All arctic nations are pursuing claims within framework of UNCLOS

While it may be peculiar that geologic structures might dictate ownership of resources,ⁿ²⁶⁹ Russia has obtained a competitive edge by operating persistently and adhering to the provisions of the Convention. Most importantly, other Arctic States have seen the writing on the wall. Aware of the undeniable progress Russia has made, the other littoral countries have been stirred from their casual observance of UNCLOS within the Arctic, and have undertaken new cartographic datagathering expeditions to claim as much territory as they can under the parameters of the Convention.ⁿ²⁷⁰ In fact, following Russia's 2001 submission, eight other countries began work on filing their own CLCS submissions under UNCLOS. 

For example, Canada recently changed the nature of its Arctic claims to conform to UNCLOS procedure, by departing from simple reaffirmations of past assertions of sovereignty and instead beginning work on a continental shelf proposal due for submission in 2013.ⁿ²⁷²  Even the United States participated in a joint seabedmapping mission in the Beaufort Sea last month, a region widely considered the "top prize in the Arctic oil rush."