The situation which gave rise to the dispute and the facts which preceded the filing of the British Application are recalled in the Judgment.

Mountainous along its whole length, very broken by fjords and bays, dotted with countless islands, islets and reefs (certain of which form a continuous archipelago known as the skjærgård, "rock rampart"), the coast does not constitute, (as it does in practically all other countries in the world) a clear dividing line between land and sea.

These have been exploited from time immemorial by the inhabitants of the mainland and of the islands: they derive their livelihood essentially from such fishing.

The local population became perturbed, and measures were taken by Norway with a view to specifying the limits within which fishing was prohibited to foreigners.

On 18 December 1951, the ICJ decided that Norway's claims to the waters were consistent with international laws concerning the ownership of local sea-space.