On 14 April and 5 June 1972, respectively, the United Kingdom and the Federal

Republic of Germany instituted proceedings against Iceland concerning a dispute over the
proposed extension by Iceland, as from 1 September 1972, of the limits of its exclusive
fisheries jurisdiction from a distance of 12 to a distance of 50 nautical miles. Iceland declared
that the Court lacked jurisdiction, and declined to be represented in the proceedings or file
pleadings.
At the request of the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic, the Court in 1972
indicated, and in 1973 confirmed, provisional measures to the effect that Iceland should
refrain from implementing, with respect to their vessels, the new regulations regarding the
extension of the zone of its exclusive fishing rights, and that the annual catch of those vessels
in the disputed area should be limited to certain maxima.
In Judgments delivered on 2 February 1973, the Court found that it possessed
jurisdiction ; and in Judgments on the merits of 25 July 1974, it found that the Icelandic
regulations. constituting a unilateral extension of exclusive fishing rights to a limit of 50
nautical miles were not opposable to either the United Kingdom or the Federal Republic, that
Iceland was not entitled unilaterally to exclude their fishing vessels from the disputed area,
and that the Parties were under mutual obligations to undertake negotiations in good faith
for the equitable solution of their differences.