Cap. 535 Art. 3Exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf.

(1) The Government of Malta exercises over the continental shelf sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring it and exploiting its natural resources.

(2) The Government of Malta shall have the exclusive right to exploit the subsoil of the continental shelf, as well as to authorise and regulate any activity, including but not limited to drilling and tunnelling, on the continental shelf for all purposes, irrespective of the depth of water above the said subsoil.

(3) The rights referred to in sub-article (1) are exclusive in the sense that if the Government of Malta does not explore the continental shelf or exploit its natural resources, no one may undertake the activities referred to in the preceding sub-article without the express written consent of the Prime Minister.

(4) For the purposes of sub-article (1), all relevant provisions of the Petroleum (Production) Act with respect to exploration for and exploitation of petroleum in Malta shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(5) In relation to mineral resources, with respect to which the rights mentioned in sub-article (1) are exercisable, the provisions of the Environment Protection Act in relation to mineral resources in Malta shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(6) In relation to sedentary species with respect to which the rights mentioned in sub-article (1) are exercisable, the provisions of the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, as far as they are applicable and with any necessary modifications, shall, to the extent that they relate to sedentary species in Malta, apply mutatis mutandis.

(7) The Prime Minister may from time to time by order published in the Gazette designate any area as an area within which the rights mentioned in sub-article (1) are exercisable, and any area so designated in this Act shall be a designated area.