Both countries claim potentially resource-rich part of Beaufort Sea
The U.S. State Department has announced a joint U.S.-Canadian venture to the Arctic to map out the seabed and prove territorial jurisdiction over the continental shelf and Arctic sea floor. The joint expedition is a continuation of a 2008 U.S.-Canada collaboration. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent will participate in the mission which will be conducted from August 7 to September 3. “Both the U.S. and Canada will be collecting scientific information to satisfy the criteria for delineating the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles as set forth in the Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the U.S. Department of State said. If the criteria is satisfied, the U.S. and Canada will have rights to the governance of the area and resources, like oil and minerals, in the seabed.