‘Doughnut Hole’ talks over GoM

Officials from the U.S., Mexico, and Cuba met Sept. 29 for another round of discussions on the limits of the Western Polygon, an oil-rich area in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, according to sources. The discussion is over who owns what in the overlapping so-called "Doughnut Hole". International law gives nations the right to resources found in seas within 200 nautical miles of their territory. But when areas overlap, countries have to craft agreements. The talks aimed at defining the coordinates may conclude Sept. 30. A Mexican government spokesman confirmed that officials from the three nations met on the issue, and results may be announced publically on Sept. 30. (Source: Marine Link 09/30/16)