-disputes-over-rockall/
Symmons, C. R. (1998). “Ireland and the Rockall Dispute: An Analysis of Recent Developments.” Boundary and Security Bulletin, 6(1), 78-93. https://www.durham.ac.uk/media/durham-university/research-/research-centres/ibru-centre-for-borders-research/maps-and-databases/publications-database/boundary-amp-security-bulletins/bsb6-1_symmons.pdf
The Irish Times. (2019, June 8). “Who owns Rockall? A history of disputes over a tiny Atlantic Island.” https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/who-owns-rockall-a-history-of-disputes-over-a-tiny-atlantic-island-1.3919668
Tuerk, H. (2021). “Questions Relating to the Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles: Delimitation, Delineation, and Revenue Sharing”. Journal of International Tribunal Law of the Sea. Vol. 32. https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/ils/vol97/iss1/18/
UK in the Changing Europe. (2025). “Explainer: The UK-EU fisheries agreement”. https://ukandeu.ac.uk/explainers/explainer-fisheries/
Wang, U. (2001). “Who'll get the Rockall Plateau?”. International Law University Journal. Vol: 2. https://setur.cdn.fo/savn/5206/who_ll_get_the_rockall.pdf?s=IcgL2Kq_3Bs5idOUEtEhohPkHv0

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics