DIFFERENT ZONES OF SEA UNDER UNCLOS
UNCLOS:-United Nations Convention on the Law Of the Sea.
There were 2 earlier Conventions on same in 1958 and 1970. But both failed. UNCLOS 3 took place from 1973 to 1982. It defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of world's ocean, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment and the management of marine natural resources. It came in force in 1994. It has 17 parts in which 320 articles are there. Apart from that it has 9 annexes.
Objective of UNCLOS:-
1) BASELINE:- Normally a sea baseline follows the low water line, but when the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing island or is highly unstable, straight baseline may be used.
2) INTERNAL WATERS:- Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resources. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal waters.
3) TERRITORIAL WATERS:- It is mentioned in UNCLOS Part-II, section 2 Article 3. Territorial waters are 12 Nm from the baseline( 22 km, 14 miles). The coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use and use of any resources. vessels are given the right to innocent passage through any territorial water. Innocent passage is defined in section 3, article 17. It is defined as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not prejudicial for the peace, good order or the security of the coastal state. Fishing, polluting, weapon practice and spying are not innocent, and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so is essential for the protection of its security.
4) ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS:- The convention set the Archipelagic states in the part IV which also defines how the state can draw its territorial border. A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of outermost island, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another. All waters inside this baseline are designated Archipelagic waters. The state has full sovereignty over these waters(like internal water) but foreign vessels have right to innocent passage(like territorial water).
5) CONTIGOUS ZONE:- It is defined in part II, section 4, article 33. Beyond 12 Nm limit, there is further 12 Nm from territorial sea baseline, the contigous zone, in which a state can continue to enforce law in four specific areas: Customs, taxation(fiscal), Immigration and Pollution(sanitary). Vessels carrying noxious substance or waste may be turned away on public health and environmental grounds.
6) EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONES (EEZ) :- Defined in part V, article 55 to 57. These extend from the edge of the territorial sea out to 200 Nm( 370 Km, 230 miles) from the baseline. Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources. The EEZs were introduced to halt the increasingly heated clashes over fishing rights, although oil was also becoming important. Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and overflight, subject to the regulation of coastal states. Foreign states may also lay submarine pipes and cables.
7) CONTINENTAL SHELF:- It is defined in part VI, article 76. It is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental margin's outer edge, or 200 Nm from the coastal state's baseline whichever is greater.A state continental shelf may exceed 200 Nm until the natural prolongation ends.
However it may never exceed 350 Nm( 650 km, 400 miles) from the baseline, or it may never exceed 100 Nm( 190 Km, 120 miles) beyond the 2500 meter isobath.( the line connecting the depth of 2500 meters)
Coastal states have the right to harvest mineral and non living material in the subsoil of its continental shelf, to the exclusion of the others. Coastal states have also the exclusive control over living resources attached to the continental shelf, but not to creature living in the water column beyond the EEZ.
8) HIGH SEAS:- Defined in part VII. Part of the sea not included in EEZ, in territorial sea or in internal waters of a state or in the archipelagic waters of an archipelagic state. High seas are open to all states for freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, freedom to construct artificial island and installation, freedom of fishing, freedom of scientific research. High seas shall be reserved for peaceful purposes. Other high sea precautions are prevention of slave trade, piracy, seizure of ship, illicit narcotics trafficking.
There were 2 earlier Conventions on same in 1958 and 1970. But both failed. UNCLOS 3 took place from 1973 to 1982. It defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of world's ocean, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment and the management of marine natural resources. It came in force in 1994. It has 17 parts in which 320 articles are there. Apart from that it has 9 annexes.
Objective of UNCLOS:-
- To promote peaceful uses of the sea.
- To facilitate internal communication.
- To enable equitable and efficient utilization of ocean.
- To protect and preserve the marine environment.
- To promote maritime safety.
1) BASELINE:- Normally a sea baseline follows the low water line, but when the coastline is deeply indented, has fringing island or is highly unstable, straight baseline may be used.
2) INTERNAL WATERS:- Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resources. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal waters.
3) TERRITORIAL WATERS:- It is mentioned in UNCLOS Part-II, section 2 Article 3. Territorial waters are 12 Nm from the baseline( 22 km, 14 miles). The coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use and use of any resources. vessels are given the right to innocent passage through any territorial water. Innocent passage is defined in section 3, article 17. It is defined as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not prejudicial for the peace, good order or the security of the coastal state. Fishing, polluting, weapon practice and spying are not innocent, and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so is essential for the protection of its security.
4) ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS:- The convention set the Archipelagic states in the part IV which also defines how the state can draw its territorial border. A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of outermost island, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another. All waters inside this baseline are designated Archipelagic waters. The state has full sovereignty over these waters(like internal water) but foreign vessels have right to innocent passage(like territorial water).
5) CONTIGOUS ZONE:- It is defined in part II, section 4, article 33. Beyond 12 Nm limit, there is further 12 Nm from territorial sea baseline, the contigous zone, in which a state can continue to enforce law in four specific areas: Customs, taxation(fiscal), Immigration and Pollution(sanitary). Vessels carrying noxious substance or waste may be turned away on public health and environmental grounds.
6) EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONES (EEZ) :- Defined in part V, article 55 to 57. These extend from the edge of the territorial sea out to 200 Nm( 370 Km, 230 miles) from the baseline. Within this area, the coastal nation has sole exploitation rights over all natural resources. The EEZs were introduced to halt the increasingly heated clashes over fishing rights, although oil was also becoming important. Foreign nations have the freedom of navigation and overflight, subject to the regulation of coastal states. Foreign states may also lay submarine pipes and cables.
7) CONTINENTAL SHELF:- It is defined in part VI, article 76. It is defined as the natural prolongation of the land territory to the continental margin's outer edge, or 200 Nm from the coastal state's baseline whichever is greater.A state continental shelf may exceed 200 Nm until the natural prolongation ends.
Coastal states have the right to harvest mineral and non living material in the subsoil of its continental shelf, to the exclusion of the others. Coastal states have also the exclusive control over living resources attached to the continental shelf, but not to creature living in the water column beyond the EEZ.
8) HIGH SEAS:- Defined in part VII. Part of the sea not included in EEZ, in territorial sea or in internal waters of a state or in the archipelagic waters of an archipelagic state. High seas are open to all states for freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, freedom to construct artificial island and installation, freedom of fishing, freedom of scientific research. High seas shall be reserved for peaceful purposes. Other high sea precautions are prevention of slave trade, piracy, seizure of ship, illicit narcotics trafficking.
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