Britain considering claim for seabed off Antarctica

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

LONDON (AFP) — Britain is considering submitting a bid to the United Nations for sovereignty over more than one million square kilometres (385,000 square miles) of seabed off Antarctica, a foreign ministry spokeswoman told AFP Wednesday.

The bid is one of four that are being researched by the Foreign Office, in addition to one that has already been submitted jointly with France, Spain and Ireland for part of the Bay of Biscay, ahead of a May 2009 deadline for submissions, which can be made for up to 350 miles off existing territories.

"The claim is by no means ready to go," the spokeswoman said.

"We've got until May 2009, so its still a long way off, but it could be in excess of one million square kilometres."

The Antarctic bid would involve Britain...