libterm.com The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coastline, granting sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, and managing natural resources within this area. This zone is crucial for maritime nations as it regulates fishing rights, mineral extraction, and environmental protection. Discover how understanding your country's EEZ can impact economic and environmental policies throughout the rest of this article.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) | Territorial Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Sea zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, granting rights to explore and use marine resources. | Sea area extending up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, considered part of the sovereign territory of the coastal state. |
| Distance from Baseline | Up to 200 nautical miles | Up to 12 nautical miles |
| Legal Status | Sovereign rights for resource exploration and exploitation; not full sovereignty. | Full sovereignty, similar to land territory. |
| Rights Granted | Exclusive rights to fisheries, mineral resources, energy production (e.g., wind, wave). | Complete control over navigation, resource use, and law enforcement. |
| Foreign Vessel Access | Allowed freedom of navigation and overflight with some resource exploitation restrictions. | Foreign vessels have right of innocent passage only. |
| Governed By | United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Article 56. | UNCLOS, Article 2 and 3. |
Introduction to Maritime Zones
Maritime zones define specific areas of the ocean under national jurisdiction, with Territorial Waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from a country's coastline, granting full sovereignty similar to land territory. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) stretches up to 200 nautical miles, providing a state exclusive rights to explore, exploit, and manage natural resources, including fisheries and minerals. These distinctions in maritime zones are grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), establishing legal frameworks for resource control and maritime security.
Defining Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, both living and non-living, in the water column, seabed, and subsoil. Unlike territorial waters, which extend only 12 nautical miles and confer full sovereignty similar to land territory, the EEZ provides limited rights primarily focused on resource use and environmental jurisdiction. International law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), establishes the framework for defining and managing EEZs to balance national interests and maritime cooperation.
Understanding Territorial Waters
Territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting full sovereignty over the airspace, sea, and seabed within this zone. Coastal nations enforce laws concerning navigation, resource exploitation, and environmental protection in these waters, reflecting their national jurisdiction. Understanding territorial waters is essential for distinguishing state control from the broader Exclusive Economic Zone, where sovereign rights are limited to resource exploration and use.
Historical Development of Maritime Boundaries
The historical development of maritime boundaries began with customary international law recognizing coastal states' sovereignty over territorial waters extending up to 3 nautical miles, based on the "cannon shot rule." The establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) arose from the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), granting coastal states sovereign rights over natural resources within 200 nautical miles from their baselines. This evolution reflected the increasing importance of marine resource management and geopolitical interests in delineating maritime jurisdiction beyond traditional territorial waters.
Scope of Rights in EEZ vs Territorial Waters
The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting sovereign rights primarily over natural resource exploration, exploitation, and marine environmental protection, while allowing freedom of navigation for other states. Territorial Waters usually span 12 nautical miles from the baseline, where the coastal state exercises full sovereignty, including over navigation, airspace, seabed, and resource rights. The key distinction lies in the EEZ's limited rights focused on economic activities versus the complete sovereignty exercised within Territorial Waters.
Resource Management and Exploitation
Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) extend up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coastline, granting exclusive rights to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage natural resources, including fisheries, oil, and gas reserves. Territorial waters, spanning up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, grant sovereignty over the waters, seabed, and airspace, allowing states to regulate resource use more directly while also enforcing security and environmental laws. Resource management in EEZs focuses on sustainable exploitation and international cooperation, whereas territorial waters emphasize strict jurisdictional control and protection of national interests.
Jurisdiction and Sovereignty Differences
Territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, where the state exercises full sovereignty, including control over airspace, seabed, and resources. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends up to 200 nautical miles, granting the coastal state sovereign rights primarily for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, but without full sovereignty over the waters themselves. Jurisdiction in the EEZ is limited to economic activities, marine research, and environmental protection, while other states retain freedoms such as navigation and overflight.
International Law and UNCLOS Framework
Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) extend up to 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baseline, granting sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting marine resources under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Territorial waters, limited to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, fall under the full sovereignty of the coastal state, including airspace and seabed, as recognized by international law. UNCLOS provides the legal framework distinguishing EEZs from territorial waters, balancing coastal state rights with freedoms of navigation and overflight for other states.
Geopolitical Conflicts and Disputes
Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) extend up to 200 nautical miles from a country's coastline, granting exclusive rights to marine resources, while Territorial Waters stretch only 12 nautical miles, allowing full sovereignty. Disputes frequently arise in overlapping EEZ claims, especially in resource-rich and strategically vital areas like the South China Sea, leading to geopolitical tensions among bordering nations. Sovereignty claims in Territorial Waters often trigger conflicts over navigation rights and military presence, intensifying regional security dilemmas.
Future Challenges and Emerging Issues
Future challenges in Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and Territorial Waters center on climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels altering maritime boundaries and resource availability. Emerging issues include increased geopolitical tensions over offshore resource exploitation, especially with the expansion of deep-sea mining and renewable energy projects. Enhanced surveillance technologies and evolving international maritime laws also complicate enforcement and cooperation within these maritime zones.
Exclusive Economic Zone Infographic
