Australia's Northern Maritime Jurisdiction and Continental Shelf Map

One of 27 maps in the Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Map Series (GeoCat 71789), this thematic map depicts legal maritime zones off Northern Australia. It shows the extended continental shelf approved by the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in April 2008, along with treaty boundaries and various maritime zones. The background combines bathymetric data from Geoscience Australia (2009) and Smith & Sandwell (1997) with land imagery from NASA's Blue Marble.

Use Cases

• Maritime boundary verification based on depicted treaty lines and legal zones.
• Marine spatial planning using the bathymetric and jurisdictional background layers.
• Legal and policy research referencing the Commission-approved continental shelf limits from 2008.
• Educational illustration of Australia's complex northern maritime claims and exclusions.

Strengths

• Part of a standardized national map series comprising 27 constituent maps, indicating systematic coverage.
• Integrates authoritative legal data (CLCS-approved continental shelf limits from 2008) with scientific bathymetry.
• Provides a high-resolution print-ready PDF format sized for a 42-inch plotter (2800mm x 1050mm).

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low: column names, row counts, license, and author information are not provided.
• The dataset is a static map image (PDF), limiting machine-readability and direct analysis of underlying vector boundaries.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026-04-20 and 2026-03-07) create uncertainty about version control.

Provenance

Source

Geoscience Australia, as part of the 'Australia's Maritime Jurisdiction Map Series' (GeoCat 71789).

Collection Method

Cartographic synthesis of legal boundaries, bathymetric grids, and satellite imagery.

Time Range

The continental shelf limits are based on a 2008 CLCS approval; background bathymetry incorporates data from 1997 and 2009.

Freshness

Last updated on 2026-04-20 02:41:19.849664 according to the most recent record.

Geography

Maritime areas off Northern Australia, extending as far west as Christmas Island but excluding areas around Cocos (Keeling) Islands and west of Christmas Island.